Bicycle DUI Laws in Colorado
Last reviewed by BikeSize EditorialThis guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. Read full disclaimer.
The rule
In Colorado, the DUI statute does not apply to bicyclists — it covers motor-vehicle operators only. Colorado's DUI and DWAI statutes (C.R.S. § 42-4-1301) apply only to operators of a 'motor vehicle,' and § 42-1-102(58) excludes bicycles from the definition. Electrical assisted bicycles are likewise excluded under § 42-1-102(28.5). Cyclists riding under the influence may still be cited for careless driving (§ 42-4-1402) or charged with public intoxication, but the DUI consequences - including a nine-month licence revocation - do not attach to bicycle operation. See C.R.S. § 42-4-1301 (Driving under the influence; driving while impaired).
Statute
What this means in practice
A DUI charge isn't on the table for cyclists in Colorado, but that's not a license to ride drunk — public-intoxication, reckless-conduct, and disorderly-conduct charges can still apply, and cycling impaired dramatically raises crash risk.
Ride sharp, ride legal
Run a 60-second pre-ride safety check
DUI, impairment, and distraction laws all assume you are riding a bike that is actually safe to ride. The M-check takes a minute and catches the things that get you hurt.
See the M-check guide