Why more US states are adopting bicycle-friendly regulations for red light stops

According to Bicycle Colorado, a bicycle advocacy organisation that campaigned for the new law, nearly three-quarters of bicycle-car crashes occur at intersections. Photo: AFP

The state of Colorado in the United States recently approved a bill allowing cyclists to run red lights. The idea is that they should stop, like everyone else, at a red light, but can then set off again as soon as they have given way to any vehicles and pedestrians present – even if the light is still red.

This law is intended to cut the risk of collisions by reducing the number of interactions between motorists and cyclists at intersections.