First Regular Session
Sixty-second General Assembly
LLS NO. 99-0201.01 Jerry Barry SENATE BILL 99-041
STATE OF COLORADO
BY SENATORS Dyer, Perlmutter;
also REPRESENTATIVES Swenson, Williams T.-.
REREVISED
TRANSPORTATION
A BILL FOR AN ACT
101 CONCERNING TRAFFIC REGULATIONS RELATING TO BICYCLES.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
adopted.)
[ ] denotes HOUSE amendment. { } denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate material to be deleted from existing statute.
Page 2
Specifies that turning vehicles must yield the right-of-way to
bicycles traveling lawfully within a bicycle lane, a shoulder, or the
roadway. Requires drivers overtaking a bicycle traveling the same
direction to have and maintain a safe clearance of at least 3 feet until
safely past the overtaken bicycle. Authorizes bicyclists to indicate a right
turn by extending the right arm horizontally. Deletes the requirement that
a bicyclist riding along a sidewalk dismount before crossing a roadway.
1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
2 SECTION 1. 42-4-903 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
3 amended to read:
4 42-4-903. Turning movements and required signals. (1) No
5 person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in
6 proper position upon the roadway as required in section 42-4-901, or turn
7 a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle
8 from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until
9 such movement can be made with reasonable {safety} { } {
10 } {
11 } and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner
12 provided in sections 42-4-608 and 42-4-609. {THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE
13 WHICH HAS OVERTAKEN A BICYCLE TRAVELING LAWFULLY ON A
14 SHOULDER, BIKE LANE, OR TRAVEL LANE SHALL NOT MAKE A TURN ACROSS
15 THE PATH OF THE BICYCLIST UNLESS SUCH MOVEMENT CAN BE MADE
16 SAFELY.} [THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE PROCEEDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
17 AS A BICYCLE SHALL ONLY MAKE A RIGHT TURN IF THE VEHICLE IS AT
18 LEAST ONE HUNDRED FEET IN FRONT OF THE BICYCLE AT THE TIME THAT
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1 THE TURN IS STARTED, AND A BICYCLIST SHALL YIELD TO A VEHICLE
2 MAKING A TURN IN SUCH A MANNER.]
3 SECTION 2. 42-4-1003 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
4 amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
5 42-4-1003. Overtaking a vehicle on the left. (1) The following
6 rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in
7 the same direction, subject to the limitations, exceptions, and special rules
8 stated in this section and sections 42-4-1004 to 42-4-1008:
9 (a.5) THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE OVERTAKING A BICYCLE
10 PROCEEDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION SHALL PASS TO THE LEFT THEREOF AT
11 {A SAFE DISTANCE AND} SHALL [NOT AGAIN DRIVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE
12 ROADWAY UNTIL SAFELY CLEAR OF] THE OVERTAKEN BICYCLE.
13 SECTION 3. 42-4-1412 (9) (a) and (10), Colorado Revised
14 Statutes, are amended to read:
15 42-4-1412. Operation of bicycles and other human-powered
16 vehicles. (9) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (9),
17 every person riding a bicycle shall signal the intention to turn or stop in
18 accordance with the provisions of section 42-4-903; EXCEPT THAT A
19 PERSON RIDING A BICYCLE MAY SIGNAL A RIGHT TURN WITH THE RIGHT
20 HAND AND ARM EXTENDED HORIZONTALLY.
21 (10) (a) A person riding a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk OR
22 PATHWAY or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall yield the
23 right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before
24 overtaking and passing such pedestrian. A PERSON RIDING A BICYCLE IN
25 A CROSSWALK SHALL DO SO IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
26 SAFE USE OF THE CROSSWALK BY PEDESTRIANS.
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1 (b) A person shall not ride a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk
2 OR PATHWAY or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk where such
3 use of bicycles is prohibited by official traffic control devices or local
4 ordinances. A PERSON RIDING A BICYCLE SHALL DISMOUNT BEFORE
5 ENTERING ANY CROSSWALK WHERE REQUIRED BY OFFICIAL TRAFFIC
6 CONTROL DEVICES OR LOCAL [ORDINANCES; EXCEPT THAT A PERSON
7 TWELVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER, UNACCOMPANIED BY A PERSON
8 EIGHTEEN YEARS OR OLDER, SHALL IN ALL CASES DISMOUNT BEFORE
9 ENTERING ANY CROSSWALK.]
10 (c) A person riding or walking a bicycle upon and along a
11 sidewalk OR PATHWAY or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk
12 shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the
13 same circumstances.
14 { (d) A person riding a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk shall
15 dismount before entering any roadway and, when crossing any such
16 roadway, shall observe all the rules and regulations applicable to
17 pedestrians.}
18 SECTION 4. Effective date - applicability. This act shall take
19 effect July 1, 1999, and shall apply to infractions or offenses committed
20 on or after said date.
21 SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
22 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
23 preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.