Rules for bicyclists to follow when riding on Colorado trails.
Colorado cyclists have many choices to pick from when riding their bicycle outdoors. There are roadways, mountain biking trails, parks, and multi-use trails or paths. There is no shortage of options for getting off the roadway and away from motor vehicles. When bicycling in Colorado on a hard or soft surfaced trail, path or sidewalk, located in a Park or a Regional Trail system, where riding a bicycle is permitted, there are some rules cyclists must know and follow to comply with the law, be a courteous user, and safely operate their bicycle on a multi-use trail.
Only operate your bicycle on the established trail/path.
Yield to pedestrians and other slower users.
Stay to the right except when passing and do not block or substantially impede travel in the opposite direction.
Pass others on the left only after yielding to users traveling toward you in the opposite direction and giving an audible warning such as ringing a bell or saying “on your left.”
Ride at the designated speed limit or slower if the situation or trail conditions require slower speed for safety of others and public property. The speed limit for bicycles on most Regional Trails is 15 mph.
Do not stop or stand on the path/trail in a way that blocks or substantially impedes others.
Dismount from your bicycle when required for safe operation.
Do not ride with a dog leashed to your bicycle.
Comply with all other state and local laws applicable to bicycles.
Regional Trails are not located in a single park, can be many miles long, and cross through multiple municipalities. For example, the High Line Canal is a Regional Trail that is over 70 miles long and spans from Waterton Canyon in the Colorado Front Range foothills and Chatfield Reservoir to 64th Avenue east of Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and south of Denver International Airport. From Waterton Canyon, users can connect to the 567 miles of the Colorado Trail that cross west through the Colorado Rockies. The High Line Canal is a mixed surface trail that traverses through residential neighborhoods, across city streets, golf courses, and open space. You will typically interact with and pass by walkers, runners, cyclists, equestrian users, and different wildlife on the High Line Canal. Regional Trails in the Denver Metro Area include:
Bear Creek Trail
Cherry Creek Trail
High Line Canal Trail
Lakewood Gulch Trail
Sand Creek Trail
Sanderson Gulch Trail
Weir Gulch Trail
South Platte River Trail
There are many other multi-use paths in Colorado that allow cycling and includes Golden, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, the Western Slope, and all throughout Colorado. Local rules may vary, so it is best to research and learn any local rules before heading out to ride your bicycle on any path that allows bicycles. Other popular Colorado Regional Trails include the Rio Grande Trail following the Roaring Fork River from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, and the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path alongside the Colorado River and I-70, connecting to the Rio Grande Trail.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our legal services and how our focus in brain injury and bicycle injury cases matters, please get in touch with us via our contact page at Contact Us.
If you found this post helpful, you might also like to explore the other topics listed below and the many other topics in our comprehensive Safety & Prevention Guide, Brain Injury Guide, and Bike Injury Guide.
