New Mexico is set to implement a new bicycle safety law aimed at enhancing cyclist safety and promoting sustainable transportation. Senate Bill 73, passed during the 2025 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in March, introduces the “Idaho stop” law to New Mexico, allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs when it is safe to do so. The legislation will take effect on July 1 of this year.
“This new law acknowledges the reality of how cyclists already behave on the roads, making conditions safer for everyone,” said bill sponsor Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D – Albuquerque). “By allowing cyclists to maintain momentum through intersections when it’s safe, we reduce their exposure to potential accidents and encourage more people to consider biking as a viable commuting option. It may seem counterintuitive for non-bicyclists, but being in an intersection, even for moments longer, adds risk. The data clearly shows that giving cyclists the option to move through when safe reduces collisions and improves visibility.”
To help promote the upcoming law and encourage safe, active transportation, Senator Sedillo Lopez will join fellow riders on Bike to Work Day, Friday, starting at 8 a.m. at Morningside Park (299 Morningside Dr. SE). The group will ride together to the UNM North Campus Pop-Up Location (North Diversion Channel Trail & Tucker Ave. NE).
This pop-up is one of 16 citywide locations celebrating National Bike Month, offering free giveaways and bike support from 7-9 a.m. View all locations and event details here: CABQ Bike Month Events.
The law does not alter right-of-way rules or excuse reckless riding. Cyclists must still yield to pedestrians and vehicles with the legal right-of-way. The Idaho stop law has been shown to improve cyclist safety by reducing their interaction with cars and decreasing accidents at intersections. Advocates argue it benefits both cyclists and motorists, reducing accidents and unnecessary law enforcement actions. According to the City of Albuquerque, this approach to intersection navigation has already shown promising safety outcomes in other states, with Idaho reporting a 14.5% decrease in cyclist injuries and Delaware a 23% reduction in crashes at intersections following similar legislative changes. Similar laws exist in eleven other states and Washington D.C.
“The other states that adopted this bill found a decrease in bicycle accidents, and that was really encouraging to me, because it’s such a tragedy when we lose a member of our community,” said Sedillo Lopez. “This law makes cycling more intuitive, predictable, and ultimately safer. I’m proud to help lead that change here.”
The law comes amid renewed calls for improved cyclist protections following high-profile fatal crashes in Albuquerque, where 60% of cyclist collisions occur at or near intersections, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT).
