Welcome to Stop for Everyone, a
short informational webinar on
shortformational webinar on Albuquerque's updated traffic laws.
Before we get into the new rules, it
helps to understand where they came from
and why they matter. Albuquerque's
traffic code was written in 1974. That's
over 50 years ago. Back then, most
people got around by car. A lot has
changed since then. Now, more people
walk, bike, ride scooters, and use
wheelchairs to get around. Our streets
are busier and more mixed than ever, but
the laws protecting people on those
streets had barely changed. In May 2019,
Mayor Tim Keller signed an executive
order called Vision Zero, a commitment
to reach zero traffic deaths in
Albuquerque by 2040. It's an ambitious
goal. However, cities around the world
have proven it's possible when you
combine education, infrastructure, and
updated laws. After the tragic death of
19-year-old cyclist Kayla Van Landingham
in 2025, her mother, Melinda Mononttoya,
turned grief into action by advocating
for stronger protections for people
walking, biking, and using shared
roadways in Albuquerque. Melinda's
efforts brought together community
advocates, the Albuquerque City Council,
the city of Albuquerque, and state
legislators to help lead the first major
update to the city's traffic laws in
over 50 years. now requiring drivers to
stop for vulnerable road users at
crosswalks. All of these updates came
from years of community input, data
about where crashes happen and who gets
hurt, and a belief that every person, no
matter how they get around, deserves to
reach their destination safely. Stop for
everyone reminds us that safety at every
crossing is both the law and a shared
responsibility. Now, let's get started.
Today we're diving into something that
affects all of us every time we step out
the door. Albuquerque's new traffic
laws. By the end of this webinar, you'll
have a clear picture of what changed,
what it means for drivers, cyclists,
pedestrians, and everyone else who uses
our streets. You can find more
information and resources at
cab.gov/stop.
Let's take a moment to hear Kayla's
story. Please watch this video.
That day changed my life forever. My
daughter Kayla was 19 riding her bike
across this intersection. She believed
everyone deserves safety, dignity, and
kindness. But our traffic laws didn't
protect her. So I fought for a change.
Now every multi-use trail crossing is a
crosswalk. Drivers must stop. No
passing, no second guessing. Stopping
takes seconds. Losing someone lasts
forever. Honor Kayla, stop for everyone.
Here's what we'll cover today. We'll
start with some key definitions so
everyone's on the same page. Then we'll
walk through the rules for the
pedestrian hybrid beacon, also known as
hawk signal, and rectangular rapid
flashing beacons or RRFBs.
From there, we'll cover driver duties,
new bicycle laws, including the cycle
stop as yield, parking rule changes, and
wrap up with some safety tips for
vulnerable road users. Let's go through
each one. The updated law introduces one
important term, vulnerable road user, or
VRU for short. A vulnerable road user is
anyone who is not riding inside a car,
truck, or on a motorcycle. That includes
pedestrians, wheelchair users, cyclists,
ebike riders, scooter riders, skaters,
road workers, and anyone using a
non-motorized device to get around. This
matters because everywhere the old law
said pedestrian, it now says vulnerable
road user. That's a big shift. It means
the law now protects a much wider group
of people, not just those on foot. One
of the most important changes in the new
law is this. A crosswalk now legally
exists at every intersection, even if
there are no painted lines on the
ground. So, a painted crosswalk with
white stripes, that's a crosswalk. An
unmarked corner with no paint at all,
still a legal crosswalk. And a midblock
crossing marked by signs or signals,
also a crosswalk. The bottom line for
drivers, if someone is crossing, you
must stop. Painted lines or not.
Albuquerque has two types of special
crossing signals, and it's important to
know how each one works. The first is
the pedestrian hybrid beacon or hawk
signal. It stays dark until someone
pushes a buttoned cross. When activated,
it cycles through flashing yellow, then
steady yellow, then steady red, then
alternating flashing red. As always,
stop on red. When you, the driver, sees
alternating flashing red, you can
proceed only if the crosswalk is clear.
The second is the rectangular rapid
flashing beacon or RRFB.
These are rectangular yellow lights that
flash rapidly when a vulnerable road
user activates them. The rule here is
simple. All drivers and cyclists must
stop and yield to whoever is crossing.
The simple rule for both. If you see any
flashing signal or beacon, stop. Someone
is crossing. This slide shows you what a
pedestrian hybrid beacon looks like in
action. You may have seen these at
busier crossings around the city. As a
vulnerable road user, this is what you
will see and do.
When you come to a pedestrian hybrid
beacon to cross the street, push the
button. This activates the crosswalk
signals for you and traffic signals for
the drivers. You will see a solid orange
upraised hand. Wait, don't cross. When
you see the walk sign, proceed to cross
the street with caution and continue to
look out for drivers. When you see the
flashing orange hand and numbered
countdown, complete your crossing. Do
not begin crossing on this signal. As a
driver, this is what you will see and
do. Before activation, all lights on the
signal facing vehicular traffic are
dark. When you see a flashing yellow,
slow down. A vulnerable road user has
activated the push button to cross. When
the flashing yellow turns solid, prepare
to stop. When you see two solid red
lights, you must stop at the indicated
stop lines. Once a set period of time
has passed, the lights will begin
flashing alternating red. If and only if
all vulnerable road users have completed
crossing, you may proceed with caution
through the crossing. If there are still
VRUs crossing, you must remain stopped
until the crosswalk is clear.
And here is what a rectangular rapid
flashing beacon looks like. These are
often found at trail crossings and
midblock locations. When those yellow
lights are flashing, that means someone
has activated the signal and is
crossing. You are required by law to
stop. Please watch the following video.
Let's talk about what drivers are
required to do. First, come to a full
stop for anyone crossing in a marked or
unmarked crosswalk. No exceptions.
Second, keep at least 5 ft of clearance
when passing any vulnerable road user.
That's a legal requirement, not a
courtesy.
Third, never pass a vehicle that has
stopped at a crosswalk. If a car ahead
of you is stopped, it may be because
someone is crossing that you cannot see.
Passing in that situation is now illegal
and extremely dangerous. And fourth,
when turning, whether right or left, you
must yield to any vulnerable road users
in the crosswalk. If you're turning
right, also watch for and yield to
cyclists in the bike lane. There are a
few more driver responsibilities worth
highlighting.
Phones away. The law requires full
attention at all times with a proper
lookout for all vulnerable road users.
Always stop behind the stop line at
intersections and crosswalks, not in the
crosswalk itself. And remember to always
look for the vulnerable road users
around you. Look left, look right, look
left. Again, the law is clear on this
point. Every driver must exercise due
care to avoid colliding with a
vulnerable road user in all
circumstances. That language is now
written directly into Albuquerque's
traffic code.
Let's spend a moment on the 5-ft passing
rule. When you pass a cyclist,
wheelchair user, or any other vulnerable
road user, you must leave at least 5 ft
of space between your vehicle and that
person. To put it in perspective, 5T is
roughly the width of an average car door
open fully. This is not a suggestion. It
is a legal minimum.
The law also makes clear that drivers
may not harass or endanger any
vulnerable road user. That includes
yelling, honking, tailgating, cutting
someone off, or using your vehicle to
intimidate. All of that is now
explicitly prohibited. The new law also
changes where you can and cannot park.
You may not park within 50 ft of a
crosswalk at an intersection unless it's
marked otherwise. The old rule was only
10 ft. This change gives people crossing
the street as well as drivers a much
clearer line of sight and a higher level
of safety for everyone. You may not park
or drive on a multi-use trail such as
the PO Delvoske and you may not park or
drive in any designated bike lane. A
final tip, when you're parked, remember
to use the Dutch reach when opening your
door slowly and with caution. This is
where you open the driver side door with
your right hand, causing you to look
over your shoulder just enough to notice
oncoming cyclists behind you. Cyclists
now have updated rules as well under
what's called the cycle stop as yield.
At stop signs, cyclists must slow down
and yield to other road users, but they
are no longer required to come to a
complete stop as long as the way is
clear and it is safe to proceed. At red
traffic signals, cyclists must come to a
complete stop and wait. Once it is clear
and safe, they may proceed. And in all
situations, right-of-way rules still
apply. Cyclists must always yield to any
vulnerable road users and to anyone who
has the legal right of way.
The new laws place clear
responsibilities on drivers, but
vulnerable road users also have a role
to play in staying safe. Use crosswalks
and intersections whenever possible.
Obey walk and don't walk signals before
stepping off the curb. Look left, right,
and left again. Make eye contact with
drivers before you cross. Don't assume
they've seen you. Be predictable. Move
in a straight, steady line. And keep
your eyes up and your devices away while
you're crossing. A few extra seconds of
awareness can make all the difference.
Let's watch one more stop for everyone
video. In Albuquerque, everyone is
protected in a crosswalk. Marked or
unmarked,
painted or not.
Breaking only takes a second. Ending a
life lasts forever.
If someone is crossing, drivers must
stop. For pedestrians,
for cyclists,
for people who use wheelchairs, for
everyone, everyone in a crosswalk,
marked or unmarked, deserves a complete
stop.
We'll close with this. Breaking only
takes a second. Ending a life, lasts
forever. Whether you drive, walk, bike,
roll, or do all of the above, you have a
role in making Albuquerque's streets
safer. The laws have changed. Now it's
up to all of us to change with it. For
more information, visit cab.gov/stop.