What you need to know about Colorado’s motorcycle laws
- Colorado prohibits lane splitting, clinging to other vehicles, and carrying passengers without proper footrests.
- All riders and passengers must use DOT-approved eye protection. Riders under 18 must also wear a DOT-approved helmet.
- Motorcycle passengers must sit behind the driver or in a sidecar, never in front, and footrests are required.
With its extensive highways and majestic mountain vistas, Colorado offers some spectacular motorcycling opportunities. However, when you ride a motorcycle, there is always the potential for a collision with an automobile. If that occurs, your chances for serious injury or death are generally greater than for the occupant(s) of the other vehicle.
In the interest of preventing accidents, Colorado state law imposes minimum motorcycle safety standards. Understanding and applying these standards could help you avoid an accident as well as trouble with law enforcement.
Traffic laws
When you ride in Colorado, you must operate your bike independently. In other words, you cannot hold onto another vehicle or otherwise connect your motorcycle to it. The term for such actions is clinging, and it is against the law.
If you are riding with another motorcycle, you may co-ride, i.e., share the lane side by side. However, if you wish to overtake another vehicle, you must use the passing lane. Colorado state law prohibits the practice of lane splitting, in which you remain in the same lane as the vehicle you are trying to overtake.
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash and have questions about how traffic violations affect your claim, CGH’s car accident injury claims page explains how fault is assessed under Colorado’s comparative negligence rules.
Protective gear
All motorcycle riders, including passengers, must use some sort of eye protection besides the windshield. Though eyeglasses or goggles with lenses made of safety glass or plastic are acceptable, the law maintains that a helmet visor is ideal.
Riders who are under the age of 18 must wear helmets bearing the approval of the Department of Transportation. This applies to both operators and passengers. The law does not require helmets for riders age 18 and over but acknowledges helmets’ effectiveness at saving lives in a motorcycle crash.
Wearing protective gear can also matter in a personal injury case. If you were involved in a motorcycle collision, our Denver motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand how gear use may affect your claim.
Passengers
Motorcycle passengers must never sit in front of the driver. They must sit in a sidecar or on a seat behind the driver. You must never carry a passenger on a bike that does not have footrests for the passenger’s use.
Motorcycle laws vary by state. Be sure you know what rules apply on a cross-country trip.
Passengers injured on a motorcycle may have their own claims. CGH’s team represents injured riders and passengers throughout Colorado. Read more about personal injury claims in Colorado or contact us for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in Colorado?
No. Colorado state law prohibits lane splitting, the practice of riding in the same lane as a vehicle you are trying to overtake. To pass another vehicle, you must use the passing lane.
Do all motorcycle riders in Colorado need to wear a helmet?
Colorado law requires helmets only for riders and passengers under the age of 18. Those helmets must bear Department of Transportation approval. Riders 18 and over are not required by law to wear a helmet, though helmets are recognized as effective at saving lives in a crash.
What eye protection is required for motorcycle riders in Colorado?
All motorcycle riders and passengers must use eye protection beyond the windshield. Eyeglasses or goggles with safety glass or plastic lenses are acceptable. A helmet visor also meets the requirement.
Where must a motorcycle passenger sit?
A passenger must sit in a sidecar or on a seat behind the driver, never in front. The motorcycle must also have footrests available for the passenger. Carrying a passenger on a bike without footrests is against the law.
Can two motorcycles share the same lane side by side in Colorado?
Yes. Two motorcycles may co-ride by sharing a lane side by side. However, a motorcycle may not cling to or connect with any other vehicle, and must use the passing lane to overtake another vehicle rather than lane splitting.
This article is general information for Colorado motorcycle riders and injury readers. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not promise that any rule or penalty applies to your situation. Motorcycle traffic law and personal injury questions require case-specific legal review.
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