By Megan Hottman

Chances are, it’s been a while since you took a driver’s ed class. And there’s no test or manual required when someone buys a bike and takes to the roads. So learning new laws like this helps all of us stay safer, no matter how we travel.

In my work as an attorney and cycling safety educator, I’ve taught hundreds of seminars to law enforcement officers, district attorneys, cyclists, motorists, driver’s education instructors, and citizen advocacy groups across Colorado. 

And one thing is always clear: confusion about what the law actually says often leads to frustration and unnecessary tension among road users.

Let’s clear that up.

In 2022, Colorado passed a law known as the Safety Stop, often referred to as the “Stop as Yield” law. This law allows cyclists—and other low-speed conveyances like scooters—to treat stop signs as yield signs, and red lights as stop signs, but only when it is safe to do so.

Here’s what that means in practice: a person riding a bicycle does not have to come to a complete stop at a stop sign if they slow to a reasonable speed, determine the intersection is clear, and can safely proceed without disrupting traffic. At a red light, cyclists must come to a complete stop, yield to all cross traffic and pedestrians, and then may proceed straight or turn (when safe)—even if the light remains red.

This is not a free pass to ignore traffic control devices. Cyclists must always yield the right of way to any vehicle or pedestrian already in the intersection. If they don’t, they’re in violation of the law. The law is built on safety and predictability—not shortcuts or rule-breaking.

Additional key details help clarify the law’s application:

• Cyclists may proceed through stop sign-controlled intersections at up to 10 miles per hour after yielding.
• Younger cyclists may use the Safety Stop—but only when accompanied by an adult.
• The law does not apply at intersections where bike-specific lights or signage prohibit the maneuver.
• The statute introduces the term “low-speed conveyances,” which includes bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters (excluding mopeds), and wheelchairs.

So why did Colorado adopt this law?

Research (and decades of real-world application in other states) shows that these rules improve safety for cyclists. The first state to adopt a version of this law was Idaho, back in 1982 (hence the reason this is often called an “Idaho Stop”). Since then, studies have found that allowing cyclists to yield rather than stop can reduce crashes at intersections and improve traffic flow overall.

Colorado cyclists may now utilize Idaho Stops in their rides, thanks in large part to the tireless advocacy work of Bicycle Colorado, a statewide nonprofit that champions better laws, infrastructure, and education for bicyclists. You can learn more about this at: bicyclecolorado.org/colorado-safety-stop-becomes-law.

Why does it work? Because bicycles operate differently than cars. Riders have a higher field of vision, slower approach speeds, and better situational awareness. Coming to a complete stop at every intersection—especially when there’s no cross traffic—can actually increase risk by forcing cyclists into drivers’ blind spots or awkward positions in the lane. The Safety Stop law allows riders to maintain momentum and make safer, more natural decisions in real time.

For drivers, this change might take some getting used to. If you see a cyclist slow and roll through a stop sign, they may be fully compliant with the law. And for cyclists, the law is a privilege that comes with responsibility. Rolling through intersections without caution or yielding puts everyone at risk—and undermines the legitimacy of the very law that was passed to protect you.

The key takeaway here is simple: communication and education matter. Many of the misunderstandings and tensions I’ve seen between cyclists and drivers stem from a basic lack of clarity about what the law allows. The Safety Stop reflects a modern, evidence-based approach to how cyclists move through the world. But like any law, it only works when people understand it and apply it appropriately.

The next time you’re behind the wheel or on your bike, remember: we all share the road. And the more we understand the rules that govern how we use it, the safer and more respectful our shared spaces become.

Whether you’re a rider, a driver, or both, knowledge is power—and protection.

Let’s keep spreading the word—and the knowledge that helps us ride (and drive) smarter.

Megan Hottman is an attorney who, over the past 15 years, has exclusively represented cyclists in more than 200 cases and is the author of a legal reference book covering bicycle laws in all 50 states. She now serves as Head of Community and Advocacy at Spoke Safety (SpokeSafety.com), a technology company working to connect all vehicles to all cyclists globally in order to prevent crashes. You can find her online at MeganHottman.com or on Instagram at @meganhottman.