‘Idaho Stop’ Now Legal in Colorado

Colorado is the latest state to make it legal for people on bikes to treat stop signs like yield signs when no cars are in the intersection.

2 minute read

April 15, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Crosswalk

Richard Masoner / Flickr

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the “Colorado Safety Stop” into law on April 13, 2022, making it legal for people on bikes to treat stop signs as yield signs and treat stop lights as stop signs, according to an article by Bicycle Colorado.

The article cites data that shows the Safety Stop—known in bicycle and planning circles as the Idaho Stop—reduces collisions involving people on bikes and automobile. Delaware, which adopted a similar law in 2017, has seen a 23 percent drop in collisions involving bicycles at stop sign controlled intersections. Researchers from DePaul University published a study in 2016 that also supported Idaho Stops for the safety of people on bikes.

Bicycle Colorado also provides additional information on the new law, as listed in the source article:

  • Younger bicyclists may perform the maneuver if an adult is present.

    Bicyclists can yield and then proceed through stop sign-controlled intersections at up to 10 miles per hour.
  • Intersections where bicyclist-specific lights or signs are present that prohibit the maneuver are exempt from the new law.
  • The bill defines “low speed conveyances” in Colorado law. These are small profile, low-speed vehicles that people use for transportation and recreation, including bicycles and electric bicycles, electric scooters (not including mopeds), and wheelchairs.

The Colorado Legislature approved the law in March 2022, paving the way for this week’s historic bill signing. Bicycle Colorado says the law has been in the works for years.

The state of Colorado now joins Idaho, Delaware, Arkansas, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, Utah – 2021, and Oklahoma among states where the Idaho Stop is the law of the land. California could have been on the list, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 122 in 2021.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Bicycle Colorado

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

35 minutes ago - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

2 hours ago - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

3 hours ago - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.