Colorado Safety Stop Bill Signed Into Law

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Safety Stop Bill into law last month meaning e-bike riders now have a safe and legal option for navigating intersections across the state.

House Bill 22-1028 is a new law that allows bicyclists and users of “low-speed conveyances” to treat stop signs as yield signs and stop lights as stop signs when they have right of way.

The bill was passed into law as a means to protect bikers at busy intersections. When cyclists are able to get out of an intersection faster it improves their safety.

Intersections have proven to be the most dangerous place for e-bike riders and cyclists. In 2019 over 35 percent of bicyclist deaths occurred at intersections, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.

“I want to thank everybody for their work on this bill. Biking is not only a healthy, safe way to get places, but it also helps reduce traffic on our roads and reduce pollution,” said Governor Polis in a press release from his office. “We’re here to celebrate a bill that allows bicyclists, pedestrians, scooters, [and] skateboarders to make Safety Stops at intersections, putting into law what is
already the safest thing to do.”

The Colorado legislature was motivated to pass this bill after states such as Idaho and Delaware passed similar legislation that reduced crashes between cyclists and drivers.

The bill was sponsored by Colorado State Representatives Matt Gray (D), Edie Hooton (D), and Senators Faith Winter (D), and Kevin Priola (R). The bill passed with bipartisan support in the State House and Senate.

Colorado joins eight other states in adopting this safety policy statewide. Those states include Idaho, Delaware, Arkansas, Oregon, Washington State, North Dakota, Utah, and Oklahoma.