How old do you have to be to ride on back of motorcycle in ny?

Answer 1

There is no age legal restriction for passengers on motorcycles in New York State.

Currently, only two states have an age restriction for motorcycle passengers. NYS crash statistics have shown that the number of child passengers in motorcycle crashes is not significant.

While there is no age restriction for passengers on a motorcycle in New York State, there are requirements for motorcycle passengers. Under Section 1251 of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, to carry a passenger:

• The motorcycle must be designed to carry more than one person and the passenger must ride on a permanent seat.
• The passenger must face forward, with one leg on each side of the seat.
• The passenger cannot interfere with the operation of the motorcycle or the view of the motorcycle driver.
• The passenger must wear a motorcycle helmet approved by the US Department of Transportation.

Let common sense determine if a child is old enough and big enough to safely ride a motorcycle. Also consider the additional risks faced by motorcycle passengers compared with passengers in a car protected with seat belts or child safety seats. If a child is not large enough to properly wear an approved helmet, then the child cannot legally ride on the motorcycle. If the child cannot place both feet flat on the passenger foot pegs of the motorcycles, then it is not safe for the child to ride the motorcycle.