Warm weather means more pedestrians and bicyclists are out

Twenty-one pedestrians and cyclists have died on Colorado roads so far this year. Although this is down 38 percent from this time last year, CDOT is urging all road users to be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists as the weather gets warmer.

Drivers need to follow the laws that protect vulnerable road users (VRUs). Additionally, VRUs, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, need to recognize their vulnerability on the roadway and obey the traffic laws created for their safety.

Pedestrians and bicyclists have a greater risk of experiencing a severe injury or even death in crashes involving a motor vehicle. In Colorado, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities have increased 78 percent since 2015, while passenger vehicle deaths increased 7 percent in that same timeframe. 2024 was the second deadliest year on record for VRUs, with 134 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths.

“To reverse the trend of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in the state, it’s critical that drivers refrain from speeding, using their phones and driving impaired,” said Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “It is important that Coloradans commit to a shared roadway responsibility, creating a safer environment for all roadway users.”

Colorado VRU safety laws

CDOT is reminding everyone of the laws designed to keep all road users safe:

Pedestrians laws:

• It’s illegal to cross in the middle of a block between two signalized intersections.
• Pedestrians must adhere to pedestrian-specific traffic signals and signs.
• If sidewalks aren’t present, pedestrians must walk on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Bicycle laws:

• Bicyclists have the same rights as passenger vehicles, including the right to use the road.
• If riding on a sidewalk, pedestrian path or crosswalk, bicyclists must yield to pedestrians and audibly tell them they are passing.
• Bicyclists must ride as far to the right as possible when passed by a motor vehicle.

Driver laws:

• Drivers must yield to pedestrians in all marked crosswalks and at intersections, even if there’s no marked crosswalk.
• Drivers may not pass a bicyclist in the same lane if there’s oncoming traffic, unless they give:
  • At least half the road to the oncoming vehicle, and
  • At least 3 feet of space between the vehicle (including mirrors) and the bicyclist.
• Drivers must drive sober, without distractions and obey speed limits.

More information is available in the Colorado Revised Statutes and the CDOT Bicycling Manual, which includes safety tips for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

Driving at unsafe speeds not only endangers the speeding driver but also puts everyone around them at risk, including pedestrians. Slight increases in speed can significantly increase fatality risk. For example, the risk of death for a pedestrian is 10 percent at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25 percent at 32 mph, 50 percent at 42 mph, 75 percent at 50 mph, and 90 percent at 58 mph, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

VRU deaths rising faster than overall traffic fatalities

In 2022, Colorado recorded 764 traffic fatalities, marking one of the deadliest years in the state’s history. Traffic fatalities have since decreased, falling 5.76 percent in 2023 and an additional 4.58 percent in 2024. Despite this progress, fatalities involving pedestrians and bicyclists remain high. In 2022, these VRUs represented 17.02 percent of all deaths on Colorado roads, a figure that climbed to 21.67 percent in 2023. While slightly reduced in 2024, VRUs still accounted for 19.51 percent of all traffic deaths in 2024.

“Enforcing traffic laws is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent bicycle and pedestrian crashes,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “However, education is just as vital as enforcement. Drivers need to understand that they share the road with more than just cars. The reality is that people are using more modes than ever to get around. Please slow down and use caution around those vulnerable roadway users.”

CDOT encourages the traveling public to educate themselves on how to do their part in reducing the number of traffic injuries and fatalities, especially for our most vulnerable outside of a vehicle. Learn more about bicycle and pedestrian safety at codot.gov/programs/bikeped.