Colorado Springs Municipal Code
Defined: BICYCLE: Every vehicle propelled solely by human power applied to pedals upon which any person may ride having two (2) tandem wheels or two (2) parallel wheels and one forward wheel, all of which are more than fourteen inches (14") in diameter.
10.19.101: TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO BICYCLE RIDERS:
A. No person riding a bicycle shall violate any provision of this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter, which, by their very nature, can have no application. All bicycle riders shall also comply with special rules set forth in this article.
B. Every person operating a bicycle shall also comply with the provisions of article 4, title 42, Colorado Revised Statutes as it relates to the operation of bicycles.
C. Whenever the word "vehicle" is used in any of the driving rules set forth in this chapter that are applicable to bicycle riders, that term shall include bicycles.
D. In citing a person with a violation of this section, the summons and complaint shall specify the provisions of this chapter or of article 4, title 42, Colorado Revised Statutes alleged to have been violated. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.102: OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES:
A. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any sign, except when the person dismounts from the bicycle to make any turn, in which event the person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.103: RIDING ON BICYCLES:
A. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
B. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.104: RIDING ON ROADWAYS AND BICYCLE PATHS:
A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or onto a private roadway or driveway or when reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall exercise care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
B. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.105: SPEED:
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.106: ENTERING OR EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR DRIVEWAY:
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right of way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway as may be necessary to avoid collision. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.107: RIDING ON SIDEWALKS:
A. When authorized signs are erected giving notice, no person shall operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or similar device upon a sidewalk.
B. Whenever any person is operating a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or similar device upon a sidewalk, the person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or similar device on any sidewalk:
1. Either bordering on or included within the area bordered on the north by Boulder Street, on the south by Vermijo Avenue, on the east by Weber Street and on the west by Cascade Avenue.
2. Either bordering on or included within Colorado Avenue bordered on the east by 24th Street and on the west by 27th Street.
3. For purposes of this section, "sidewalk" shall be defined as all pathways intended for pedestrian use, including that portion of an alley or driveway between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines.
D. Signage as provided in subsection A of this section shall not be required in the areas defined in subsection C of this section. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 98-121; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 10-64)
10.19.108: EQUIPMENT ON BICYCLES:
A. Every bicycle in use on a street or highway between sunset and sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the street or highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet (1,000') ahead, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, which shall be visible for six hundred feet (600') to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. During insufficient lighting conditions stated above, every bicycle being used shall be equipped with reflective material of sufficient size and reflectivity to be visible from both sides for six hundred feet (600') when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle or, in lieu of the reflective material, with a lighted lamp visible from both sides from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500'). A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
B. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakes which will enable its rider to stop the bicycle within twenty five feet (25') from a speed of ten (10) miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.
C. Every bicycle operated upon the streets or highways of the City shall comply with the provisions of article 4 of title 42, Colorado Revised Statutes, as it relates to the operation of bicycles1. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.109: CLINGING TO VEHICLES:
No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the bicycle or the rider to any vehicle upon any street or roadway. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.110: BICYCLES EXCLUDED:
Wherever official signs are erected giving notice that bicycles are excluded, as authorized in section 10.1.309 of this chapter, no bicycle rider shall violate any of the instructions. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.111: IMPOUNDING BICYCLES:
Members of the Police Department are authorized to remove a bicycle from any street, alley, highway, sidewalk, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, path or other public place or way, to the bicycle pound or to any lot or place maintained by the City or the Department for the storage of impounded bicycles, or to any other place of safety under any of the circumstances below enumerated:
A. When the bicycle is not in safe mechanical condition.
B. When the bicycle is not equipped as required by section 10.19.108 of this article.
C. When the bicycle is operated by any person under the age of sixteen (16) years in violation of any ordinance of the City relating to traffic or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
D. When any bicycle is seized, found or given to the Police Department as evidence of a crime, evidence in a traffic matter or lost or abandoned. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.19.112: RELEASE OF IMPOUNDED BICYCLES:
A. No bicycle, removed or impounded because of an unsafe mechanical condition or because it is not equipped as required by section 10.19.108 of this article, shall be released until:
1. Then safe mechanical condition has been corrected or lacking equipment has been placed on the bicycle; or
2. The City's authorized agent has been satisfied that the bicycle will not be ridden, propelled or operated upon any street, alley, highway, sidewalk, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, path or other public place or way until such unsafe mechanical condition has been corrected or lacking equipment has been placed on the bicycle, and the bicycle shall be released to the owner or person entitled to possession when the same is in safe mechanical condition and when the lacking equipment has been placed on the bicycle.
B. Bicycles otherwise will be released and disposed of in accord with section 9.1.206 of this Code and treated as "property" as defined in section 9.1.201 of this Code. (Ord. 96-103; Ord. 01-42)
10.27.104: BICYCLES:
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle within any park on other than a paved or improved dirt vehicular road or path specifically designated for bicycle traffic. A bicyclist shall be permitted to walk a bicycle over any grassy area, wooded trail or on any other area reserved for pedestrian use. (Ord. 89-103; Ord. 01-42)