Fort Collins, CO Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Traffic Code § 1013
- Lane crossing allowed
- Only to turn, park, or exit
- Yield duty
- To bicycles already in lane
- Bike lane proof
- 3 signs/stencils per mile + white line
- Related parking ban
- Section 1204(3)(d)
Summary
Fort Collins Traffic Code Section 1013 bars drivers from parking in a designated bicycle lane and from entering or crossing one except to turn, or to reach the highway edge or a parking space. A driver must yield to any bicycle already in the lane before crossing into it, and Section 1204(3)(d) separately bans parking in a bike lane outright.
Whenever a lane has been established on a roadway as a bicycle lane, any person operating a motor vehicle on such roadway shall not park in such bicycle lane and shall not move into or out of such bicycle lane except to enter or leave the highway, enter or leave a parking space, or to prepare for a turn. Any person operating a motor vehicle shall not enter a bicycle lane as provided by this Subsection until yielding the right-of-way to all bicycles lawfully within the bicycle lane. For purposes of this Subsection and Subsection 1204, at least three (3) signs or pavement stencils per mile designating a lane as a bicycle lane, together with a white line parallel to the roadway, shall constitute prima facie evidence that a bicycle lane has been established on such roadway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Section 1013, in Part 10 of the Traffic Code (Driving, Overtaking, Passing), governs how motor vehicles interact with painted bicycle lanes. It states that a driver shall not park in such bicycle lane and shall not move into or out of such bicycle lane except to enter or leave the highway, enter or leave a parking space, or to prepare for a turn. That means a driver may legally cross a bike lane briefly to reach a driveway, curb parking space, or to complete a right turn, but may not drive or idle within the lane for any other purpose.
Before making any of those crossing movements, the driver must first yield the right-of-way to all bicycles lawfully within the bicycle lane, so a cyclist already riding in the lane has priority over a car merging across it. The section also sets the evidentiary bar for what counts as an established bicycle lane: at least three signs or pavement stencils per mile, together with a white line parallel to the roadway, is prima facie proof a lane is a legal bicycle lane, which matters because the parking ban in Section 1204(3)(d) and this crossing rule both depend on the lane being an officially designated one, not just a painted shoulder stripe.
A driver who parks in or blocks a marked bike lane can be cited under both Section 1013 and Section 1204(3)(d) for the same act.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 1013 is enforced through the same penalty-assessment and Municipal Court process the Traffic Code uses for other moving and parking offenses in Part 17. A driver who parks in a marked bicycle lane can be cited under both Section 1013 and Section 1204(3)(d), and an officer may also cite a failure-to-yield violation if the driver crosses into the lane ahead of a cyclist already riding there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive through a Fort Collins bike lane to reach a parking spot?
Is parking in a bike lane illegal in Fort Collins?
How does the City decide if a stripe on the road is really a bicycle lane under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
Compare Fort Collins to another location·View the Colorado mobility & curb rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.