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The 20 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities for Cyclists [+Death Totals]

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Commuters looking to reduce their environmental footprint may want to think twice about safety before hopping on a bike. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of cyclist deaths has been rapidly increasing over the past several years. In 2017 alone, there were 783 cyclist fatalities nationwide, a 25 percent increase since 2010.Cyclist fatalities increasing since 2010

Increases in cyclist fatalities have occurred alongside increases in bike share programs and the number of cyclists commuting to work. In 2017, there were nearly 800,000 commuters nationwide who rode their bicycles to work, representing 0.5 percent of all commuters. While the share of bike commuters has remained steady in recent years, the fatality rate per 100,000 bike commuters is at a ten-year high.

Although cyclist fatalities have been on the rise nationwide, the risk varies widely by location.

Between 2014 and 2017, California, Florida, and Texas, were responsible for about 41 percent of all cyclist fatalities in the U.S., despite accounting for only 27 percent of the population.

When comparing fatality rates (per commuter or per resident), the most dangerous areas are clustered in the Southeastern U.S. Despite warmer weather, these states also report below-average rates of bike commuters—possibly the result of dangerous riding conditions.Map showing cyclist death rates higher in southeast

With the rise of bike share programs and an increased emphasis on more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, cycling is likely to continue growing in popularity, especially in major cities. To identify which cities are most dangerous for cyclists, our researchers here at CarInsurance.org analyzed fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 2014-2017, as well as population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

They ranked cities by the number of bike fatalities per 100,000 bike commuters. Only cities with at least one cyclist fatality per year and at least 100,000 residents were included in the analysis. Consistent with the findings at the state level, 13 of the 20 most dangerous cities for cyclists are in Florida, California, or Texas.

Keep reading to discover the full list of the most dangerous cities for biking in the United States.

Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities for Cyclists

USA, Florida, Miami, Traffic jam on bridge

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#20 – Miami, Florida

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 193
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 9.0
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 16
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 2,073
  • Population: 443,007
Phoenix Arizona USA - Phoenix evening city view with mountain in the background

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#19 – Phoenix, Arizona

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 201
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 6.5
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 41
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 12%
  • Number of bike commuters: 5,090
  • Population: 1,574,421

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Beaches and skyline of the waterfront of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

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#18 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 204
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 14.1
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 10
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 1,225
  • Population: 177,175
Almond Blossoms in Modesto California one of the water hungry crops of California's Central Valley

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#17 – Modesto, California

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 239
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 4.8
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 4
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 419
  • Population: 210,166
San Antonio, Texas, USA skyline

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#16 – San Antonio, Texas

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 243
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 2.2
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 13
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 8%
  • Number of bike commuters: 1,340
  • Population: 1,461,623
Devon Energy Tower in Oklahoma City

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#15 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 250
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 2.4
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 6
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 601
  • Population: 629,191

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Rural road in southern Louisiana with signpost to Breaux Bridge and Lafayette

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#14 – Lafayette, Louisiana

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 251
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 13.8
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 7
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 696
  • Population: 126,476
Texas Rangers Baseball Stadium in Arlington, Texas

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#13 – Arlington, Texas

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 262
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 2.6
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 4
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 382
  • Population: 388,225
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA skyline

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#12 – Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 267
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 2.7
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 9
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 11%
  • Number of bike commuters: 843
  • Population: 826,060
The intersection of California State Highways 46 and 41, where actor James Dean died in a car accident in the 1950s

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#11 – Bakersfield, California

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 293
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 6.0
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 9
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 768
  • Population: 372,680
a line of palm trees in front of a Floridian Sunset

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#10 – Lakeland, Florida

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 299
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 9.6
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 4
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 25%
  • Number of bike commuters: 335
  • Population: 104,165
Memphis skyline at Sunrise with Mississippi River

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#9 – Memphis, Tennessee

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 309
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 2.7
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 7
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 567
  • Population: 654,723
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA skyline from Louisiana State Capitol.

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#8 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 319
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 8.8
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 8
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 627
  • Population: 227,549

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View while eating at Garlic Brothers Restaurant in Stockton, CA

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#7 – Stockton, California

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 327
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 7.4
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 9
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 688
  • Population: 304,358
Beautiful sunset between two silhouetted trees in a bayside park, Chula Vista, California, USA

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#6 – Chula Vista, California

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 358
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 4.7
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 5
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 349
  • Population: 264,101
Waterfront buildings in Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

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#5 – Pompano Beach, Florida

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 417
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 16.3
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 7
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 420
  • Population: 107,542
Evening in Dayton across Great Miami River. Dayton, Ohio, USA.

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#4 – Dayton, Ohio

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 459
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 7.1
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 4
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 25%
  • Number of bike commuters: 218
  • Population: 140,939
The view over San Bernardino from Hwy 18 on a clear, hot summer's day in Los Angeles, California, USA

Alamy Stock Photo

#3 – San Bernardino, California

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 578
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 8.1
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 7
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 14%
  • Number of bike commuters: 303
  • Population: 215,252
The historic 1914 Taylor County courthouse in Abilene Texas in Classical Revival style.

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#2 – Abilene, Texas

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 1,116
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 10.2
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 5
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 112
  • Population: 122,762
Sunrise from Jaycee Park, Cape Coral, FL

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#1 – Cape Coral, Florida

  • Annual bike fatalities per 100K commuters: 1,333
  • Annual bike fatalities per 1M residents: 5.8
  • Total bike fatalities (last 4 years): 4
  • Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet: 0%
  • Number of bike commuters: 75
  • Population: 173,679

Methodology & Detailed Findings

Cyclist fatality statistics were obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 2014-2017. Population statistics, including total city population and age distribution, as well as cyclist commuting rates, were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

The cities in this analysis were ranked according to the cyclist fatality rate.

Cyclist fatality rates were calculated as the average number of cyclist fatalities in the city for the period 2014-2017 per 100,000 estimated cycling commuters in 2017.

All cities included in the final list had a population of at least 100,000, as well as at least one cyclist death per year.

A closer look at the data yields additional insights into fatal cycling accidents. For example, adults over 45 are more likely to be involved in a fatal bicycling accident than younger people. More specifically, nearly 60 percent of cycling fatalities between 2014-2017 involved victims over the age of 45.

Furthermore, more than 60 percent of fatal bike accidents occur outside of intersections on open roads. In 38 percent of fatal bike accidents, the motorist was at fault. By contrast, the cyclist was deemed to be at fault only 31 percent of the time. In the remaining cases, fault was unknown or not reported.

Bike fatalities by age and location

Despite rising cyclist fatality rates, there are many things that can be done at the individual level to improve cycling safety. According to NHTSA, bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.

Interestingly, only about 16 percent of cyclists involved in fatal accidents were known to be wearing helmets. For cyclists, wearing a helmet and adhering to traffic rules (such as riding in the same direction as cars) can reduce the risk of collision or fatal injury. In addition, reducing distractions such as texting can make cycling a safer mode of transportation.

cyclists speeding on urban road in racing cycle race

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Chart Showing All Study Results

City & State Annual Bike Fatalities (per 100K Commuters) Annual Bike Fatalities (per 1M Residents) Total Bike Fatalities (Last 4 Years) Share of fatalities where cyclist wore a helmet Number of Bike Commuters City Population Rank
Cape Coral, Florida 1333.3 6.0 4 0% 75 173,679 1
Abilene, Texas 1116.1 10.0 5 0% 112 122,762 2
San Bernardino, California 577.6 8.0 7 14% 303 215,252 3
Dayton, Ohio 458.7 7.0 4 25% 218 140,939 4
Pompano Beach, Florida 416.7 16.0 7 0% 420 107,542 5
Chula Vista, California 358.2 5.0 5 0% 349 264,101 6
Stockton, California 327 7.0 9 0% 688 304,358 7
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 319 9.0 8 0% 627 227,549 8
Memphis, Tennessee 308.6 3.0 7 0% 567 654,723 9
Lakeland, Florida 298.5 10.0 4 25% 335 104,165 10
Bakersfield, California 293 6.0 9 0% 768 372,680 11
Charlotte, North Carolina 266.9 3.0 9 11% 843 826,060 12
Arlington, Texas 261.8 3.0 4 0% 382 388,225 13
Lafayette, Louisiana 251.4 14.0 7 0% 696 126,476 14
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 249.6 2.0 6 0% 601 629,191 15
San Antonio, Texas 242.5 2.0 13 8% 1340 1,461,623 16
Modesto, California 238.7 5.0 4 0% 419 210,166 17
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 204.1 14.0 10 0% 1225 177,175 18
Phoenix, Arizona 201.4 7.0 41 12% 5090 1,574,421 19
Miami, Florida 193 9.0 16 0% 2073 443,007 20
Spokane, Washington 189.1 6.0 5 40% 661 212,982 21
Jersey City, New Jersey 187.3 4.0 4 0% 534 265,932 22
Wilmington, North Carolina 186.6 11.0 5 0% 670 115,261 23
Jacksonville, Florida 182.7 4.0 15 7% 2052 867,313 24
Wichita, Kansas 181.2 3.0 4 0% 552 389,054 25
Las Vegas, Nevada 179.4 3.0 8 13% 1115 621,662 26
Santa Ana, California 177.1 7.0 10 0% 1412 334,493 27
Riverside, California 176.8 5.0 7 29% 990 321,570 28
Garden Grove, California 173.9 6.0 4 0% 575 174,812 29
Saint Louis, Missouri 166.9 6.0 8 13% 1198 314,867 30
Clearwater, Florida 163.8 11.0 5 0% 763 112,794 31
Springfield, Missouri 159.5 6.0 4 0% 627 165,785 32
Reno, Nevada 158.4 6.0 6 17% 947 239,732 33
Tampa, Florida 153.6 10.0 14 7% 2278 368,087 34
Louisville, Kentucky 149.8 3.0 7 14% 1168 615,478 35
Gilbert, Arizona 148.4 4.0 4 25% 674 232,176 36
Virginia Beach, Virginia 140.4 4.0 8 13% 1425 450,057 37
Mesa, Arizona 138.9 6.0 11 18% 1980 479,317 38
Fort Worth, Texas 128.9 1.0 4 0% 776 835,129 39
Indianapolis, Indiana 123.9 3.0 10 0% 2018 853,431 40
Grand Rapids, Michigan 120 6.0 5 0% 1042 195,355 41
Orlando, Florida 117.4 4.0 4 0% 852 269,414 42
Sacramento, California 116 10.0 20 5% 4310 489,650 43
Detroit, Michigan 113.1 3.0 8 0% 1768 679,865 44
Houston, Texas 110.1 3.0 24 4% 5451 2,267,336 45
Durham, North Carolina 109.1 4.0 4 0% 917 257,232 46
Anaheim, California 99.8 3.0 4 0% 1002 349,007 47
Huntington Beach, California 97.5 7.0 6 0% 1539 200,415 48
Colorado Springs, Colorado 95.3 3.0 5 40% 1311 450,000 49
Savannah, Georgia 92.7 9.0 5 40% 1349 145,094 50
Saint Petersburg, Florida 92.1 6.0 6 0% 1628 256,031 51
Buffalo, New York 83.5 4.0 4 0% 1197 259,574 52
Fresno, California 82.1 3.0 6 17% 1826 519,037 53
San Jose, California 77.3 3.0 14 0% 4527 1,023,031 54
Columbus, Ohio 73.9 3.0 9 11% 3043 852,144 55
Sunnyvale, California 71.1 7.0 4 0% 1407 151,565 56
Los Angeles, California 69.3 4.0 58 12% 20912 3,949,776 57
New Orleans, Louisiana 66.9 10.0 15 7% 5604 388,182 58
Albuquerque, New Mexico 61.4 4.0 9 0% 3663 556,718 59
Tucson, Arizona 51.3 7.0 14 14% 6826 530,905 60
Charleston, South Carolina 48.9 8.0 4 0% 2044 131,204 61
Gainesville, Florida 44.3 10.0 5 20% 2821 129,394 62
New York, New York 38.8 2.0 74 12% 47701 8,560,072 63
Ann Arbor, Michigan 38 8.0 4 0% 2635 119,303 64
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 37.5 2.0 4 0% 2664 599,086 65
Austin, Texas 33.9 2.0 9 0% 6636 916,906 66
Denver, Colorado 30.9 4.0 10 10% 8083 678,467 67
San Diego, California 28.5 1.0 8 25% 7011 1,390,966 68
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 27.5 2.0 15 0% 13641 1,569,657 69
Chicago, Illinois 27.4 2.0 24 4% 21900 2,722,586 70
Boston, Massachusetts 20 2.0 6 0% 7500 669,158 71
Oakland, California 16.7 2.0 4 0% 5994 417,442 72
Minneapolis, Minnesota 15.9 4.0 6 33% 9433 411,452 73
Seattle, Washington 14.2 3.0 8 25% 14096 688,245 74
San Francisco, California 14.2 3.0 11 46% 19317 864,263 75
Portland, Oregon 10.3 4.0 9 33% 21781 630,331 76
Washington, District Of Columbia 7.7 2.0 5 20% 16314 672,391 77
References:
  1. https://nacto.org/bike-share-statistics-2017/
  2. https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars
  3. https://www.census.gov
  4. https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/delete/useyourhead/page2.html

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