CDOT launches bicycle safety campaign with memorial signs at Washington Park

Media kit to be finalized by 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, can be requested by emailing [email protected]

Statewide — As summer brings more bicyclists to Colorado’s roads, the Colorado Department of Transportation is working to prevent bicycle crashes through an awareness campaign targeting drivers and bicyclists. The focus of the campaign is on the laws that keep bicyclists safe on the road.

Since 2020, there have been 79 bicyclist fatalities in Colorado, with nearly half (48.1%) occurring during the summer. To help prevent bike crashes, CDOT kicked off its bicycle safety campaign at Denver’s Washington Park with a series of signs in memory of the lives lost since 2020, bringing attention to the reality of the issue and the shared responsibility among both riders and drivers to keep Colorado’s roads safe for everyone.

Drivers that fail to yield the right of way to bicyclists is one of the top causes of bicycle crashes nationally.

“Most of us switch roles every day — we drive to a trailhead or park, then hop on a bike or take a walk. We are all drivers, bicyclists or pedestrians at some point,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “This campaign is about recognizing that shared experience and making choices that keep all road users safe, no matter how they move through the world.”

In 2024 alone, there were 14 deaths and 224 serious injuries reported from bicycle crashes. Bicycle crashes are entirely preventable by sharing the road, checking your blind spots, following the speed limit and never driving distracted, CDOT says.

"All bicyclists deserve a safe ride to their destination without fear that it could be their last," said Pete Piccolo, Executive Director of Bicycle Colorado. "We're proud to partner with CDOT to support this message. By following the laws in place to protect bicyclists, we can make Colorado safe for all road users."

The Safety Stop Law

With Colorado’s Safety Stop Law, bicyclists can treat stop signs as yield signs and proceed if the intersection is clear. Additionally, bicyclists can treat stop lights as stop signs and proceed if safe after coming to a complete stop.

The Three Foot Law

Colorado’s Three Foot Law applies to drivers to keep bicyclists safe. While passing a bicyclist, you must give them at least three feet of space. In some situations, this may mean motorists will need to cross over a double yellow line when safe to ensure three feet of space between themselves and bicyclists. If oncoming traffic prevents a motorist from giving the required three feet, the motorist should slow down and wait behind the bicyclists until it is clear to pass.

Colorado is one of the most bicycle-heavy states in the U.S., with the second-highest rate of commuter bicyclists. Three Colorado cities — Denver, Fort Collins and Boulder — fall in the top 20 nationwide for the highest number of people who use a bike as their main mode of transportation to work.

Drivers — Share the Road

• Remember that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as passenger vehicles, including the right to use the road
• Yield to bicyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway
• Always check your surroundings for bicyclists while in parking lots, at stop signs, when backing up, or when parking
• Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear - remember they have the right of way
• Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a bicyclist
• When passing a bicyclist, give them at least three feet of space. Pass as you would any other vehicle — when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane
• Know Colorado’s new Safety Stop Law

Safety Tips for Bicyclists

• Always wear a properly fitting helmet and protective gear while riding
• Check your brakes, tire pressure, gears, chains and hardware for wear and tear, rust or other signs of damage that can cause malfunction
• Ride as far right as possible but know you can take the full lane if needed
• Use bike lanes and paved shoulders whenever possible
• When entering intersections, yield to any pedestrians and stop before crosswalks
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when riding; they impair your abilities and your judgment
• At night, use lights and/or reflective clothing to alert other drivers and pedestrians of your presence
• Know Colorado’s new Safety Stop Law

The signs will remain at Washington Park through the end of summer, and CDOT hopes they will elevate knowledge about bicycle safety in the metro area. The messaging aims to encourage people to stay alert, be respectful and share the road. To learn more about the bicycle safety campaign and explore additional resources, visit CDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian webpage.

Crash Not Accident

Note to reporters: Crashes are no accident — they are preventable. We would appreciate you saying 'crash' instead of 'accident' when reporting.