City Passes Landmark Traffic Safety Bill Protecting Vulnerable Road Users

We’re excited to share that O-25-98, a major update to Albuquerque’s traffic code, has officially been signed by Mayor Tim Keller on November 18, 2025, and will go into effect on November 28, 2025. This long-awaited legislation comes in response to the alarming rise in serious crashes involving people walking, biking, and rolling on our streets. After multiple tragic incidents in recent years, this new ordinance marks a meaningful step toward making Albuquerque safer for everyone—not just those behind the wheel.

O-25-98 formally recognizes vulnerable road users and modernizes our traffic laws to better protect cyclists, pedestrians, and users of mobility devices. The ordinance aligns local codes with national best practices and clarifies the responsibilities of all road users.

You can view the full ordinance here: O-25-98 Enacted.

Key Changes in the New Law

• Updated and clarified outdated traffic code language

• Revised definition of crosswalks to better reflect real-world use and design

• Drivers are now required to stop for any vulnerable road user, not just pedestrians in marked crosswalks

• Bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, scooters, e-bikes, and other micro-mobility devices now share the same rights as pedestrians in many contexts

• Idaho Stop codified for Albuquerque: bicyclists may now proceed through signalized intersections when it is safe to do so

• Pedestrians must use approved crossing zones, reinforcing safe crossing practices

• New definitions added for trails, bikeways, pedestrian hybrid beacons, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), and vulnerable road users

• Creation of a public safety awareness campaign to ensure residents understand the new rules

This ordinance represents a significant win for safer, more people-centered streets.