Boulder leaders will take up a proposal next week that would more strictly regulate how cyclists, pedestrians and motorists use crosswalks — including a new speed limit for bikes.
Bicycles entering and traversing a crosswalk would have to do so no faster than 8 mph, under a proposed amendment to the city’s traffic code.
“It’s slow but rideable,” said Bill Cowern, Boulder’s transportation operations engineer. “You can do so without feeling like your bike is wobbling and falling over.”
Cowern said a disproportionate number of accidents at the city’s 15 flashing crosswalks involve bicycles, and Boulder needs to adopt regulations that speak directly to the city’s large cycling population.
In a study conducted a few years ago, the city found that in 70 percent of accidents when a person was hit crossing at a flashing crosswalk, a bicycle was involved. That, the study concluded, was despite the fact that less than half the crossing activity was bicycle-related.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the motion on a first reading Tuesday. Public discussion and a final vote on the measure would occur at a later date.
The rule changes would also require that all crosswalk users activate the flashing yellow lights, where available. Now, it’s up to the pedestrian or cyclist whether to press the button that turns on the lights.
As for drivers, they will have to come to a stop at a crosswalk if another vehicle is already stopped in an adjacent lane waiting for someone to cross. State law already mandates that, but the city wants to specifically make it part of its traffic code, Cowern said.
