Bike

• The Boulder Valley has more than 300 miles of bikeway PDF, including 96 miles of bike lanes, 84 miles of multi-use paths, 50 miles of designated bike routes and Neighborhood GreenStreets prioritized for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
• A well-connected network of multiuse paths separated from vehicle traffic and more than 80 bike and pedestrian underpasses make it possible for almost completely uninterrupted travel, no matter where you’re headed.
• Continuing to improve bicycle safety and comfort and build out our bicycle network are key goals of our community’s Transportation Master Plan, Vision Zero commitment and Low-Stress Walk and Bike Network Plan.

Riding bikes and other devices on the sidewalk, except for accessibility purposes, is prohibited downtown on and around the Pearl Street Mall and in the University Hill commercial area.

• Downtown Boulder Dismount Zones Map PDF
• University Hill Dismount Zones Map PDF
• Which Wheels Go Where chart PDF

Bikes can be ridden on all streets, in bike lanes, on multi-use paths and on sidewalks outside dismount zones.

Learn more at E-micromobility: E-bikes, E-scooters and More.

Multi-use paths

• Multi-use paths have a 15 mph speed limit for bikes (including e-bikes), unless noted otherwise.
• E-bikes are prohibited on some multi-use paths.

Did you know?

• It’s illegal for bicyclists to wear headphones or earbuds while riding.
• Bicyclists are required to have a white light on the front of their bike and a red light on the back when riding after dusk.
• Always ride with the flow of traffic.
• Keep right, pass left, and give an audible alert before passing.
• Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians.

Open Space trails

• Yield the right-of-way to all other trail users and bicyclists traveling uphill.
• Pass with care and alert others in advance of your approach.
• Control your speed at all times. Safe speeds vary with trail conditions and the business of the trail.
• Practice minimum impact bicycling: avoid muddy trails, skidding, hard braking and shortcutting. Riding on wet or muddy trails causes serious trail erosion and may result in a temporary trail closure.

The Safety Stop is a state law that gives people on bicycles and other low-speed mobility devices, such as scooters, the legal option to ride slowly through stop signs without stopping first. Learn how to do a Safety Stop

• Siempre guarde su bicicleta con candado, incluso en casa. Frecuentemente, las bicicletas se las roban de los patios, garajes o cocheras.
• Use candados de alta calidad, ya sea candados en forma de U o candados de cadena de alta resistencia. Solo use cables como seguro secundario, para asegurar las llantas al marco.
• Asegure tanto las llantas como el marco a un estante para bicicletas, en un área concurrida y con buena iluminación, y use el mejor candado que pueda comprar. ¡No deje su bicicleta sin atender por mucho tiempo!
• Cuando estacione su bicicleta, llévese con usted cualquier pieza o componente que se pueda quitar fácilmente (luces, bomba de aire, bolsas y el asiento).
• Después de registrar su bicicleta con Bike Index, tómese una foto con su bicicleta y otra con el número de serie de la bicicleta. Si le roban su bicicleta y después es recuperada, las fotos pueden ser utilizadas para comprobar que la bicicleta es de su propiedad.

Puede reportar un robo en línea, llamando a la sede central de la policía (303) 441-3333, por Bikeindex.com, o a través de la aplicación móvil del Departamento de Policía de Boulder

Bicycling is often portrayed as a symbol of the healthy and active community and lifestyle found in Boulder. Boulder already has high bicycle use compared to most U.S. communities, but with growing public health concerns about obesity and air quality, increased bicycling remains one of the most effective ways to travel while achieving personal health and air quality benefits. With an average trip length of about four miles, many of the trips made by Boulder residents could be accomplished by bike.

The bicycle element is based on developing a continuous bicycle network of cross-town corridors allowing for safe and convenient bicycle travel throughout the community. While these corridors may be composed of a variety of facility types, continuous corridors avoid the missing links that disrupt bicycle travel and put bicyclists in unexpected, difficult, and potentially dangerous situations. The bicycle element also recognizes that bicycle users range from the experienced commuter who is comfortable in traffic to children who cannot safely use a busy street. Consequently, a system of off-street multi-use paths is included as an option to the street system.

The long range bicycle network for the City of Boulder is comprehensive and will provide both on- and off-street connections throughout the city. With the completion of the bicycle element, an additional 92 miles of bicycle lanes, routes, and shoulders will be added. In addition, enhanced crossings, overpasses and underpasses will be added to the bicycle network. These facilities will provide safe connections and the opportunity for bike travel throughout the city for all levels of riders.

Bicycle Policies

• The city will complete a grid-based system of primary and secondary bicycle corridors to provide bicycle access to all major destinations and all parts of the community.
• The city will coordinate with Boulder County, CU, the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority (BURA), neighborhood plans, the City Parks and Recreation Department, the Open Space and Mountain Parks Department and other government entities, and plans to ensure that all city and county projects connect with and/or help to complete the corridor network.
• The city will work with property owners, developers, the BURA, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), the City Parks and Recreation Department, and CU to ensure that commercial, public, and mixed-use and multi-unit residential sites provide direct, safe and convenient internal bicycle circulation oriented along the line of sight from external connections to areas near building entrances and other on-site destinations.
• The city will combine education and enforcement efforts to help instill safe and courteous use of the shared public roadway, with a focus on better educating students on how to properly share the road with bicyclists, pedestrians and users of transit.