Below is the most authoritative picture of California bicycle safety using the latest official datasets available as of September 14, 2025. Where 2024 statewide totals are still being finalized, I note that clearly and use trusted early indicators.
Key findings
California recorded 145 bicyclist fatalities in 2023, down about 20.8% from 183 in 2022.
Final 2024 statewide bicyclist totals are not yet published by California’s SWITRS or NHTSA tables by person type. Nationally, however, overall traffic deaths fell to an estimated 39,345 in 2024, the lowest fatality rate since 2019, which suggests a favorable backdrop for vulnerable road users too.
In 2022 (latest detailed profile), California bicyclist deaths were 177, about 16% of all U.S. bicyclist deaths that year. Most fatal bike crashes happened on urban roads and in the late afternoon to evening.
Some cities saw notable 2024 signals. Oakland recorded 6 bicyclist deaths in 2024. Los Angeles had 15 bicyclist deaths through August 2024 per LAPD figures reported contemporaneously.
E-bike injuries have surged. At Children’s Hospital of Orange County, e-bike injuries among kids rose from 7 cases in 2019 to 116 in 2024.
California launched a speed safety camera pilot (AB 645) in 2024 across Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Long Beach, and Glendale, aimed at cutting high-injury crashes on fast corridors.
California bicyclist fatalities, 2021–2024
Counts are statewide bicyclist deaths in crashes with motor vehicles.
| Year | California bicyclist fatalities | Change vs prior year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125 | — | NHTSA FARS 2021 final. |
| 2022 | 177 | +41.6% | FARS 2022 ARF used by UC Berkeley SafeTREC. |
| 2023 | 145 | −18.1% vs 2022 (or −20.8% vs OTS’s 183 for 2022) | OTS “Quick Stats,” updated July 2025. |
| 2024 | Pending official release | — | State has not yet posted final 2024 bicyclist totals by person type. National overall fatalities declined in 2024. |
Context: National bicyclist deaths reached 1,166 in 2023 and 1,105 in 2022. California’s share was about 16% in 2022 and ~12% in 2023.
How and where fatal bike crashes happen in California
Latest detailed breakdowns are from SafeTREC’s 2024 fact sheet (profiling 2022), which draws on FARS and SWITRS.
Crash environment (fatal crashes, 2022):
Urban vs rural: 88% urban, 12% rural
Roadway type: Minor arterials 37%, principal arterials 34%, major collectors 11%, others 17%
Time of day (fatal): 42.3% occurred 3 pm to 9 pm, with a peak on Thursday 6 pm to 9 pm
Top crash types for fatal and serious injury (FSI) bike crashes, 2022):
Broadside 33.2%, other 22.3%, rear-end 11.2%, sideswipe 9.3%, head-on 7.3%
Who is most affected (2022):
Male bicyclists accounted for 74% of fatalities and 79% of serious injuries
Ages 55–64 had the largest share of fatalities at 20.6%
Race was recorded in only one quarter of deaths, limiting demographic conclusions
County perspective
While county ranks vary year to year, Los Angeles County consistently records the most bicyclist deaths due to population and exposure. In 2021, top counties by fatal count were Los Angeles (27), San Diego (16), Riverside (10), Orange (9), and Santa Clara (9).
2024 trend signals to watch
Macro safety backdrop improved in 2024. NHTSA’s national estimate shows fatalities dropping and the fatality rate falling to its best level since 2019.
Local variation remains large. Oakland counted six bicyclist deaths in 2024, while mid-2024 LAPD figures showed 15 cyclist deaths by August in Los Angeles.
E-bikes are reshaping risk. Pediatric e-bike injuries rose sharply in Orange County, and statewide analyses show e-bike crashes increasing and producing more severe injuries on average.
Speed management is expanding. AB 645’s speed-camera pilot began in 2024 and rolled out through 2025 in several cities.
Data table: 2022 California fatal-crash profile at a glance
| Measure | California 2022 |
|---|---|
| Bicyclist fatalities | 177 |
| Share of U.S. bicyclist deaths | ~16% |
| Urban share of fatal bike crashes | 88% |
| Peak time window (fatal) | 3 pm to 9 pm |
| Top roadway class | Minor arterials 37% |
| Top crash type (FSI) | Broadside 33.2% |
| Male share of bicyclist fatalities | 74% |
| Largest fatal age band | 55–64 years (20.6%) |
Sources: UC Berkeley SafeTREC 2024 Bicycle Safety Fact Sheet (FARS 2022, SWITRS 2022).
What this means
The sharp 2023 decline from 2022’s high is encouraging, but California still accounts for a large share of national bicyclist deaths and the risk concentrates on fast, urban arterials during late-day hours. Infrastructure, speed management, and visibility are the most leverageable factors.
2024’s national improvement in traffic deaths, plus California’s speed-camera pilot, point to potential further gains, but confirmation awaits final SWITRS and FARS releases by person type.
Sources and methodology
Statewide counts: California Office of Traffic Safety “Traffic Safety Quick Stats” (SWITRS and FARS) for 2022–2023 totals.
Detailed breakdowns: UC Berkeley SafeTREC 2024 Bicycle Safety Fact Sheet using FARS 2022 ARF and SWITRS 2022.
Historical context: UC Berkeley SafeTREC 2023 Bicycle Safety Fact Sheet for 2021 county ranks.
National lens: NHTSA 2023 bicyclist fatalities report and 2024 national fatality estimate.
City snapshots: Oakland 2024 fatal counts from the San Francisco Chronicle and mid-2024 Los Angeles tallies as reported via BikinginLA from LAPD stats.
E-bike trend: CHOC pediatric injury surge report and statewide injury research.
Policy: AB 645 legislative text and city program pages.
Data notes
California publishes crash data through SWITRS and the federal FARS system. The two systems sometimes differ due to timing and case definitions. That is why, for example, OTS shows 183 bicyclist deaths in 2022 while SafeTREC’s FARS-based profile lists 177. Both are official; totals converge as case coding is finalized.
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