Bicyclist Fatalities Increasing in the US

More than one-third of all Americans rode a bicycle in the past year, and a new report from the Governors’ Highway Safety Association found that while more adults are riding for fun, transportation or exercise, bicyclist fatalities are on the rise.

The GHSA analyzed crash data from 1975 to 2015 and found that fatalities declined steadily until hitting a low point in 2010. Since then, however, the trend has reversed. In 2015, the last year for which full data is available, fatality rates spiked by 12.2 percent. At the same time, total traffic for all vehicle fatalities rose 7.2 percent. Nine out of 10 crashes involved adult riders, not children. In 1975, it was the exact opposite – nearly all crash victims were under the age of 20. Male cyclists are six times more likely to be killed than female cyclists.

Organizations across the country are working proactively to make cycling as safe as possible for drivers and riders of all ages. CDOT continues to work with partners throughout Colorado on bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, including Heads Up Boulder, Safe Routes to School and Share the Road campaigns.