I have long supported a change to Colorado Law regarding bicycles in traffic. In Idaho it is called the “Idaho Stop Law” Our state is trying to enact it as the “Safety Stop Law” From Bicycle Colorado… Safety Stop (Senate Bill 93) Ever ask yourself why a bicyclist has to come to a complete stop when the coast is clear? Now is your chance to weigh in. The Safety Stop bill (also known as the Idaho Stop) faces a critical first vote in the State Senate Transportation Committee. If it doesn’t pass, the bill dies. If the bill has any chance, we need a strong show of support. A bill proposed in the Colorado legislature would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield and red lights as stop signs if the coast is clear. Sponsored by Senator Andy Kerr, Senate Bill 93 is supported by Bicycle Colorado. Commonly referred to as the Idaho Stop, where a state law was first implemented in 1982, various versions of the Safety Stop are already in place in several Colorado communities. Having a single statewide law in place would help both motorists and bicyclists understand the law more easily and know where the practice is allowed. A Safety Stop law would still require cyclists to yield to all traffic in the intersection as well as to pedestrians. A study of Idaho’s law found no evidence of a long-term increase in injury or fatality rates and bicycle injury rates declined by 14.5 percent in the law’s first year. “This type of law can reduce conflicts on the roads and improve the flow of traffic by helping motorists not have to wait for a bicyclist to get going,” stated Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado. “While we work to have a more inclusive infrastructure for all people bicycling and walking, this is a step to help traffic move safely and efficiently within our current system.” What the proposed law does Requires people on bicycles to stop at stop signs and stop lights and yield the right of way if there is any traffic at the intersection. At a stop sign intersection, if the coast is clear, the person on a bicycle may proceed like they would at a yield sign. At a red stop light, bicyclists must come to a complete stop and then may proceed straight or right if the coast is clear. For bicyclists turning left, they must stop and wait for green light to make a left-hand turn. People on bicycles still must yield to people walking and to other vehicles that have the right-of-way. Failure to yield would continue to be illegal, as well as unsafe. Codifying this into law could once and for all settle the tension between motorists and cyclists. Please consider going to this link and advocate for positive change in the treatment of cyclists in the State of Colorado https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/get-involved/take-action/voter-voice-action-center/?vvsrc=%2fPetitions%2f992%2fRespond You can read more here (scroll down to Issue 2) https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/get-involved/take-action/current-issues/ <https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/get-involved/take-action/current-issues/> Best Regards, Eric Tauer President Salida Cycling Club 719.539.3215 salidacyclingclub.com