Cyclists could face fines for breaking the speed limit

LITTLETON- We all know the consequences for being a lead foot on the road, but what about the bike path?

It's nothing new, but many people have no idea municipalities throughout Colorado can ticket you for going too fast on trails and paths.

"I had no idea there was a bicycle speed limit," cyclist Rosa Venszia said.

It's 15 mph, by the way.

Venzia picks up the Cherry Creek Trail and heads south for her rides. She admits she doesn't usually know exactly how fast she's going.

"Probably 20 mph, at least 20 I mean, yeah, I think," she laughed.

Not knowing your speed is no excuse for going over the posted 15 mph speed limit, according to South Suburban Park Ranger Dan Scheuerman.

"Our problem is in the commuter mornings and they are looking at it as a highway, and they are going way too fast," Scheuerman said.

Park Rangers started using radar to check people's speed about four years ago, and around South Platte Park, rangers have seen a big difference in the total number of accidents reported each year.

The office stepped up its efforts to increase safety on the Platte Trail after a cyclist died on the path following a collision in 2003.

South Suburban Parks and Recreation added round-abouts, dual lanes, and speed limit signs to get cyclists to slow down.

"I'd say a lot of people are going the speed limit but with the new technology in the road bikes it takes nothing to go twice the speed limit," Scheuerman said.

Most cyclists will get a warning before a ticket. Scheureman says if they catch people speeding over and over again then they'll receive a citation and it'll be up to a judge to decide the fee. No points will go against your driving record.

"People have to understand that this is not only a commuters trail, and there is a speed limit, and there is a very large concern for safety," Scheuerman said.

For maps of bike paths in Denver, visit http://www.bikedenver.org/maps/.