With the growing number of people biking as a mode of transportation, it’s no surprise that bicycle accidents and fatalities are increasing at a rapid pace. Just ask this bicycle accident lawyer in Phoenix, Luis Guerra, how prevalent these incidents have become.
Of course, there’s plenty of data on the subject. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, 783 cyclist fatalities occurred in the United States in 2017, an increase of 25 percent since 2010. Here are 10 dangerous cities for cyclists.
10. Lakeland, Florida
Located in Polk County, Florida, the city of Lakeland is part of the Tampa Bay Area. With a population of approximately 104,165, Lakeland boasts 335 bike commuters. Per 100,000 commuters, there are 299 annual bike fatalities, for a total of 4 bike fatalities in the last four years. 25% of the cyclists in the fatal accidents wore a helmet.
9. Memphis, Tennessee
Located along the Mississippi River in Shelby County, Memphis, Tennessee has a population of around 654,723. There are about 567 bike commuters in this city. The number of bike fatalities per 100,000 commuters is 309, with 7 total bike fatalities in the last 4 years. Surprisingly, not one of the cyclists’ fatalities involved wearing a helmet.
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Also located along the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is not only the capital of Louisianna but also the most populated city in the state with 227,549 residents. Baton Rouge has 627 bike commuters. Annual bike fatalities are 319 per 100,000 commuters, and a total of 8 fatal bike accidents in the last 4 years. None of the bicyclists were wearing a helmet.
7. Stockton, California
Located in the Central Valley of California, the city of Stockton has a population of about 312,697 residents and 688 bike commuters. Stockton had 327 bike fatalities per 100,000 commuters, for a total of 9 bike fatalities in the last 4 years.
None of the cyclists involved in fatal accidents were wearing bike helmets, mind you, but the rise in incidents has led plenty of riders to need a bicycle accident attorney in the Bay Area. While Stockton and other nearby locations are cracking down on safety, it takes more than regulation to stop accidents altogether.
6. Chula Vista, California
Located in the San Diego metropolitan area, Chula Vista is the seventh-largest city in southern California. It has a population of 274,492 and 349 bike commuters. Annual cyclist fatalities were 358 per 100,000 commuters, for a total of 5 bike-related deaths in the past 4 years. The share of fatalities where the cyclists wore a helmet? Zero percent.
5. Pompano Beach, Florida
Just north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and situated along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Pompano Beach is home to approximately 112,120 residents and 420 bike commuters. Annual bike fatalities were 417 per 100,000 commuters, and a total of 7 bike-related deaths in 4 years. None of the fatal victims of bike crashes were wearing helmets.
4. Dayton, Ohio
Located in Montgomery and Greene County, Ohio, Dayton has a population of 140,407 and approximately 218 bike commuters. Annual bike fatalities were 459 per 100,000 commuters, for a total of 4 bike-related deaths in 4 years. Unlike many of the other cities, 25% of the bike fatalities for Dayton involved the victim wearing a helmet.
3. San Bernardino, California
Located in the Inland Empire of Southern California, San Bernardino is home to 215,784 residents and 303 bike commuters. There were 7 bike fatalities over the course of 4 years, with an annual fatality rate of 578 per 100,000 commuters. 14% of the victims were wearing a bike helmet at the time of the fatal accident.
2. Abilene, Texas
Located in Taylor and Jones Counties in Texas, Abilene is home to 123,707 residents and 112 bike commuters. In 4 years, there were 5 bike fatalities. None of the cyclists were wearing helmets at the time of the accidents. There are 1,116 annual bike fatalities per 100,000 commuters.
1. Cape Coral, Florida
Located in Lee County on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, Cape Coral is home to 194,495 residents and over 75 bike commuters. There were 4 bike fatalities in 4 years, and annual bike fatalities per 100,000 of 1,333. None of the cyclists were wearing helmets at the time of their fatal accidents.
