2025’s Most Comprehensive Bicycle Accident Death Statistics

Cycling has become a more and more popular means of transportation in the United States. In fact, workers of all ages started to use bikes more. The rates show an average increase from 0.4% to 0.6% over the last 20 years.

However, just like any other activity, cycling carries a variety of risks that require careful consideration. Bicyclists get seriously, if not fatally, injured at a concerning rate all over the country. In 2022, over 1K riders were killed, and 46K were severely wounded in the US. As the number of preventable bicyclist deaths is on the rise, every cyclist in America has to be aware of the recent trends to improve their road safety stats.

Key Bicycle Accident Statistics

• 1% of all trips in the United States of America account for cycling.
• 1.9% of injured victims in traffic accidents are cyclists.
• 2.6% of all traffic fatalities nationwide are bicyclists.
• An 11% increase in bicyclist injuries was recorded between 2021 and 2022.
• A 13% increase in pedalcyclist fatalities was recorded in 2022.
• 37% of fatal bicycle crashes involved alcohol.
• 83% of all deadly bicycle accidents took place in urban areas.
• Men are 6 times more likely to get injured in a bicycle incident than women.
• Medical costs for bicycle-related injuries made around $3B in 2022.
• Work loss costs for bicycling incidents made around $18K on average in 2022.

Bicycle Death Trend Over Past Years

Over the past ten years, cyclist fatalities spiked by 15%, and there are a few factors that contribute to greater numbers of bicyclists killed in the USA. For once, more and more adults use bicycles as their favorite means of transportation. On top of that, the congestion rates in larger cities continue to spike, and busy roads without proper cycling infrastructure pose a serious threat to vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists.

Bicycle Death Statistics by State

According to the recent bicycle-friendly state ranking, Washington, Massachusetts, and Oregon make the top 3 locations a bicyclist could dream of. However, not every state in the United States is that safe for bike riders. Nebraska, Missouri, and Mississippi are the three most dangerous states based on the local approach to infrastructure, funding, laws, and overall support of the cycling community.

Interestingly enough, bicyclist-friendly actions taken by the state don’t always guarantee a low fatality rate among cyclists. Both California and Florida belong to the top 10 safe places for cycling, yet they are the two states that feature the highest fatality rates among cyclists – 177 and 222, respectively. At the same time, North Dakota and Montana are on the list of the most unfriendly states, yet there were only 1 and 2 bicyclist casualties recorded in these states.

In this table, you can observe the correlation between the number of cyclist deaths across every state in the country and the data from the National Bicyclist-Friendly State Rank.

10 Most Dangerous States for Cyclists

There isn’t a single factor that makes an area instantly unsafe for cycling. Usually, it takes a few aspects for the state to be viewed as quite dangerous for cyclists. Today, we’ll discuss the top 10 most dangerous states in the USA based on recent mortality rates among bicyclists.

Florida

Over 0.5% of people across Florida use their bicycles to get to work on a daily basis. Yet, more than two hundred bike riders die on local roads annually, and over 9K get serious injuries. That is one of the worst indicators in America. High-speed roads in the state are among the major contributing factors to such unfavorable stats. In 2024, Florida was ranked 8th on the National Bicyclist Friendly list because of the local authorities’ efforts to improve the situation, but it remains grim.

California

A close neighbor of Florida — California — seems to deal with the same challenges when it comes to biking. As many as 177 cyclists sustained fatal traumas on the streets of sunny California, and that is an alarming spike in bicyclist deaths over the past years. 

In fact, bike riders make up 4% of all traffic fatalities across the state. There may be fewer road-rage-inspired accidents in California since almost 70% of other motorists believe that all cyclists have the right to share the road with them, but the area still belongs to the most dangerous in the USA. 

Texas

Texas holds the third place on the list of the least favorable for cycling locations. The increase in bicyclist mortality is over 15% since 2022. While that is one of the main reasons why Texas holds the 30th position on the national rank, it is surely not the only one. Despite the alarming trends, state authorities continue to fail to invest funds into enhanced safety of the cycling community. To be precise, only once over the past 10 years had the state spent more than 2% of the federal means on cycling and walking in 10 years.

Arizona

50 bicyclist deaths were reported across Arizona in 2022, which makes up almost 4% of all fatal accidents in the state. The 37th place on the national rank backs up unfavorable riding conditions in the state. Although local authorities support the idea of decreasing speed limits to make roads safer for such vulnerable road users as bicyclists, they do not provide direct guidelines on how to succeed with the implementation. As a result, only 11 communities in Arizona are viewed as bicycle-friendly. 

New York

Over 4% of all traffic casualties in the state are bike riders. New York may not hit the top 10 most bicycle-friendly states, but holding the 15th position comes with certain expectations. According to recent reports, there’s been a slight improvement in cycling safety across the state — most cities adopted the 20-25 mph speed limit. 

However, as little as $3.20 per capita is spent on improving existing infrastructure and developing new bicyclist-oriented projects in NY. Moreover, unlike other states, New York still does not have the safe-passing law, which also puts pedalcyclists at serious risk. 

Louisiana

Back in 2022, 45 cyclists were killed while riding their bikes. The more recent survey states that the numbers dropped by 20%. However, as many as 37 people died in 2023 because of a tragic accident, which means that the state still holds its “most dangerous” position. 

Moreover, not only do the death rates remain concerning, but also the possibility of getting severely injured in an accident reached its 5-year spike. Louisiana deservingly got the 40th rank with only two bicycle-friendly communities and a single cyclist-friendly business. There are no state-approved civic area speed limits. That and insufficient industry funding result in such concerning stats. 

Michigan

Regardless of the fact that Michigan is one of the 10 top-ranked states in the USA, bicycle crashes have become more deadly over the past few years. 36 people were fatally injured on local roads, and that is almost 4% of all traffic casualties recorded across the state. Michigan State Police admits to the existing problems, but governmental authorities seem unwilling to spend at least 2% of federal funding on vulnerable user safety, which brings its sour fruit. 

Illinois

The state of Illinois holds the 11th position on the national bicyclist-friendly rank. The number of businesses, universities, and communities that support biking is impressive, as are the scenic trails across the state. 

However, the lack of sufficient investments in a safe riding infrastructure — only 1/3 of highway routes are well fit for cycling purposes — along with high-speed limits inevitably leads to numerous traffic deaths that involve cyclists. In 2022, 35 people died while riding their bikes, and that is as much as almost 3% of all fatal incidents across the state.

Georgia

29 bike riders were fatally injured on the roads of Georgia in 2022. The absence of a statewide improvement plan may be one of the underlying reasons why there are so many casualties among vulnerable road users in Georgia. 

Moreover, it may be just the reason why the state has to spend around $70M in bicyclists’ hospitalization costs. One more upsetting indicator of how unsafe the streets of the state are would be the fact that children between 10 and 14 years old sustained the most serious traumas from all the injured cyclist groups in Georgia.

South Carolina

Over the past few years, the bicyclist fatality rate in South Carolina has grown by 35%. Charleston, Horry, Greenville, and Beaufort counties prove to be the most dangerous of all across the state. In 2022, 25 cyclists were fatally injured in South Carolina, and in almost 40% of all car accidents, the motorists failed to detect the rider. 

This can only mean that the speed limits in the state are still too high, and the number of designated lanes remains low. South Carolina holds 47th place on a state rank and accounts for as many as 45 fatalities per 10K commuters.

10 Safest States for Cyclists

The ultimate safety of a state includes a variety of aspects. This ranges from governmental efforts and proper investment to people’s awareness of such vulnerable road user categories as cyclists. Although it may seem partially subjective, the lower the mortality rate in the area, the friendlier it appears to be. 

Wyoming

One may rightfully assume that the low population density of Wyoming is the primary reason why there are fewer cyclist fatalities in the area. However, other attributing factors ensure biker safety on local roads. For instance, as many as 25% of bicyclists involved in crashes wore protective helmets in civic areas. 

Moreover, 50% of all riders in rural areas tend to wear a helmet while riding. The precaution may save a rider from a deadly outcome any day. Although local authorities could have spent more on cycling infrastructure in the state, the stats speak for themselves.

Vermont

According to the recent data, only one cyclist died on Vermont roads in 2022, and that is an impressive accomplishment that the state can be proud of. In fact, there’s little wonder why — Vermont is one of the few states that have adopted a 4-feet safe passing rule. Moreover, local funding reached $10.79 per capita spent on walking and biking in the area. Vermont holds the 22nd national rank, but the data indicates that it may deserve a higher ranking.

North Dakota

North Dakota is the third safest state for cyclists in the USA. According to recent reports, only one person died in a bike crash in 2022. While it was granted the 41st position on the national rank, the community spends over $4.95 per capita on walking and bike riding in the state. Not to mention that flat roads and a wide range of rural areas contribute to cyclist safety in North Dakota. All that considered, the state has one of the lowest rates of bicycle-related accidents in the country — 0.2 per 100K citizens yearly.

West Virginia

The seemingly challenging, mountainous terrains of West Virginia make people assume that bicyclist deaths are thriving in the area. However, the statistics prove otherwise. Over the past few years, the state has gone up on the national bicycle-friendly list and proudly holds the 33rd position as of 2024. 

The interest that the local authorities, along with the community in general, have in vulnerable user safety deserves attention. Seven communities across the state received grants aimed at cyclist safety. Moreover, over the past two years, the state government spent a record amount of federal funding on the improvement of bicycling and walking safety. 

Montana

Two fatal bike accidents were recorded across Montana in the past few years. That is one of the lowest mortality indicators among cyclists across the USA. Surely, the state can’t show off the extreme density of the population, but as many as 1% of Montana’s citizens use their bicycles to get to work. 

With that in mind, 18 communities across the state have applied for and received safety grants that aim to eliminate deadly traffic incidents. Moreover, Montana State University is conducting valuable research in the field of traffic safety culture and rural road safety, which suffices the goal.

Maine

From 2019 to 2023, there were only 8 bicyclist deaths recorded in Maine, which made up less than 1% of all traffic collisions across the state. As of 2024, Maine holds the 28th place on the national rank. The state is working on new laws and regulations that will enhance the overall safety of vulnerable road users and provide them with unique rights in case of an accident. Although the cyclist community is still at risk, the government entities are working to improve existing riding conditions.

South Dakota

The state holds the seventh place on the list of the safest locations across the country since there were as many as three fatal incidents recorded in 2022. While the state spends around $5.17 per capita on walking and biking, it is one of the states that haven’t adopted a statewide biking plan. Once they do so, they will receive additional investments, which will make the riding conditions even safer. 

New Hampshire

Although New Hampshire hasn’t been deemed the safest state for cycling, it seems to be moving in the right direction. In 2022, three bicyclists were fatally injured on the streets of New Hampshire. 

However, in 2023, the state adopted a biking plan that includes over 2000 miles of bikeways and 700 miles of dedicated trails. On top of that, local authorities pay a lot of attention to surveys that reflect the current situation in the area and point out sufficient measures to make New Hampshire available for all road user groups.

Connecticut

There is more than a single reason why Connecticut holds 13th place on the national bicycle-friendly state rank. There were only three bicyclist deaths reported in the state. Yet, the state authorities regularly invest in various programs that promote vulnerable user safety. 

For instance, they give out $5K grants to communities to hold multiple educational events that are related to the topic. In the first year of the initiative implementation, over 60 organizations took part in those programs. Such an approach to cycling and walking is reflected in low mortality rates among vulnerable user groups.

New Mexico

New Mexico closes our list of the top 10 safest places for bike riding in the USA. Over the past few years, the state has been increasing federal investments in cycling safety, and it seems to be paying off. There were only 4 bicyclist deaths recorded in 2022 in the area, which made up 0.9% of all traffic fatalities. 

Starting in 2024, local authorities voted to invest almost $5M into physically protected bike lanes, which will reduce the number of casualties. Moreover, biking and walking safety will be included in every new transportation project.

Bicycle Death Statistics by City

The recent NHTSA report proves that some cities located in the safest states of America remain quite unsafe for bicyclists. In fact, the central cities of the safest regions feature a growing number of fatalities despite the measures taken to prevent them.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Month

Seasonal changes have a significant impact on cyclist fatality rates as well. The highest number of bicyclists killed is during the warm month. Here are the numbers: 

• 20% of cyclists died in winter.
• 22% of riders were killed in spring.
• 30% of bicyclists were fatally injured in the summer.
• 27% of bike riders died during the fall months.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Time

• 51% of deadly accidents involving bicyclists happened during the darker hours of the day.
• 45% of cyclist fatalities happen in broad daylight.
• 5% of riders’ deaths occur at dusk and dawn.

According to the latest survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, bicyclist deaths were distributed the following way:

• 21% of bicycle crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• 17% of deadly cyclist collisions occur between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and midnight.
• 11% of cyclists were fatally injured between 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
• 9% of fatal bicycle accidents happened between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• 8% of bicyclists died between midnight and 6 a.m. in 2022.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Location Type

Back in the day, in 1975, there was little difference as to whether the accident happened in urban or rural areas; the stats were primarily equal — around 50%. However, nowadays, the data tells a different story:

• 17% of bicyclists got deadly injuries in rural areas.
• 85% of cyclists were killed in urban areas.

The fact that every 13th cyclist died within the city grounds does not mean that every part of it is equally dangerous. Some locations pose more threat to such vulnerable road users as bicyclists:

• 34% of bike riders died at intersections.
• 64% of deaths took place on major roads.
• 3% of fatal incidents occurred on highways and interstate roads.
• 340 cyclists died on minor roads.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Age and Sex

As it turns out, age and sex play a major part in bicyclist fatality rate. According to a recent survey from NHTSA, males are more frequent victims of deadly bicycle collisions than females.

• 86% of male cyclists were fatally injured in 2022.
• The 55-64 age group of males shows the highest mortality rate induced by bike accidents.
• Women aged 35-44 were the most injured female age group in 2022.
• Cyclists in their 60-64 years made the highest overall fatality rate in 2022 (0.61).

Bicycle Death Statistic by Helmet Use

There are no federal laws stating that every bicyclist must wear a protective helmet while riding their bike. In the majority of states across the USA, children under 14-17 years must wear helmets at all times, but most of the rule does not apply to adults, except in cases where local ordinances state otherwise.

• 15% of cyclists were wearing a protective helmet at the time of a deadly incident.
• 62% of fatally injured bike riders weren’t wearing protective helmets.
• 50% of severe head injuries that a cyclist may sustain happen due to the absence of a protective helmet.
• 21% of males are prone to wearing a helmet.
• 28% of female riders wear helmets.

Bicycle Death with Alcohol in Blood Statistics

Most of the states in America have an approved blood alcohol concentration threshold that every vehicle user has to abide by. It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 g/dL and over everywhere else except for Utah. In Utah, the threshold was decreased to .05 g/dL.

• 37% of fatal bike accidents involved an alcohol-impaired driver or cyclist.
• 20% of fatally injured bicyclists had overBAC of.08 g/dL detected in their system.
• 4% of deadly collisions involved an impaired driver and an impaired bicyclist.
• 21% of fatally injured cyclists had illegal doses of alcohol found in their blood. 

Bicycle Death Statistics by Fatalities in Traffic Crashes

Pedalcyclists are one of the most vulnerable road user groups due to the lack of reliable protection as opposed to vehicle drivers. Over the past 10 years, the bicyclist death rate has grown by around 0.3%. In 2022, over 42K people died in traffic crashes, and cyclists killed in those accidents make up at least 2% of all the fatalities.

• 8% of bike riders die from hit-and-run collisions.
• 2% of bicyclists were killed by distracted drivers.
• Around 83% of cyclists died in front-end collisions.
• 6.2% of right-side crashes between bicyclists and other motorists resulted in a fatal outcome.
• 2.7% of left-side collisions were deadly to pedalcyclists.
• 1.4% of rear-end crashes had lethal outcomes.

Bicycle Death Statistics by Vehicle Type

Every motor vehicle poses a serious danger to an average bicyclist. The size, speed, and force of impact brought upon a cyclist often lead to fatal injuries. According to the recent data from NHTSA, buses are the least dangerous of all the vehicles on the streets in terms of bicyclists’ safety.

• 499 bicyclists were killed by drivers of light trucks.
• Passenger cars are the second most dangerous vehicle; 320 cyclists died from collisions with passenger automobiles in 2022.
• SUVs and pickups share the third place when it comes to deadly bicycle accidents.
• 5 bike riders died in 2022 from bus collisions.

Effective Ways to Decrease Bicyclist Fatality Rates in the USA

Pedalcyclists make a critical part of the vulnerable road users category and usually can’t stand a chance against a speeding vehicle. However, there are a few things that the Department of Transportation can do to improve the overall safety of this road user group.

Complete Streets Initiative

The Complete Streets project aimed at improving the overall street infrastructure across the country to make it equally safe and accessible for all road users, including cyclists.

Separated Bike Lanes

Driving side-by-side with larger vehicles always poses a significant threat, no matter how attentive and law-abiding a driver or a cyclist is. Separated bike lanes can decrease accident rates, saving and protecting hundreds of lives nationwide.

Intersection Protection

With more than 30% of bicyclist deaths taking place at intersections, making those parts of the street safer for this user category would be a wise decision. Implementation of bicycle boxes, signal faces, and protected intersections are a few upgrades that the authorities could take to protect the cycling community.

Speed Management

Cars driving at 40mph increase the chances of a bicyclist being fatally injured by 11 times. Once the speed goes up to 50 mph, the likelihood spikes to 16 times. That is why lowering speed limits is critical to reducing the death rate.

Conclusion

Recent bicycle accident trends may seem unpromising and overwhelming. It is natural to assume that there are too many dangers lurking on the streets of every city. However, the better a cyclist is aware of potential threats, the easier it will be to avoid those. 

Besides, as the biking communities expand across the country, it will be easier to raise awareness about the most pressing matters and take necessary measures to promote bicyclist safety in the USA through well-thought-out infrastructure, traffic laws, and other meaningful initiatives! 

Recourses

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Data (2022) — we used the most recent reports to reflect bicyclist death rates across the states and major cities in the USA.
• State Traffic Records and Crash Data Reports — we obtained precise bike accident statistics from the latest state-based surveys and reports.
• League of American Bicyclists — nationwide ranking helped us understand the number of means and effort, along with the initiatives every state puts into biking safety.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Facts (2022) — provided necessary insights into bicyclist deaths based on different factors, including but not limited to sex, location, and age.

Posted by Robert Goldwater

Since his academic days at the UC Berkeley School of Law, Robert Goldwater has remained a committed advocate for victims of other people’s negligence. His tort law background, together with his unquenchable thirst for justice, helped young Robert found a now-successful law firm – Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, gathering same-minded and promising attorneys from all over the country.

All articles by Robert Goldwater