Fatality Facts 2022Bicyclists

Overview

Each year about 2% of motor vehicle crash deaths are bicyclists. Although child bicyclist deaths have declined over the years, deaths among bicyclists age 20 and older have increased almost fivefold since 1975.

In a majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet (Sacks et al., 1991).

Some vehicles are equipped with crash avoidance technologies that detect cyclists and may automatically brake prior to impact. These technologies have the potential to prevent crashes with cyclists if they are able to detect those road users both crossing in front of and traveling in line with vehicles (Cicchino, 2023).

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Posted June 2024.

When they died

Bicyclist deaths in 2022 were highest during July and August (11%) followed by September and October (10%).

Distribution of bicyclist deaths by month, 2022
MonthDeaths%
January 64 6
February 75 7
March 80 7
April 75 7
May 90 8
June 92 8
July 116 11
August 116 11
September 110 10
October 106 10
November 81 7
December 79 7
Total 1,084 100

Bicyclist deaths in 2022 peaked during the hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (21%).

Distribution of bicyclist deaths by time of day, 2022
Time of dayDeaths%
Midnight - 3 a.m. 88 8
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 85 8
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 117 11
9 a.m. - noon 101 9
Noon - 3 p.m. 98 9
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 179 17
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 224 21
9 p.m. - midnight 189 17
Total* 1,084 100

Where they died

In 2022, 83% of bicyclists were killed in urban areas. Bicyclist deaths occurred about equally in rural and urban areas in 1975.

Bicyclist deaths by land use, 1975-2022
YearUrban Rural Total*
Number%Number%Number%
1975 497 50 506 50 1,003 100
1976 470 51 444 49 914 100
1977 543 59 375 41 922 100
1978 532 60 350 40 892 100
1979 541 60 367 40 932 100
1980 563 59 390 41 965 100
1981 528 59 371 41 936 100
1982 490 57 364 43 864 100
1983 502 61 324 39 830 100
1984 491 59 346 41 838 100
1985 515 59 353 41 869 100
1986 567 61 361 39 929 100
1987 532 57 406 43 940 100
1988 525 58 374 42 901 100
1989 520 63 302 37 822 100
1990 523 61 330 39 853 100
1991 539 64 297 36 836 100
1992 448 63 265 37 717 100
1993 491 61 313 39 806 100
1994 477 60 318 40 796 100
1995 540 66 284 34 828 100
1996 494 65 265 35 761 100
1997 519 64 289 36 811 100
1998 479 63 277 37 757 100
1999 484 65 266 35 750 100
2000 422 63 251 37 689 100
2001 478 66 251 34 729 100
2002 450 68 211 32 663 100
2003 435 70 189 30 626 100
2004 477 66 242 34 722 100
2005 539 69 243 31 784 100
2006 555 73 209 27 769 100
2007 500 72 197 28 699 100
2008 491 69 222 31 716 100
2009 436 70 191 30 628 100
2010 444 72 174 28 621 100
2011 468 69 208 31 680 100
2012 503 69 225 31 730 100
2013 505 68 242 32 747 100
2014 511 71 212 29 723 100
2015 565 71 234 29 828 100
2016 628 74 219 26 848 100
2017 610 76 189 24 800 100
2018 686 80 176 20 868 100
2019 682 80 174 20 856 100
2020 753 80 185 20 942 100
2021 828 86 140 14 971 100
2022 889 83 188 17 1,084 100

Thirty-four percent of bicyclist deaths in 2022 occurred at intersections.

Bicyclist deaths by location type, 2022
Number%
Intersection 373 34
Nonintersection 711 66
Total 1,084 100

Sixty-four percent of bicyclist deaths in 2022 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, and 31% occurred on minor roads. Deaths of bicyclists ages 20 and older were more likely to occur on major roads (not including interstates and freeways) compared with deaths of bicyclists younger than 20 (66% vs. 53%).

Bicyclist deaths by age group and road type, 2022
Road type< 20 years ≥20 yearsTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Interstates and freeways 3 3 34 4 37 3
Other major roads 50 53 635 66 699 64
Minor roads 41 43 293 30 340 31
Total* 95 100 968 100 1,084 100