Atlanta and Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics (2025 Updates)

Bicycle crashes are often overshadowed by motor vehicle accidents, for obvious reasons. However, cycling incidents pose a palpable threat, especially with an evident increase in interest in the activity. According to the recent survey, there were over 1000 bicyclist fatalities in the US recorded in 2022. Almost 3 % of the deadly bicycle accidents happened on the streets of Georgia.

Could all of the casualties have been prevented? It depends. We believe that precise numbers and clear trends can not only be eye-opening but also life-saving. Knowing the categories at risk, leading causes, locations, and injury patterns will help you ride smarter, advocate for immediate improvement of local infrastructure, and defend your rights if anything happens.

Key Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics

Every bit of statistical data contains a hidden sign as to what can be improved and what should be avoided when it comes to biking across the state. The warning signs can be spotted anywhere – in infrastructure gaps, road user behavior, sex, age, or high-risk zones.

• 1,615 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Georgia in 2023.
• There were 925 bicycle accidents recorded in Georgia in 2023.
• 23 cyclists sustained fatal injuries in Georgia.
• 120 people suffered severe injuries after the crash.
• Over $400K was invested in various projects aimed at enhancing vulnerable user safety in the state.
• Over 16% of all bicycle crashes took place in Fulton County.
• Male cyclists are twice as prone to getting into an accident in Georgia.
• Rural counties have the highest fatality rate among injured cyclists — 32%.
• Georgia experienced a 12% drop in cyclist deaths in 2023.

A Decade of Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: The Story of Numbers

Almost 7.5K bicycle accidents happened in Georgia over the decade, and 160 people lost their lives in those crashes. Overall, bicycle accidents have been on the rise over the decade. From 2014 to 2023, bike crashes grew by 40%, and 2022 was the deadliest in the decade.

Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: County-by-County

According to the recent survey, Fulton County is the most dangerous region, with 154 bicycle accidents occurring there in 2023. At the same time, Chatham and Richmond counties seem to be the deadliest — 8 people lost their lives there. Overall, it is safe to assume that metro areas pose a palpable threat to riders. However, in smaller counties like McIntosh and Pulaski, the death rate matches the crash rate, reflecting a 100% fatality score.

Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: Does Gender Affect the Rates?

The recent data proves that the gender of bicyclists in Georgia has a palpable impact on overall accident statistics in the state and reflects several noticeable patterns. On average, bicycle accidents occur to male riders 1.9 times more often than to female bikers. Moreover, males are 2.8 times more likely to sustain fatal injuries in a bike crash.

These numbers point out a few critical issues to be handled on both the governmental and social levels. First of all, male cyclists may be prone to more risk-taking behavior, such as higher speeds, ignoring wearing helmets when riding, and choosing locations without designated bike lanes or other faulty infrastructure. This means that local authorities may want to consider spreading awareness about the topic, investing in gender-specific safety campaigns, improving biking infrastructure planning, and updating or strengthening existing Georgia bike laws.

Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: Age Risk

Serious or even deadly bicycle accidents among middle-aged adults are the most frequent in Georgia. Riders aged 45-64 show the highest crash rate, almost 2.00 per 1000 cyclists. Such a trend may be inspired by a spike in recreational biking in the area.

Riders in their 20s and 30s also have a relatively high injury rate of 1.72 per 1000 bicyclists. This means that young adults are actively using bicycles as the primary means of transportation, yet riding in urban areas poses a palpable threat to this age group.

Young children have the lowest injury rate. This may be because of a safer or supervised manner of cycling. Or, maybe because younger kids in Georgia don’t ride bikes as often.

These trends prove that age-targeted safety measures are to be enhanced in Georgia.

Statistics of Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: Common Causes

Most bicycle crashes happen because one of the parties involved misbehaved. Some actions or a lack of timely reactions lead to crashes with sometimes fatal consequences.

Bicycle Accidents in Georgia: Dangerous Light Conditions

A recent survey shows that over 70% of all bicycle accidents in Georgia take place during daylight. Why is that? It seems that proper lighting must improve safety on the roads of the state. However, daylight implies heavier traffic loss, hence the numbers.

Both lighted and unlit areas of Georgia during the dark hours of the day pose an evident threat to bike riders. Although the overall percentage of bicycle accidents during nighttime remains below 15%, you must keep the number of bicyclists on the road in mind. While fewer people cycle during these parts of the day, they still face a high risk of sustaining serious, if not fatal, injuries.

An average bike rider can lower the risk of getting into an accident if they equip their vehicles with proper reflective and lighting gear, wear bright clothes, and keep track of their surroundings at all times.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Types of Road

Over 50% of all bicycle accidents take place at or near intersections in Georgia. However, the absence of intersections in the vicinity does not rule out the chance of an incident. On the contrary, almost 40% of bike crashes happen on straight parts of the road across the state. Interestingly, less than 5% of all bicycle accidents occurred in areas designed for vulnerable road user categories, such as a bike lane, shoulder, or sidewalk.

NOTE: Hit-and-run accidents account for ¼ of all bicycle accidents in Georgia, and they aren’t reflected in the presented data.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Urban vs. Rural Counties

7.60 cyclists per 100K of population got into a bike crash in Georgia in 2022. Urban counties are at the top of the list with a rate of 9.54. Although rural counties have a lower rate — 4.15 per 100K people — the fatality score is considerably higher in these regions. 1/3 of riders who get involved in a bike accident in rural areas sustain severe and even fatal injuries.

Atlanta is the largest region in Georgia and accounts for 46% of the state’s population. Although almost half of all bike crashes were recorded across Atlanta, the fatality rate in the area is relatively low, 12%. Over 40% of all bicycle accidents occurred in other urban counties of Georgia.

Rural regions of the state show low scores in terms of bicycle accidents, but reflect alarming patterns in terms of cyclist fatalities. This means that although less frequent, bicycle crashes in rural areas are more dangerous. All due to high speed limits, lack of designated infrastructure, and longer emergency response times.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Injury Severity Levels

The research indicated that in 2022, the number of injured cyclists who sought medical help after an accident dropped by 4%. However, hospitalization and emergency room visits triggered by bicycle accidents cost the state over $75 million.

Catastrophic injuries make up only 7% of all the crashes recorded in the area, yet they are the most life-altering. A cyclist hit at high speed by a negligent driver may suffer spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries that will have a lasting effect, if not permanent disability.

Severe injuries after bicycle accidents make up a little over 10%, but internal bleeding or compound fractures require lengthy and costly surgeries, rehabilitation, and therapy. On a slightly brighter side, over 40% of injured riders sustain minor traumas like scrapes and bruises that do not require long-term care.

The presented statistical data proves that catastrophic and severe injuries are less frequent. However, they still underline the importance of infrastructural, medical, and legal support that the state authorities should provide to protect bicycle accident victims.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Time-of-Day Trends

Over 60% of all bicycle accidents in Georgia happen during the day hours. This means that even though visibility is at its peak, traffic volume is also at its peak. At the same time, nighttime crashes, although lower in number, may be more serious as a result of decreased visibility, driver fatigue, or driver impairment.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Day-of-Week Patterns

Over 70% of all bike accidents in Georgia happen on weekdays. Many people use bicycles as the primary means of transportation to commute to work or school, hence the concerning trends. The table below reflects that the afternoon hours of an average workday account for over 30% of all bicycle accidents.

Although only 29% of all biking crashes occur on weekends, the nighttime hours are the most dangerous to choose for the activity. Surely, that does not mean that people in Georgia should refuse themselves a recreational ride on a Sunday evening; it means that you should do everything you can to make yourself visible on the road, or stick to designated lanes when planning the route.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Seasonal Trends

There are a few clear seasonal patterns to discuss when it comes to bicycle accidents in Georgia. Summer and fall are the busiest seasons in terms of biking incidents. The most logical explanation would be that the warmer months inspire more people to hop on their bikes. Daytime crashes during this time are also prevalent, which signifies the importance of undivided attention when en route.

Although winters are relatively mild in Georgia, temperature drops as well as frequent rains force cyclists to hide away their bikes till spring. Thus, such a low biking incident rate. However, the moment spring takes over, the rate begins to increase.

Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics: Helmet Use

According to bike helmet laws in GA, all cyclists under 16 years must wear protective helmets, no matter if they are riding in a dedicated bike lane, shoulder, or highway. Unlike in other jurisdictions, cyclists in Georgia comply with these traffic rules, but the statistical data shows that there’s room for improvement. Based on an in-depth analysis of bicyclists’ riding habits, we’ve managed to find out the following:

Hotspots for Bicycle Crashes in Atlanta

The Atlanta region accounted for almost half of all bicycle crashes that took place in Georgia in 2022. Although we can’t advise you to stay on one road and take the other, there are a few accident epicenters to keep in mind while on the ride in the area.

• Edgewood Avenue: The road is situated near Georgia State University, which makes it swerve with students, motor vehicles, and bicycles. The area lacks protected lanes but has a large number of busy intersections. These factors combined make it quite dangerous for cyclists.
• Techwood Dr. NW and 5th Street: The intersection is located near the campus of Georgia Tech and features tight road spaces, decreased visibility, and high-speed traffic.
• GA-154/Trinity Ave. SW: This is a busy corridor that lies near various governmental buildings. High congestion, poor lane markings, and double-parking that obstructs visibility often contribute to bicycle accidents that take place in the area.

Final Thoughts on Bicycle Accident Statistics in Georgia

Georgian authorities seem to have taken a few steps to make cycling safer statewide. However, the recent accident trends prove that there’s a lot of room for improvement concerning local infrastructure, social awareness, and traffic safety ordinances.

The data outlines gaps and patterns that the municipalities should attend to. Meanwhile, if you are an avid cyclist in Georgia or plan a biking trip through the state, you must keep yourself informed on when, where, and why the most bicycle crashes take place. Moreover, you should always be legally armed after any type of bicycle accidents to protect your rights and secure fair compensation should anything happen.

Contact Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group for a free consultation to learn more!

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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