2026’s Most Comprehensive Bicycle Accident Statistics: Cycling Death and Injury Statistics

Since 2010, bicyclist deaths in the United States have increased by 87%. In 2023, 1,377 bicyclists died nationwide, including 937 in motor-vehicle crashes and 440 in other incidents, according to the National Safety Council. An additional 341,774 bicyclists suffered nonfatal injuries that same year. 

Cycling accounts for only 1% of all trips in the United States, yet bicyclists represent more than 2% of all traffic fatalities. That 2-to-1 ratio between fatality share and trip share makes bicyclists one of the most at-risk groups on American roads.

The growth of cycling as both transportation and recreation helps explain the scale of the problem. The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) estimates that Americans took about 2.2 billion bike trips in 2022, with 52% of those trips for social or recreational purposes. More workers of all ages are choosing bikes for daily commutes, with ridership rates increasing from 0.4% in 2021 to 0.5% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

However, as ridership climbs, so does risk. The number of preventable bicyclist deaths continues to rise, and every cyclist in America has to be aware of the recent trends to improve their road safety stats.

Key US Bicycle Accident Data

Before diving into the detailed breakdowns, here is a summary of the most critical figures shaping bicycle safety in the United States:

• Death Toll: In 2023, 1,377 bicyclists died nationwide. That included 937 motor-vehicle crash deaths and 440 other bicycle deaths. Federal roadway-only data counted 1,166 bicyclist deaths.
• Long-Term Trend: Bicycle deaths rose 53% over the past decade and about 86% from the 2010 low point.
• Exposure Gap: Cycling accounts for about 1% of all trips in the United States, yet bicyclists make up 2.9% of all traffic fatalities nationwide.
• Nonfatal Injuries: About 341,774 people suffered nonfatal bicycle injuries in 2023. That is 29% lower than in 2014, but still a high total.
• Highest-Risk Groups: Older adults and younger riders face elevated risk, especially adults ages 55–69 and children ages 10–14.
• Gender: Males account for most bicycle deaths. Their fatality rate is more than six times higher than the rate for females.
• Location & Time: Most fatal bicycle crashes happen in urban areas, and more than 56% happen at dusk, dawn, or night.
• Leading Causes: Most fatal bicycle crashes involve motor vehicles. Alcohol was involved in 37% of fatal pedalcyclist crashes in 2022.
• Recent Trend: Roadway bicyclist deaths rose 4.4% in 2023, reaching the highest level since 1975.
• Top Risk States: From 2019 to 2023, Florida recorded 890 bicyclist deaths and California recorded 699, the highest totals in your state comparison set.
• Economic Cost: In 2023, bicycle injuries caused about $3.1 billion in medical costs, with average work-loss costs near $18,000 per case.

Bicyclist Fatalities Trend Over Past Years

Over the past fifteen years, cyclist fatalities have surged — growing approximately 87% since 2010. Recent bicycle death statistics reflect a troubling and sustained rise in the number of bicyclists killed across the USA. Nowadays, more and more adults use bicycles as their preferred means of transportation. On top of that, congestion rates in larger cities continue to rise, and busy roads without proper bike infrastructure pose a serious threat to vulnerable road users such as bicyclists, further contributing to cyclist deaths.

The table below extends back to 2010 to provide the full baseline for the long-term trend:

Note: The NHTSA FARS figures above track motor-vehicle-involved cyclist deaths only. The National Safety Council’s broader count, which includes non-motor-vehicle bicycle deaths, recorded 1,377 total bicyclist fatalities in 2023.

From 2010’s 623 motor-vehicle cyclist deaths to 2023’s 1,166, the increase is approximately 87%. When viewed over just the last decade (2013–2023), the increase is approximately 53%. Regardless of the baseline chosen, the trend is clear and troubling: bicycle fatalities are growing at a pace that far outstrips the growth in total traffic deaths.

Leading Factors in Bicycle Fatalities

Understanding why bicycle crashes turn fatal requires looking at the intersection of driver behavior, infrastructure design, and rider vulnerability. Three factors stand out in the data:

Motor-Vehicle Interaction

Most fatal bicycle crashes involve a collision with a motor vehicle, and a significant share of these occur at intersections — the point where vehicle and cyclist paths cross most frequently. Front-end collisions account for approximately 82% of cyclist deaths in motor-vehicle crashes, indicating that the most common scenario is a vehicle striking a cyclist head-on or at an angle. Right-hook crashes (where a driver turns across a cyclist’s path) and failure-to-yield violations are the most frequently cited intersection crash types.

Alcohol Impairment

37% of fatal bicycle accidents involved a driver or cyclist operating under the influence of alcohol. This figure captures impairment on either side of the crash. Among fatally injured cyclists specifically, approximately 22% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL or higher. The impairment factor is explored in detail in the Alcohol Statistics section of this report.

Urbanization of Bicycle Fatalities

One of the most significant long-term shifts in bicycle safety data is the urbanization of cyclist deaths. In 1975, approximately 50% of bicyclist fatalities occurred in urban areas. By 2021, that figure had reached 86%. This dramatic shift reflects decades of suburban expansion, increased urban traffic volume, and the concentration of cycling activity on roads designed primarily for motor-vehicle throughput. As more Americans cycle in cities without protected infrastructure, urban roads have become the dominant setting for fatal bicycle crashes.

Bicycle Death Statistics by State

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

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 featured the highest fatality rates among cyclists — 145 and 234 in 2023, respectively. Between 2019 and 2023, Florida recorded a cumulative 890 bicyclist fatalities — the highest five-year total of any state — while California recorded 699 over the same period, according to the League of American Bicyclists. In California, this contrast is especially striking because the state’s fatality totals remain high despite relatively strong bike-friendly rankings, and the average settlement in California is often shaped by the severity of those crashes. At the same time, North Dakota and Montana are on the list of the most unfriendly states, yet there were 0 and 2 bicyclist casualties recorded in these states in 2023.

Although there aren’t official statistics for 2024 available at the moment, our comparative analysis indicates that the situation across the ‘deadliest’ states seems to be improving.

*2024 estimates by the Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, based on partial 2025 statistics and yearly trends. 2019–2023 totals are cumulative NHTSA FARS figures.

10 Most Dangerous States for Cyclists

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

Florida

Florida leads the nation in bicyclist fatalities. From 2019 to 2023, the state recorded 890 bicyclist deaths, 191 more than the next highest state. Florida averages more than 200 bicyclist deaths per year and approximately 9,000 serious bicyclist injuries annually, despite a bicycle commute share of just 0.5%. High-speed arterial roads with limited separation between vehicles and bicyclists remain the primary contributing factor. Florida ranked 8th in the 2024 National Bicycle Friendly State list, but its fatality numbers remain the highest in the country.

California

In 2023, 145 bicyclists were killed on California roads. The state’s 2019 to 2023 cumulative total reached 699 bicyclist deaths, the second-highest five-year total in the nation. Bicyclists account for 4% of all traffic fatalities statewide, even though annual bicyclist deaths have declined from prior peaks. Nearly 70% of California motorists say bicyclists have the right to share the road, yet the fatality share remains well above the national average.

Texas

Texas ranks third. In 2023, bicyclist deaths in the state rose 9% compared with 2022. Texas placed 30th in the national bicycle-friendly ranking. Infrastructure investment has been consistently low: in the past 10 years, Texas allocated more than 2% of its federal transportation funds to biking and walking only once. The combination of rising fatality trends and minimal cycling infrastructure spending places Texas among the most dangerous states for bicyclists.

New York

Bicyclists account for more than 4% of all traffic fatalities in New York. In 2023, the state reported 49 bicyclist deaths. New York ranked 15th in the national bicycle-friendly ranking, partly due to recent speed limit reductions in cities that adopted 20 to 25 mph zones. However, the state spends only $3.20 per capita on bicycle infrastructure. New York also lacks a statewide safe-passing law, leaving bicyclists without a legally mandated minimum distance from overtaking vehicles.

North Carolina

North Carolina is not among the 10 safest states for cyclists, and the numbers help explain why. Bicycle crashes across the state doubled between 2022 and 2023. In 2023, 46 bicyclists were killed on North Carolina roads, accounting for nearly 3% of all traffic fatalities statewide. State officials have acknowledged the problem, and there are some signs of progress. North Carolina authorities appear willing to direct more than 2% of federal transportation funding toward vulnerable road user safety, which offers some hope for improvement.

Illinois

Illinois ranks 11th in the national bicycle-friendly ranking, supported by cycling-oriented businesses, universities, and a statewide trail network. However, only one-third of highway routes in the state are suitable for bicycling. That infrastructure gap contributes directly to crash risk. In 2023, 41 bicyclists were killed in Illinois, accounting for more than 3% of all traffic fatalities statewide.

Louisiana

In 2023, 35 bicyclists were killed on Louisiana roads, a decline of more than 20% from the prior year. However, serious bicyclist injuries reached a five-year high in the same period. Louisiana ranked 40th in the national bicycle-friendly ranking, with only two bicycle-friendly communities and one bicycle-friendly business recognized statewide. The state lacks approved urban speed restrictions and dedicates minimal funding to cycling infrastructure.

Indiana

In 2023, 31 bicyclists were killed on Indiana roads. The state lacks a statewide bicycle safety improvement plan, which limits coordinated investment in cycling infrastructure. Among younger bicyclists, children ages 10 to 14 suffered the highest injury severity of any age group in the state. Indiana has created an annual fund for sidewalk reconstruction, a measure that may improve conditions for vulnerable road users over time.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania appears to be struggling to prioritize biking and walking projects. That helps explain why the state ranked only 19th in the Bicycle-Friendly State report. The state is also losing ground on cyclist safety, and that decline is reflected in rising fatal crash rates, which can affect the average settlement in Pennsylvania in serious injury and wrongful death claims. In 2023, 29 people were killed in bicycle accidents across the state, nearly doubling the 2022 total. At the same time, many local municipalities have been slow to adopt lower speed limits that could help reduce the risk to cyclists.

South Carolina

In 2023, 25 bicyclists were killed on South Carolina roads. In nearly 40% of those fatal crashes, the driver failed to see the bicyclist. Charleston, Horry, Greenville, and Beaufort counties recorded the highest concentration of bicyclist fatalities in the state. South Carolina ranks 47th nationwide in bicycle-friendliness, with a fatality rate of 45 bicyclist deaths per 10,000 bicycle commuters. Higher vehicle speeds and a limited number of protected bike lanes continue to drive the state’s fatality numbers.

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.

North Dakota

North Dakota reported no pedalcyclist fatalities in 2023. Even so, the state ranked 41st in the 2024 Bicycle Friendly State Rankings. The state’s report card shows about $4.95 per capita in federal spending on biking and walking, 0.2% of commuters biking to work, and 13.5 bicyclist fatalities per 10,000 bike commuters.

South Dakota

South Dakota reported zero bicyclist fatalities in 2023. However, the state still ranked 45th nationwide in the 2024 Bicycle Friendly State Rankings, which shows that its overall cycling environment remains weak despite that single-year safety result. The state’s report card also shows about $5.17 per capita in FHWA spending on biking and walking. At the same time, South Dakota remains one of only five states that has never adopted a statewide bike plan, and the report card notes that such a plan can help guide future investments and improvements.

Maine

From 2019 to 2023, there were only 6 bicyclist deaths recorded in Maine. As of 2024, Maine holds the 28th place in the national ranking. Although the state is not among the national leaders in bicycle-friendliness, its bicyclist fatality total remained relatively low over that five-year period.

Vermont

According to recent data, only one cyclist died on Vermont roads in 2023. In fact, there is little wonder why: Vermont is one of the few states that has adopted a 4-foot safe passing rule. Moreover, local funding reached $10.79 per capita spent on walking and biking in the state. Vermont holds the 22nd national rank, although some of its safety indicators are stronger than that position may suggest.

New Hampshire

Although New Hampshire has not been deemed the safest state for cycling, it seems to be moving in the right direction. In 2023, only one rider was fatally injured on the roads of New Hampshire. That same year, the state adopted a pedestrian and bicycle plan that envisions over 2,000 miles of bikeways and more than 700 miles of trails.

Wyoming

One may assume that Wyoming’s low population density is one reason why cyclist fatality numbers remain relatively low. However, the state’s broader cycling picture is more mixed than that may suggest. Although local authorities could have spent more on cycling infrastructure, official data shows that Wyoming spent only about $2.91 per capita on biking and walking and did not reach the 2% federal funding benchmark for bike and pedestrian improvements. At the same time, the state’s report card shows a relatively strong safety figure of 1.6 bicyclist fatalities per 10,000 bike commuters.

Montana

Two fatal bike accidents were recorded across Montana in 2023. That is one of the lower cyclist fatality totals among states. Surely, the state cannot show off a dense population, but as many as 1% of Montana’s commuters use their bicycles to get to work. With that in mind, 18 communities across the state have received Safe Streets and Roads for All grants aimed at reducing traffic deaths and building safer infrastructure. Moreover, Montana State University, with support from USDOT grants, is conducting leading research on traffic safety culture and rural road safety.

West Virginia

West Virginia may not seem like an easy state for cycling, but its 2024 bicycle-friendly ranking places it 33rd nationwide. Interest in vulnerable road user safety is visible in several concrete areas. Seven communities across the state received Safe Streets and Roads for All grants aimed at reducing traffic deaths. Moreover, although West Virginia still has not reached the 2% benchmark for federal spending on biking and walking, the past two years showed a record use of federal funds on bicycling and walking projects in the state.

Connecticut

There is more than one reason why Connecticut holds 13th place in the national bicycle-friendly state ranking. Although four bicyclist deaths were reported in the state in 2023, state authorities continue to invest in programs that promote vulnerable road user safety. For instance, Connecticut launched an Active Transportation Microgrant Program that provides $5,000 grants for educational events, bike and pedestrian safety measures, and Safe Routes to School initiatives. In the first year of the program, more than $250,000 was awarded to over 60 organizations, schools, and towns.

Iowa

Iowa closes our list with a relatively low bicyclist fatality count. There were 5 bicyclist deaths recorded in 2023 in the state, which made up 1.3% of all traffic fatalities. Over the past few years, Iowa has increased federal support for bicycling and walking improvements, and the state’s 2024 report card notes greater investment through recent federal funding. The state also passed the Crosswalk Protections Bill aimed at protecting cyclists in crosswalks statewide, but it still has not adopted a safe passing law with a minimum distance of 3 feet.

Bicycle Death Statistics by City

The recent NHTSA report proves that some cities located in the most bicyclist-friendly states of America may still be quite unsafe, having a high number of cyclist deaths.

According to our comparative analysis, the rates of cyclist deaths across the largest cities showcase an overall favorable decrease.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Month

Seasonal changes have a significant impact on cyclist death counts as well. Bicycle crashes peak during the summer and fall months — July through October — which together account for nearly 43% of all cyclist fatalities in 2023. Such an alarming concentration may be explained by the increased interest in recreational cycling during these months, combined with longer daylight hours that put more riders and more vehicles on the road simultaneously.

At the same time, decreased bicyclist activity during winter and spring equals lower death rates. An in-depth comparison of seasonal fatality trends across the country shows that the trends in 2024 remain consistent with the previous year, with an approximate deviation within 1-2%.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Time

According to the recent reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most cyclist deaths occurred in broad daylight. However, when dusk, dawn, and darker hours are combined, they account for over 56% of all bicyclist fatalities — making reduced-visibility conditions the dominant factor in fatal crashes by time of day. The 2024 forecast reflects similar trends, with barely noticeable shifts toward darker hours of the day — 43% as opposed to 41.6% for dark-only. Even such an insignificant change in dark-time fatality rate may emphasize the pressing need for improvement of lighting infrastructure throughout the country.

Note: The National Safety Council reports that 56% of bicyclist fatalities occur at dusk, dawn, or during nighttime, using a broader classification methodology that captures additional twilight-hour incidents.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Location Type

Back in the day, 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:

• 85% of bicyclist fatalities occurred in urban areas in 2021 — up dramatically from approximately 50% in 1975, reflecting decades of suburban expansion and the concentration of cycling on high-traffic urban arterials.
• 19% of bicyclist injuries were deadly in rural bicycle accidents.
• Urban bicyclist deaths have grown from roughly half of all cyclist fatalities in 1975 to more than four-fifths in recent data, marking a major long-term shift in bicycle safety patterns.

The fact that the vast majority of cyclists die within city limits does not mean that every part of a city is equally dangerous. Some locations pose a greater threat to bicyclists and pedestrians. According to the 2023 data:

• 750 cyclists lost their lives on major roads.
• 347 people were fatally injured while riding bikes on minor roads.
• 44 bike riders died on interstates and freeways.

Bicycle Death Statistic by Age and Sex

Age and sex play a major part in the bicyclist fatality rate. According to the National Safety Council and NHTSA data, males account for approximately 89% of all bicycle deaths nationwide. Among specific age groups, adults aged 55–69 and adolescents aged 10–14 face the highest risk of fatal bicycle crashes.

• Males account for approximately 89% of all bicycle deaths, including both motor-vehicle and non-motor-vehicle incidents (NSC).
• In motor-vehicle-involved crashes specifically, 79–80% of fatally injured cyclists were male adults aged 20 and older (NHTSA).
• Female riders’ deaths dropped by 1% in 2023, but made up 12% of all bicyclists killed nationwide in 2024.
• Fatalities among younger cyclists remain consistently low, rarely exceeding 10% for males and 2% for females.
• Adults aged 55–69 have the highest bicycle death rates of any age group, driven by reduced bone density, longer recovery times, and greater vulnerability to traumatic brain injury.
• Adolescents aged 10–14 represent the second-highest risk group, likely reflecting increased independent cycling during school commute and recreation.

Our current analytical insights state that new cycling safety strategies that prioritize adult riders, especially those over 55, have to be implemented.

Note: NHTSA FARS data above covers motor-vehicle-involved deaths only. When all bicycle-related deaths are included (NSC methodology), males account for approximately 89% of the total.

Bicycle Nonfatal Injury Statistics

While fatality data tends to dominate the headlines, the scale of nonfatal bicycle injuries in the United States is far larger. According to CDC WISQARS and the National Safety Council, roughly 341,774 people suffered nonfatal bicycle-related injuries in 2023. This includes emergency department visits from both motor-vehicle crashes and non-motor-vehicle incidents such as falls, mechanical failures, and collisions with fixed objects.

Despite the high absolute number, nonfatal bicycle injuries have actually decreased by approximately 29% since 2014, according to NSC data. This decline may reflect improvements in bicycle design, road surface quality, and rider awareness — though it could also be partially explained by changes in injury reporting and ED visit patterns.

Key nonfatal injury facts:

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, children between 14 and 17 years must wear helmets every time they ride, but most of the rules do not apply to adults, except in cases where local ordinances state otherwise.

• 14% of cyclists were wearing a protective helmet at the time of a deadly incident in 2023.
• Over 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 wear a helmet.
• 28% of female riders wear helmets.

Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of severe head injuries in a crash, which is why this factor is a key safety metric in the data above. Our 2024 forecast reflects consistent fatality rate patterns, which suggest that stronger public awareness campaigns, stricter helmet law enforcement, and community-based safety programs are required to improve these cyclist fatality trends.

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.

Overall, 37% of fatal bicycle accidents involved a driver or cyclist operating under the influence of alcohol. This combined figure captures impairment on either side of the crash. When looking at cyclist impairment specifically:

• Over 78% of fatal bike accidents involved a sober cyclist in 2023.
• Around 18% of fatally injured bicyclists had a BAC of .08 g/dL detected in their system.
• 3% of deadly collisions involved an impaired driver and an impaired bicyclist.
• The overall percentage of intoxicated bike riders was over 22% in 2023.

Our 2024 predictive analysis indicates that the percentage of impaired bikers on the streets dropped by at least 1%.

Bicycle Death Statistics by Point of Impact

According to the most recent data, on average, 283 bike riders were killed in hit-and-run collisions, and 3% of bicyclists were fatally injured by distracted drivers. By type of vehicle crashes, the data reflects the following trends:

• Around 82% of cyclists died in front-end collisions.
• 7.9% of right-side crashes between bicyclists and other motorists resulted in a fatal outcome.
• 2.5% of left-side collisions were deadly to pedal cyclists.
• 1.3% of rear-end bicycle crashes had lethal outcomes.

Bicycle Death Statistics by Vehicle Type

Every car poses a 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.

• 323 bicyclists were killed by drivers of passenger cars in 2023.
• SUVs are the second most dangerous vehicle; 288 cyclists died from collisions with SUVs in 2023.
• Pickups and large trucks held the third and fourth places when it came to deadly bicycle accidents.
• 11 bike riders died in 2023 from bus collisions.

Effective Ways to Decrease Bicyclist Fatality Rates in the USA

Pedal cyclists 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 group and support injury prevention. These initiatives focus on safety measures that can reduce fatal crashes.

Complete Streets Initiative

The Complete Streets project aims to improve the overall street infrastructure across the country to make it equally safe and accessible for everyone – improving driver, cyclist, and pedestrian safety. These changes don’t just help cyclists – they are also designed to reduce pedestrian deaths by making crossings, speed and stop signs more visible. This project often includes protected bike lanes to separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic.

Separated Bike Lanes

Driving side-by-side with larger vehicles always poses a significant threat; no matter how law-abiding a driver or a cyclist is, driver inattention can lead to fatal crashes. Separated or protected 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, safety improvements in those parts of the street would be a wise decision. Implementation of bicycle boxes, signal faces, and protected bike lanes and intersections is a few upgrades that the authorities could take to protect the cycling community.

Speed Management

A motor vehicle driving at 40 mph increases 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 cyclist deaths.

Conclusion

Although in 2023, cycling fatalities grew by 4%, the 2024 forecast reflects a positive decrease of almost 5% in the bicycle riders’ death rate, alongside other shifts and changes. Surely, it does not mean that cyclists don’t have to be careful about where and when they ride.

Yet, as the biking communities have expanded in recent years across the country, it becomes easier to raise awareness about the most pressing matters and inspire local communities to take necessary measures to promote bicyclist safety. A well-thought-out combination of infrastructure changes, public education, traffic laws, and other meaningful initiatives can help reduce bike and motor vehicle traffic crashes and ensure that a 2024-2025 downward trend in cyclist rates of fatal injuries becomes a norm, not an exception!

Methodology and Data Sources

The statistics in this report are drawn from multiple authoritative sources. Because each source uses different reporting criteria, classification methods, and time frames, figures may vary between them:

• National Safety Council (NSC) — Provides the broadest count of bicyclist fatalities, including both motor-vehicle and non-motor-vehicle deaths (falls, mechanical failures, collisions with fixed objects, etc.). The NSC’s 2023 total of 1,377 bicyclist deaths is the figure used in our “At a Glance” summary as the headline death toll.
• NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) — The federal census of all traffic fatalities on U.S. public roads involving motor vehicles. FARS recorded 1,166 pedalcyclist fatalities in 2023. This is the primary source for our year-over-year fatality trend table and state-by-state breakdown.
• CDC WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) — Provides national estimates of nonfatal injuries (including emergency department visits), medical costs, and work loss costs. The 341,774 nonfatal injury figure and the $3.1 billion medical cost estimate are sourced from WISQARS.
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — Provides bicycle commuter population estimates used for per-capita fatality rate calculations.
• League of American Bicyclists — Source for the Bicycle Friendly State rankings and five-year cumulative state fatality totals.
• CPSC NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System) — Provides additional injury surveillance data, particularly for product-related bicycle incidents.

We completed our 2024 predictive analysis for bicyclist death rates based on a variety of underlying factors and conditions using the linear regression trend comparison approach. Our experts explored historical data from official traffic safety reports and came up with an approximate forecast. The statistical assumptions presented by the Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group rely on consistent patterns and do not take into account possible changes that occurred during the underreported period.

There’s room for statistical inconsistency due to information acquired from various publicly available resources.

Resources

• National Safety Council: Bicycle Deaths
• The League of American Bicyclists: National: Rates Of Biking & Walking
• NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts (2023): Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
• CDC: Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System
• INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard
• The League of American Bicyclists: A Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone requires Bicycle Friendly States
• Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Crash Dashboard
• UC Berkeley: 2023 Safe TREC Traffic Safety Facts: Bicycle Safety
• WYDOT Highway Safety: WYOMING 2019 – 2023 VULNERABLE ROAD USERS CRITICAL CRASH REPORT
• ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONNECTICUT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD
• Bicycle Friendly Report Card (State Advocacy Group)
• IN.gov Youth Helmet Safety
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Facts (2023)
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: Helmet Statistics
• NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Distracted Driving in 2023
• NHTSA Fatal Injury Reporting System Tool
• Smart Growth America: National Complete Streets Coalition
• World Health Organization: Cyclist safety
• NEW HAMPSHIRE VULNERABLE ROAD USER SAFETY ASSESSMENT (United States Department of Transportation)
• Bicycle Lanes (U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA-SA-21-051))
• Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures (Safety Research Report NTSB/SS-19/01 PB2019-101397)
• MassDOT Separated Bike Lane Planning & Design Guide: Chapter 1, Overview
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS, Table S0801).

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