Boulder Municipal Code

7-5-1.  Application of Traffic Laws to Bicycles. 

Every person driving a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle has all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this title except as modified by this chapter.

Ordinance No. 7021 (1999)

7-5-2.  Required Method of Riding Bicycle. 

(a)  No person driving a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle shall ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

(b)  No bicycle or electric assisted bicycle shall be used by either the driver or any passenger to carry more persons than the number for which it is designed or equipped.

(c)  An adult riding on a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle may carry a child securely attached to the person in a backpack or sling.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 7021 (1999)

7-5-3.  Carrying Articles. 

Every person driving a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times and shall not carry any package, bundle or article that obstructs the driver's vision or prevents the use of both hands in the control and operation of the bicycle.

Ordinance No. 7021 (1999)

7-5-4.  Bicycle to Be Driven to Right. 

(a)  Every person driving a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle upon a roadway at a speed so slow as to impede or block the normal and legal forward movement of traffic proceeding immediately behind such bicycle shall drive within the right four feet of the right-hand through lane of the roadway, except under any of the following conditions:

(1)  When driving in a bike lane;

(2)  When preparing for a left turn;

(3)  When reasonably necessary for safety because of debris or other obstruction on or a defect in the surface of the pavement, but the bicyclist shall continue to drive as close to the right side of the roadway as is practicable;

(4)  When overtaking and passing on the left of another vehicle; or

(5)  On a one-way street, when driving in the left four feet of the left-hand through lane.

(b)  A bicycle or electric assisted bicycle may be driven on a paved shoulder if such driving does not violate any section of this title for passing or direction of travel.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 7021 (1999)

7-5-5.  Use of Crosswalk. 

(a)  No person shall immediately approach, enter, or traverse a crosswalk which spans a roadway at a speed greater than eight miles per hour.

(b)  Persons driving bicycles across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk from a sidewalk or path, and persons driving electric assisted bicycles across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk from a multi-use path where such vehicles are permitted, shall have the duties applicable to pedestrians under the same circumstances.

(c)  Such persons similarly have the rights of a pedestrian, but only if the bicyclist was entitled to use the sidewalk or path, and the approach, entry, and traversal of the crosswalk are made at a speed no greater than a reasonable crossing speed so that other drivers may anticipate the necessity to yield when required.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 5920 (1997); 7824 (2012); 7941 (2013)

7-5-6.  Driving More Than Two Abreast on Path Prohibited. 

No person shall drive a bicycle upon a path adjacent to more than one other bicycle.

Ordinance No. 5241 (1989)

7-5-7.  Left Turns by Bicycles. 

(a)  The driver of a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle turning left in accordance with Section 7-4-25, "Improper Turn Prohibited," B.R.C. 1981, may approach the turn anywhere within any separate left turn lane and may finish the turn by moving to the right lane as soon as it can be done in safety.

(b)  In addition to any other method specified in this title, the driver of a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle may make a left turn by crossing the intersection as close as practicable to the right-hand curb line to the far curb and then turning left to proceed in the proper position on the other roadway. A person making a left turn under the provisions of this subsection may do so only after complying with all the obligations of drivers of vehicles approaching in the new direction on the other roadway, including, without limitation, the duties to stop and yield in response to traffic control signs or signals.

Ordinance No. 7021 (1999)

7-5-8.  Bicycle Turn Signals. 

The driver of a bicycle is excepted from giving the hand and arm signal continuously if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle or electric assisted bicycle, but it shall be given for a substantial period while stopped waiting to turn. The driver of a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle may signal a right turn by extending the right hand and arm horizontally.

Ordinance No. 7021 (1999)

7-5-9.  Bicycle Must Yield Right of Way and Obey Traffic Control Devices on Sidewalk, Crosswalk, or Path. 

(a)  A person driving a bicycle on a sidewalk, a crosswalk, or a path, and any person driving an electric assisted bicycle on a multi-use path, shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking or passing any pedestrian.

(b)  If any traffic control device is in place alongside of or on a sidewalk or a path, no driver of a bicycle or pedestrian, and no driver of an electric assisted bicycle on a multi-use path where such vehicles are permitted, shall fail to obey the requirements of the device.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 7941 (2013)

7-5-10.  Driving Bicycle on Sidewalk Prohibited. 

(a)  No person shall drive a bicycle or use a skateboard, rollerblade, or roller ski upon and along a sidewalk except:

(1)  Upon sidewalks in residential or public districts zoned RR-1, RR-2, RE, RL, RM, RMX, RH-1, RH-2, RH-3, RH-4, RH-5, MH, MU-1, MU-3 or P; or

(2)  Upon sidewalks designated as paths.

(b)  No person shall drive a bicycle on the mall. This subsection does not apply to an entertainer who is performing an act on a unicycle.

(c)  No person shall drive a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk where such use is prohibited by a traffic control device.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 5930 (1997); 7522 (2007)

7-5-11.  Bicycle Headlight and Reflector Required. 

(a)  No person shall drive a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle between sunset and sunrise unless it is equipped with a red rear reflector mounted on the bicycle so located and of sufficient size and reflectivity to be visible for six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

(b)  No person shall drive a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle between sunset and sunrise or at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet ahead, unless it is equipped with a lamp mounted on the front of the bicycle and emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front.

Ordinance Nos. 4913 (1985); 5241 (1989); 7021 (1999)

7-5-12.  Bicycle Brake Required. 

No person shall drive a bicycle or electric assisted bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake system which will enable its driver to stop the bicycle within twenty-five feet from a speed of ten miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.

Ordinance Nos. 5241 (1989); 7021 (1999)

7-5-13.  Definition of Walk. 

Any requirement placed on a walking pedestrian under this chapter applies to every pedestrian.

7-5-14.  Pedestrian or Bicyclist Entering Roadway. 

No pedestrian or bicyclist shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk, run, or drive into the path of a moving vehicle that is both so close as to constitute an immediate hazard and is not required to stop or yield by a traffic control sign or signal.

Ordinance No. 5241 (1989)

7-5-15.  Pedestrian Obedience to Traffic Signal Required. 

(a)  Except as otherwise directed by a pedestrian traffic control signal, no pedestrian shall enter the roadway at an intersection controlled by a steady traffic control signal unless a circular green signal is displayed governing the direction of travel.

(b)  Where a pedestrian control signal exhibiting "Walk" or "Don't Walk" word or symbol indications is in operation, no pedestrian shall enter the roadway unless a steady or flashing "Walk" indication is displayed governing the direction of travel.

(c)  The prohibitions of this section apply to a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk, in the intersection, or within fifty feet of the crosswalk.

(d)  Whenever a traffic signal system provides for the stopping of all vehicular traffic and the exclusive movement of pedestrians and "Walk" and "Don't Walk" word or symbol indications control such pedestrian movement, pedestrians may cross in any direction between corners of the intersection offering the shortest route within the boundaries of the intersection while the walk indication is exhibited.

(e)  Any pedestrian who has lawfully entered a crosswalk governed by traffic control signals may complete crossing the roadway notwithstanding any indication subsequently displayed.

(f)  No pedestrian shall enter a roadway where a warning traffic control device is located unless such device is activated. However, a pedestrian possessing the right of way who fails to activate a warning device or who is within the crosswalk upon the expiration of such warning continues to possess the right of way.

Ordinance No. 7824 (2012)

7-5-23.  Bicycle Racing Prohibited. 

No person shall engage with another bicyclist or person driving any other vehicle in any bicycle race, speed or acceleration contest, or exhibition of speed or acceleration on a street, a sidewalk, or a path except as authorized in Paragraph 2-2-11(b)(16), B.R.C. 1981.

Ordinance No. 5241 (1989)

7-5-24.  Approved Bicycle Races. 

Bicycle racing shall not be unlawful when a racing event has been approved by the city manager. It is a specific de-fense to a charge of violating any provision of Chapter 7-2, "General Provisions," 7-3," Condition of Vehicles," 7-4," Operation of Vehicles," or 7-5," Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Animal Traffic," B.R.C. 1981, that the driver was racing as a participant in a bicycle race authorized under Paragraph 2-2-11(b)(16), B.R.C. 1981, and was driving in accordance with such authorization. This defense does not apply to charges of violating Paragraphs 7-4-52(a)(1), 7-4-56(a)(1) and Sections 7-4-66, "Operation of Vehicle on Approach of Authorized Emergency Vehicle," 7-4-67, "Eluding," 7-4-68, "Following or Parking Near Fire Truck Prohibited," 7-4-69, "Crossing Fire Hose Prohibited," or 7-4-70, "Obedience to Peace Officers and Firefighters Directing Traffic Required," B.R.C. 1981.

Ordinance No. 5241 (1989)

7-5-25.  Electric Assisted Bicycles. 

No person shall activate the motor of an electric assisted bicycle on any bike or pedestrian path or on a recreational trail except where permitted by a rule adopted by the city manager in accordance with Chapter 1-4, "Rulemaking." B.R.C. 1981. Such rule adopted by the manager shall not include paths or trails on open space land as defined in the City Charter Section 170.