CA Among Most Dangerous States For Bicyclists: Ranking

CALIFORNIA — California is one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists, according to a recent study.

Personal injury law firm The Fitch Law Firm analyzed 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine the percentage of fatal crashes involving a bicyclist in each state.

The Golden State came in sixth on the list, with 4.28 percent — or 176 of 4,109 — of fatal crashes involving a bicyclist, according to the ranking. California fell between New York, which had 4.62 percent, and Delaware, which had 4.2 percent.

Florida was ranked No. 1 with 6.76 percent, Hawaii was No. 2 with 6.31 percent and Louisiana was No. 3 with 5.4 percent.

“As every cyclist knows, commuting on busy roads and tackling high levels of vehicle traffic comes with certain risks — and this data shows the states where commuters need to be particularly vigilant, especially with warmer weather arriving attracting more cyclists to the already-busy roads,” a spokesperson for the law firm said in a news release about the ranking.

“It comes as no surprise that pedal cyclists can be naturally at more risk than other road users wherever they are cycling. Therefore, making good and frequent observations and adhering to traffic laws is essential.”

Nebraska and Rhode Island tied for the safest state for bicyclists — neither had any fatal crashes involving bicyclists in 2022, according to the ranking.