NYS does, yes. Also, lights are required at night, as well as the standard reflector set.

+ 1. Even downunder here in Australia bicycles are defined as vehicles in the various state road codes ... heck they where vehicles before motor vehicles came along.

Definition of a vehicle: "(Engineering / Automotive Engineering) any conveyance in or by which people or objects are transported, esp one fitted with wheels" - https://www.thefreedictionary.com/_/m...s.aspx?English.

Andrew

Fabulous thread. For the record, I have lived in NYC, have biked in it, and now choose to live and bike to work elsewhere (though bought a Brompton to take with me when I visit). To paraphrase one commenter, "what isn't excessive in NYC?" It is, IMHO, the most wonderful and unlivable city at the same time: Filled with contradictions. The enormity of the fine makes me pause and consider where I fit in the traffic food chain when on a bicycle.

Thanks everyone for your impassioned and thoughtful comments.

I struggle with this notion that I am a "vehicle" every day I am on a bike. But I am not a car. Here too are contradictions. I ride for the most part on the side of the road and as often as safe and practicable to the right of the white fog line. There are times I must take the lane for safety sake. Here in Maine most people are respectful of this. But I know that Maine state law requires a car (generic for any four wheeled motorized vehicle) to give me three feet of room and the car can cross a double yellow line in order to do that. If I were equivalent to a car the faster car could not go around me on a double yellow line. So, a contradiction at least for me at face value. However when I need to make a left turn I do take the lane and act as a car but sometimes if I take the lane in a left hand turn lane and the light is red I will move up the line of cars on their right and between the the cars in the left hand lane and the cars in the right hand lane (but do not go through the red light). So I behave like a car sometimes and other times not. I most often do not go through red lights but sometimes I do.
I do agree that with posters that for the most part car drivers do appreciate when I don't go through lights. I too feel anxious when passing a cyclist when driving my car.....Creates a potential for hazard.
So, the contradiction is that at times we are like cars and at times we aren't. It is confusing and sometimes seems excessive to have to be like a car (my morning commute the last traffic light I pass is a blinking red light until 630am. After that it reverts to the traditional constant red light. It doesn't sense me as a bike so I have to wait FOREVER and at 631 there is not anymore traffic than at 629. Truth be told, there are times after I look all ways ( I know this light very well), I go through the red light-not if a cop is around obviously........). But I do recognize that for cars it would be best for me to wait til the light changes.........I am just so excited to get to work :-).......
And to come full circle. The fine seems excessive and NYC is out of control. I had a friend who was burglarized and it took the cops days to come. Had there been a weapon involved then they would've made it a priority. Forget about your cat stuck in a tree. People jaywalk, cars blast through lights, cyclists can be nasty and aggressive............but that is the city that never sleeps.........In NYC what is an emergency or a problem is much different from other easier places to live (for me). Still love the place and visit when I can but I do know the place (I have family from every borough).................

Reminds me of the great NYC joke: Tourist walks up to a NYC cop and asks, "Can you tell me where the Empire State Bldg is or should I go f$ck myself?"