In case you missed it, House Bill 26-1237 has been working its way through the legislative process since it was introduced in February – and it deals with various modifications to law related to transportation safety.

While parts of the bill addressed traction devices, clarifications in moving vehicles that impede traffic or maintenance operations, and updated how vehicle or traffic collisions are officially referenced, what’s likely to get the most talk in the outdoor recreation community is a section about blocking bike lanes.

With the passing of the bill, individuals are now prohibited from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in the portion of a roadway designated as bike lane statewide with a few exceptions. Exceptions include doing so when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or when complying with direction from a police officer or an official traffic control device.

Per reporting from Denver7, breaking this law is considered a ‘class B traffic infraction,’ which can result in a fine of up to $100.

Among many language changes that were included across various sections of the bill was an update from the term ‘accident’ to ‘crash’ when referencing bicycle collisions and similar traffic incidents. This addresses a long-standing complaint from the cycling community that the use of the term ‘accident’ downplays the severity of a bicycle-involved collision, sometimes in a way that can displace blame away from the driver of a vehicle that may have caused the crash.

The bill had bipartisan support, with prime sponsors being Representative Lesley Smith (Democrat), Representative Rick Taggart (Republican), and Senator William Lindstedt (Democrat). It was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on May 5.

Read more about this bill here.

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