Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes new guidelines and regulations for bicyclists and drivers of other vehicles.

Highlights:

• Specifies that a person riding a bicycle, electric assisted bicycle, and eclectic scooter has all the same rights and duties of the driver of any other vehicle, with some exceptions (Sec. 1, Pg. 1).

• Requires that the above riders comply with all relevant state laws, including this one, and comply with the local ordinances regulating the operation of bicycles, electric assisted bicycles, and electric scooters when using the streets and highways within incorporated cities and towns (Sec. 1, Pg. 2).

• Requires statewide that any pedestrian or person operating a low speed conveyance, such as those listed above, must slow down when approaching a controlled intersection with a stop sign, and stop before entering the intersection if required for safety, with the following specifications (Sec. 2, Pg. 3):

• That the person is 15-years-old or older, or under 15 and accompanied by an adult;

• That the pedestrian or person operating a low speed conveyance must slow to a reasonable speed and yield the right-of-way to any traffic or pedestrian in or approaching the intersection, if a stop is not required for safety; and

• That said pedestrian or person is authorized to make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping after slowing and yielding the right-of-way, or if neither yielding nor stopping was required.

• Specifies that a reasonable speed means 10 miles per hour or less, and specifies that a county or municipality may raise the maximum reasonable speed to 20 miles per hour if signs are posted at the intersections about the new speed (Sec. 2, Pg. 3).

• Requires that a person operating a low speed conveyance who is 15-years-old or older, or under 15 and accompanied by an adult, must stop before entering an intersection and yield the right-of-way to all other traffic and pedestrians when approaching a controlled intersection with an illuminated red traffic signal, with the following specifications (Sec. 2, Pg. 3):

• That the person may cautiously proceed in the same direction through the intersection or make a right-hand turn after yielding the right-of-way, even if the red traffic signal is still illuminated; and

• That the person shall not proceed through the intersection or turn right if an oncoming vehicle is turning or preparing to turn left in front of the person operating a low speed conveyance.

• Authorizes a person operating a low speed conveyance who is 15 or older, or under 15 and accompanied by an adult, to turn left at a roadway intersection if a red traffic control signal is illuminated only if turning onto a one-way street and only after stopping and yielding to traffic (Sec. 2, Pgs. 3 & 4).

• Prohibits the person from turning left in the above scenario if an oncoming vehicle is turning or preparing to turn right in front of the person (Sec. 2, Pg. 4).

• Requires the operator of a low-speed conveyance to comply with any instructions on an intersection’s  traffic sign or traffic control sign posted by a county or municipality, only if the instructions are directed at their particular conveyance/vehicle (Sec. 2, Pg. 4).

• Requires that the ordinance or resolution adopted by a county or municipality to substantially regulate bicycles or electric assisted bicycles prior to may 3, 2018, shall remain valid only for those vehicles that it is directed towards (Sec. 2, Pg. 4).

• Specifies that the above provisions supercede any conflicting regulation and ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, town, or city, but that none of the above provisions affect the validity of any ordinance or resolution that regulates the conduct of persons approaching controlled intersections and does not conflict with the above provisions (Sec. 2, Pg. 4).

• Requires the Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Department of Education, Public Safety, and any relevant nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups, to notify schools and make available to schools and the general public any programs for educating individuals under 18 and otherwise about road safety for users of non-motorized wheeled vehicles and pedestrians (Secs. 3 & 4, Pgs. 5 & 6).

Full Bill Text