A 23-year-old e-bike rider was fatally injured after entering an intersection in Fort Collins without slowing or stopping, according to authorities. The crash occurred at South Timberline Road and East Lincoln Avenue. The rider was traveling on East Lincoln Avenue, where stop signs were posted at the intersection. South Timberline Road did not have stop signs.
Authorities said the rider entered the intersection without acknowledging the stop sign and was struck by a Lincoln SUV traveling northbound on South Timberline Road. He was thrown from the e-bike in the collision and died from his injuries three days later.
In 2022, Colorado introduced the “Safety Stop” law, which applies bicycle riders, e-bikes, and e-scooters. In essence, the law provides that anyone operating a “low-speed conveyance” may treat a stop sign as a yield sign and a red traffic light like a stop sign. Additionally, riders must already have the right of way and may not ride in excess of 10 MPH through stop signs at an intersection. The purpose of the law was to reduce the number injuries and fatal crashes resulting from collisions at controlled intersections. Though the law may be seen as a convenience for riders, it cannot be stressed enough the importance to exercise care and vigilance while operating any bicycle, e-bike, or e-scooter.
If you’ve been injured, the experienced injury attorneys at Bloch Ongert can help you recover the money you are entitled to receive. Call Bloch Ongert today at (970) 926-1700 to speak directly to an attorney.
The information for this post was sourced from The Denver Gazette and The Colorado State Patrol.
Colorado State Patrol: https://csp.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-introduces-changes-to-bike-laws
