No, cyclists do not always have to stop at stop signs in Colorado. This is a somewhat new change to the law that previously required cyclists to come to a complete stop at all stop signs.
The new rule is known as the “Safety Stop” rule. It allows cyclists to treat certain stop signs and traffic signals differently from drivers when specific conditions are met. However, cyclists must still follow right-of-way rules and take precautions to avoid a collision.
Keep reading below to learn all the details.
Overview of Colorado’s Laws for Cyclists
Colorado is a popular area for cyclists due to the great weather and amazing landscape. Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation in many Colorado cities. While cyclists must follow many of the same rules of the road as vehicles, there are some special rules regarding stop signs and red lights.
Under Colorado’s Safety Stop rule:
- Riders age 15 and older may treat a stop sign as a yield sign when it is safe to proceed
- Riders under 15 may use the Safety Stop when accompanied by an adult
- Riders proceeding through a stop sign without stopping generally must slow to 10 mph or less
- Cyclists must stop at a red light and yield before proceeding straight or turning right when it is safe
- Cyclists must yield to pedestrians and traffic that have the right-of-way
Even though riders have the option to treat stop signs as yield signs, nothing in the law prohibits them from coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. It is completely up to the rider how to treat these intersections.
Why Did Colorado Change Their Bicycle Laws?
Prior to the change in the law, cyclists had to come to a complete stop at stop signs. They also had to stop at red lights and remain stopped until the signal turned green.
The statewide Safety Stop rule created a uniform approach to controlled intersections for cyclists and other low-speed road users. The law allows cyclists to spend less time stopped at intersections while still requiring them to slow down, yield, and proceed only when it is safe.
Intersections are common sites of bicycle accidents, and cyclists who must remain stopped for longer at an intersection are at higher risk of being hit. This change in the law helps improve overall traffic flow and reduce the amount of time that cyclists are exposed to dangerous intersections.
Potential Penalties for Violations of Colorado’s Bicycle Laws
Just like motor vehicle drivers, cyclists can be cited for traffic law violations.
Penalties for these violations are nearly the same as the penalties a motor vehicle driver would receive, including:
- Fines
- Court costs
- Administrative fees
Bicycle riders can receive a ticket for running a red light, failure to signal, or other traffic law violations.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in Boulder?
Most bicycle accidents in Boulder, CO, are caused by motorist negligence, especially at intersections.
Many bicycle accidents are the result of:
- Failure to look
- Left turns in front of an oncoming cyclist
- Right turns across a bike lane without looking
- Passing too closely
- Poor surface conditions
- Poor visibility
Since many of these accidents occur at intersections, the Safety Stop rule is meant to reduce the number of collisions that happen in these dangerous spots.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
Even with these new safety rules in place, bicycle accidents still happen. The steps that you take immediately following your accident can have a big impact on your potential claim.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you should:
- Call the police to report the crash
- Get immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Take photos of the accident scene, the vehicle that hit you, and your bike
- Obtain names and phone numbers of all witnesses
- Save all medical records, bills, receipts, and other documentation
- Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer for help
Taking these steps can help document the collision, your injuries, and your financial losses. You should also act quickly because important evidence, including surveillance or traffic camera footage, may not remain available indefinitely.
Contact the Boulder Bicycle Accident Attorney at Ferrell Injury Law for Help Today
If you were injured in a bicycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Determining fault can become especially complicated when an accident occurs at an intersection or involves Colorado’s Safety Stop rule.
If you’ve been injured in Boulder, CO, call Ferrell Injury Law for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer or contact us online.
We proudly serve clients in Boulder and surrounding Colorado communities.
Ferrell Injury Law
2060 Broadway # 360, Boulder, CO 80302
(720) 687-2795
