The benefits of getting around Arizona on your bicycle are impressively numerous. Starting with warm weather and picturesque scenery to cycling events like El Tour de Tucson and affordable bike rentals, all call upon adventurous enthusiasts. However, recent US bicycle accident statistics prove that the Grand Canyon State has palpable dangers to keep away from, too.
Hundreds of traumatic and even fatal bicycle accidents happen on the roads of Arizona on a yearly basis. There are different challenges and obstacles that cyclists have to deal with to keep safe. Growing awareness of the community about existing crash trends may help to improve local infrastructure and protect riders who value the freedom that cycling grants.
- Key Arizona Bicycle Accident Statistics
- How Safe Is Arizona for Bicyclists?
- Bicycle Accident Trends in Arizona
- Bicycle Accidents by County in Arizona
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Gender in Arizona
- Bicycle Accidents in Arizona by Age
- Bicycle Accidents in Arizona by Injury Severity
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Area Type
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Location Type
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Time of Day
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Day of the Week
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Month
- Bicycle Accident Statistics by Weather Conditions in Arizona
- Bicycle Accident Stats by Alcohol and Drug Use
- First Steps to Take If You’ve Been in a Cycling Accident in Arizona
- Conclusion
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
Key Arizona Bicycle Accident Statistics
Every incident is a lot more than an individual tragedy. It is a vital addition to statewide statistics that can help a conscious society turn the tables.
- Arizona was ranked 37th on the national list of bike-friendly states.
- Bicycle fatalities dropped by nearly 10% in Arizona in 2023.
- 44 people lost their lives in bicycle crashes in 2023.
- Most biking incidents took place when it was clear.
- Males were six times more prone to getting killed in a bike accident in Arizona.
- Riders in their 30s-40s were the most frequent victims of bicycle crashes across the state.
- Maricopa County accounted for 70% of fatal bicycle accidents among bicyclists in 2023.
- Large cities like Phoenix and Tempe are trying to improve cycling infrastructure and the overall safety of vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians.
- Alcohol-related crashes make up around 20% of all accidents recorded across the state.
How Safe Is Arizona for Bicyclists?
It is impossible to label the whole state with either a safe or unsafe tag. It depends. Obvious efforts have been made to protect cyclists in the area, but a few significant concerns remain. For instance:
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Alarming crash rate
Although the general accident rate dropped by almost 4.5% in 2024, thousands of bike riders sustained serious injuries on the roads of Arizona.
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Multiple risk zones
The density of the population and inconsistent infrastructure in urban areas of the state make them high-risk zones for cyclists. Recent Arizona bicycle laws promoted the implementation of a 20-miles-per-hour speed limit in such locations but provided no legal authority or guidance as to how to succeed with the regulation.
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Helmet use
Arizona helmet laws are anything but restrictive. In Tucson, Sierra Vista, Yuma, Flagstaff, and Pima County, all bicyclists aged 18 and under must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. Cyclists in other communities decide whether to wear one, which may be a factor in Arizona’s bike deaths.
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Motorist awareness
Instances of road aggression against bicyclists across the states are quite frequent. The lack of driver education that instructs them on how to behave when sharing the road with a cyclist and their legal responsibilities may be among the common triggers of bicycle accidents in Arizona.
Bicycle Accident Trends in Arizona
To grasp a larger picture, we’ve analyzed bicycle accidents over a decade in Arizona. Based on the gathered numbers, we can assume the following:
- The overall percentage of bicycle crashes, as compared to total crashes, showed a steady decrease from 2014 to 2021.
- The number of bike accidents dropped from 2014 to 2023, but the number of bicycle fatalities spiked.
- 2020 saw the fewest bicycle accidents within the decade.
- There was a minor drop in bicycle accidents in 2023, but fatality rates almost doubled compared to 2014.
| Year | Total Crashes | Bicycle Crashes | % | Bicycle fatalities | Cyclists Injured |
| 2014 | 109,554 | 1,742 | 1.59% | 28 | 1,459 |
| 2015 | 116,609 | 1,434 | 1.23% | 29 | 1,266 |
| 2016 | 126,987 | 1,479 | 1.16% | 31 | 1,335 |
| 2017 | 127,064 | 1,490 | 1.17% | 32 | 1,366 |
| 2018 | 127,056 | 1,279 | 1.01% | 24 | 1,178 |
| 2019 | 129,750 | 1,275 | 0.98% | 30 | 1,245 |
| 2020 | 98,778 | 830 | 0.84% | 33 | 797 |
| 2021 | 121,345 | 1,027 | 0.85% | 45 | 982 |
| 2022 | 119,991 | 1,159 | 0.97% | 48 | 1,112 |
| 2023 | 122,247 | 1,139 | 0.93% | 44 | 1,096 |
These trends reflect a pressing need for more protected bike lanes, stricter traffic regulations, and better educational programs in Arizona.
Bicycle Accidents by County in Arizona
Some counties reported zero or near-zero bicycle accidents in 2023, while others had hundreds. A closer look at the available stats helped our experts spot the following trends:
- Urban centres such as Maricopa and Pima showed the highest accident rates.
- Fatality rates across the counties seem not to be proportional to the overall traffic volume. For instance, in Pima, there were eight deadly accidents, but they make up a little over 5% of all bicycle crashes.
- In most counties in Arizona, the injury rates make up around 85%-95% of all bicycle accidents.
- Maricopa and Pima counties account for over 80% of all bike-related incidents in the state.
| County | Total bicycle crashes | Bicycle fatalities | Cyclists Injured |
| Apache | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cochise | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Coconino | 27 | 1 | 30 |
| Gila | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Graham | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greenlee | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| La Paz | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Maricopa | 796 | 30 | 792 |
| Mohave | 26 | 2 | 24 |
| Navajo | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Pima | 150 | 8 | 144 |
| Pinal | 53 | 2 | 52 |
| Santa Cruz | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Yavapai | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Yuma | 32 | 0 | 32 |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Gender in Arizona
Based on the recent data from the Arizona Department of Transportation, we’ve established that gender plays a considerable role in bicycle accidents that take place all over the state. A five-year survey reflects the following trends:
- Male cyclists are more prone to getting in bike crashes. In 2023, 86% of bicycle fatalities and 78% of injured riders were composed of male bicyclists.
- Female cyclists are five times less likely to get into bicycle accidents.
- The highest rate of female bicycle crashes was recorded in 2022; 9 women lost their lives on the roads of Arizona, and 246 sustained serious injuries.
| Year | Total bicycle fatalities | Male bicyclists killed | % | Female bicyclists killed | % | Total Injuries | Male cyclists injured | % | Female cyclists injured | % |
| 2019 | 30 | 25 | 83% | 5 | 17% | 1,259 | 964 | 77% | 295 | 23% |
| 2020 | 33 | 28 | 85% | 5 | 15% | 812 | 634 | 78% | 178 | 22% |
| 2021 | 45 | 36 | 80% | 9 | 20% | 1,005 | 791 | 79% | 214 | 21% |
| 2022 | 48 | 39 | 81% | 9 | 19% | 1,128 | 882 | 78% | 246 | 22% |
| 2023 | 44 | 38 | 86% | 6 | 14% | 1,128 | 880 | 78% | 240 | 22% |
Bicycle Accidents in Arizona by Age
Not only the sex but also the age of a rider have a lot to say when it comes to bicycle accidents that take place in Arizona. We’ve observed the following trends:
- Older cyclist groups, aged between 55 to 74, have the highest bicycle fatalities.
- Adult riders between 25 and 44 years sustained the most injuries while riding bikes in Arizona.
- Younger children and teenage groups show moderate injury rates.
- The lowest fatality rate in Arizona is among children and younger adults in their early 20s.
- A small number of bicycle accidents remained unreported, which proves the timely reporting of incidents in the area.
| Age | Bicycle fatalities | Cyclists Injured |
| 0-4 | 0 | 1 |
| 5-9 | 0 | 17 |
| 10-14 | 1 | 87 |
| 15-19 | 0 | 140 |
| 20-24 | 1 | 91 |
| 25-34 | 7 | 183 |
| 35-44 | 6 | 178 |
| 45-54 | 5 | 129 |
| 55-64 | 9 | 180 |
| 65-74 | 10 | 82 |
| 75 & Older | 5 | 24 |
| Unknown | 0 | 16 |
Bicycle Accidents in Arizona by Injury Severity
Every bicycle accident case is different, considering the varying factors that may come into effect at a particular moment and trigger a tragic incident. We’ve categorized bike accident injury severity according to four criteria: fatal, serious, minor, and possible. Here’s how a five-year survey outlines the trends:
- On average, 140 bike riders suffer serious traumas after a bicycle accident in Arizona.
- Minor injuries predominate in bicycle accidents recorded across the state over five years. A small drop was observed in 2020-2021, but overall, the trend remains steady, and around 600 people suffer from scrapes and bruises sustained in bike crashes annually.
- Even though possible injuries make up around 30%-35% of all, the statistics prove that cycling in Arizona remains a risk-prone activity, and you may need to educate yourself on your legal rights and responsibilities.
| Year | Total injuries | Bicycle fatalities | Cyclists sustained serious injuries | Cyclists sustained minor injuries | Possible injuries |
| 2019 | 1,275 | 30 | 151 | 660 | 448 |
| 2020 | 830 | 33 | 122 | 407 | 283 |
| 2021 | 1,027 | 45 | 135 | 541 | 329 |
| 2022 | 1,159 | 48 | 138 | 627 | 363 |
| 2023 | 1,139 | 44 | 148 | 643 | 337 |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Area Type
If you know where most bicycle accidents take place in Arizona, it will help you stay more alert while navigating those parts. Besides, awareness of potentially dangerous zones will ensure that you can use your resources more effectively. We’ve divided the Grand Canyon State into two primary areas: urban and rural. Here are the numbers that we’ve got:
- Over 90% of all bicycle accidents in Arizona happen in urban areas.
- Although only close to 18 incidents take place in rural zones, they account for over 15% of cyclist deaths across the state. This means that even if bicycle accidents are less frequent in rural areas, they pose a significant risk of severe injury.
- The statistical data proves that while urban areas of Arizona still require better traffic separation and other infrastructure-related upgrades, rural zones need visibility enhancements and, potentially, emergency support improvement.
| Category | Total | Urban | % | Rural | % |
| All bicycle accidents | 1,139 | 1,056 | 92.71% | 83 | 7.29% |
| Bicycle fatalities | 44 | 37 | 84.09% | 7 | 15.91% |
| Bicyclists injured | 1,128 | 1,046 | 92.73% | 82 | 7.27% |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Location Type
We’ve established that urban parts of Arizona pose a palpable threat to bicyclists. When analyzing the available data, we’ve come to realize that some locations seem to be more dangerous than others. Since Phoenix is the largest city in the state, we’ve focused our attention there, and here’s what we’ve discovered:
- Driving in dedicated bike lanes still poses a danger, so you must always mind your surroundings.
- Mid-block collisions are the deadliest of all. Over 14% of all bicycle accidents that happen in the location are fatal.
- Over 96% of incidents that inflicted injuries of varying scale on riders took place within intersections.
- Almost 5% of travel lane collisions turn out to be deadly.
| Type of location | All bicycle accidents | Bicycle fatalities | Bicycle injuries | % of total |
| Bike lanes | 16 | 0 | 16 | 6% |
| Mid-block | 37 | 5 | 32 | 13% |
| Intersection crosswalks | 78 | 0 | 78 | 27 |
| Unmarked crosswalks | 13 | 0 | 13 | 5% |
| Travel lanes | 43 | 2 | 41 | 15% |
| Driveways | 44 | 0 | 44 | 15% |
| Within intersection | 51 | 2 | 49 | 18% |
Surely, knowing about these high-risk locations in the city won’t rule out a chance of getting hurt in an incident. However, having a committed Phoenix bicycle accident lawyer at hand can make a tremendous difference when you seek a fair Phoenix bicycle accident settlement. Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group is a law firm well-versed in local laws and willing to reach a helping hand should the need arise!
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Time of Day
As of this moment, the state of Arizona hasn’t provided an all-encompassing review of bicycle accident stats that take the time of the day as the main research criteria. However, Phoenix authorities presented a well-documented traffic report that reflects related trends vividly:
- The afternoon hours list the most bicycle accidents across the city among both children and adults. The main reason may be school dismissal time and after-work commuting.
- Decreased cyclist activity is reflected by the drop in collisions during late-night hours.
- Late afternoon rides — from 3 PM to 6 PM — seem to pose a significant risk for young riders.
- Decreased visibility during 6 PM–9 PM may be one of the major contributing factors that lead to spikes in bicycle crashes.
| Time of the day | Bicyclists from 0 to 17 years | Bicyclists 18+ |
| 12 AM – 3 AM | 0 | 6 |
| 3 AM – 6 AM | 0 | 8 |
| 6 AM – 9 AM | 6 | 38 |
| 9 AM – 12 PM | 3 | 29 |
| 12 PM – 3 PM | 1 | 53 |
| 3 PM – 6 PM | 7 | 61 |
| 6 PM – 9 PM | 6 | 42 |
| 9 PM – 12 PM | 6 | 18 |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Day of the Week
Once again, we’ve used Phoenix data as the most comprehensive source of statistical data related to bicycle accident patterns connected to a separate day of the week. Here’s the list of patterns that we’ve observed:
- Thursday was reported to be the deadliest day of the week — three people lost their lives on Thursdays in Phoenix. The most likely explanation for this spike in bicycle fatalities would be the overall surge before the weekend.
- As opposed to the end of the week, its beginning, Mondays in particular, show that rushed commuting to work and school brings increased numbers of cyclist collisions in the area.
- Midweek seems to be relatively safe for biking. At least the report shows that no people died in a cycling incident on Wednesday in Phoenix, and the overall injury rate dropped to 38 bicyclists hurt.
- Weekend bicycle accidents led to four people being fatally injured. An increase in recreational riding as well as alcohol consumption may be the primary culprits behind these stats.
| Day of the week | Cyclists killed | Cyclist injured |
| Monday | 0 | 49 |
| Tuesday | 2 | 42 |
| Wednesday | 0 | 38 |
| Thursday | 3 | 48 |
| Friday | 0 | 45 |
| Saturday | 2 | 32 |
| Sunday | 2 | 30 |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Month
There aren’t statewide monthly trends available, so our team tried to spot some common bicycle accident patterns that may have a visible connection to the season in Phoenix. As it turns out, there are some interesting trends to take into account when you may be planning your next ride in the city:
- December, March, and April happened to be the deadliest months for cyclists in Phoenix. Six riders sustained fatal injuries during these months. Limited visibility on the road during the early winter and spring months may be the common denominator for these unfavourable stats.
- Autumn months, especially September and October, saw a surge in bicyclist injuries, potentially due to pleasant weather that led to increased numbers of people biking through the city.
- Extreme heat during the summertime period in Phoenix and Arizona (e.g., Phoenix averages 106°F in July), in general, ensures that there are fewer riders on the streets, thus causing a drop in bicycle fatalities and injuries.
| Month | Bicycle fatalities | Bicycle injuries |
| January | 0 | 21 |
| February | 0 | 24 |
| March | 2 | 21 |
| April | 2 | 23 |
| May | 1 | 25 |
| June | 1 | 17 |
| July | 0 | 21 |
| August | 1 | 16 |
| September | 0 | 31 |
| October | 0 | 31 |
| November | 0 | 26 |
| December | 2 | 28 |
Bicycle Accident Statistics by Weather Conditions in Arizona
Unlike a motor vehicle operator, a cyclist isn’t as protected against potentially unfavourable weather conditions that may result in a horrendous accident. However, the gathered information on how weather conditions affect bicycle accident statistics in Arizona may surprise you.
As it turned out, over 92% of all incidents took place when it was clearly outside. This means that distracted driving, rider errors, and infrastructure issues have a more significant impact on road safety than the weather.
Another factor that may be worth your attention is that 11 bicycle crashes happened under unknown conditions, which stands for a lack of reporting clarity.
| Conditions | Total bicycle crashes | Fatal bicycle accidents | Bicyclist injury |
| Clear | 1,039 | 36 | 1,003 |
| Cloudy | 72 | 2 | 70 |
| Sleet or hail | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rain | 14 | 1 | 13 |
| Snow | |||
| Blowing Sand, Soil, Dirt | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Fog, Smog, Smoke | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown | 11 | 4 | 7 |
Bicycle Accident Stats by Alcohol and Drug Use
Phoenix’s bicycle-related report provides an in-depth look into bicycle accidents that happened because of alcohol or drug involvement. From the table below, you can see the following patterns:
- Impairment among cyclists is prevalent, rather than among motor vehicle operators who are involved in collisions. The ratio observed over five years is 1:7.
- There was a single accident when both parties involved were operating under the influence, which means that impaired bike riders (above 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC)) were a more isolated risk factor, at least on the streets of Phoenix City.
- It is important to note that 14% of these collisions result in fatalities, and the same percentage of victims sustain serious injuries.
- After 2019, we can observe a slight decline in such collisions, which may signify increased awareness among bicyclists, cyclist safety campaigns, and improved cycling habits.
| Year | Impaired driver | Impaired cyclist | Both |
| 2017 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
First Steps to Take If You’ve Been in a Cycling Accident in Arizona
We won’t speculate on the odds of getting involved in a cycling collision in Arizona because every bicycle accident case is unique. However, our team has rounded up a list of practical steps to take after the crash to ensure your safety and protect your legal rights:
Conclusion
Bicycle accident statistics in Arizona have an interesting story to tell. It isn’t all about dull figures and estimations. If you pay closer attention to the presented numbers, Arizona law, you will have a clearer picture in mind as to where, when, how, and why bicycle accidents occur. This information will help you enhance your safety and know your legal rights and obligations should anything happen.
Ride smarter, ride safer, and ride more prepared!
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.
