Bike crash statistics and hotspots in Arcata, CA

This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. We don't rate cities as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a street is, and busy streets have more crashes partly because more people use them. What the records show: 51 bike crashes were reported in Arcata from 2021–2026, 9 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at 12th St & J St (6). 29% happened after dark.

• NearbyEureka100 bike crashes, 2021–2026
• The worst spot, on the map12th St & J St6 crashes. A mix of crash types.
• Also in ArcataPedestrian crash hotspots38 pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026

• 29% happened after dark.

• 29% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
• 18% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
• The busiest hour was 11 a.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
• 18% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
• The reports name something about the road itself in 2 crashes: a construction or repair zone (2).

Set against all bike crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.

Reported bike crashes, 2021–2026, counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.

The other vehicle, where the report names one: 27 cars, 4 pickup trucks, 4 SUVs and 1 minivan.

Reported bike crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.

7.6% of households in Arcata have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes one way (California: 28.7).

US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 18,607 residents. These are trips to work only: walks to school, the shops or a bus stop aren't counted, so they can't say how much walking or riding happens on Arcata's streets.

Where do the most bike crashes happen in Arcata?

The worst spot is 12th St & J St, with 6 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are H St & 5th St (6) and Giuntoli Ln & Valley West Blvd (3).

How many cyclists were killed in Arcata?

1 crash killed someone in 51 reported bike crashes in Arcata from 2021–2026, and 9 left someone seriously hurt or killed.

How do cyclists usually get hit in Arcata?

29% happened after dark.

When and where do bike crashes happen in Arcata, compared with California?

Of 51 reported bike crashes in Arcata from 2021–2026: 29% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 18% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 11 a.m. (California: 3 p.m.). 18% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 2 crashes: a construction or repair zone (2).

Which streets in Arcata have the most bike crashes?

By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Samoa Blvd (4), G St (4), Sunset Ave (3), US-101 (3), H St (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.

How many people bike to work in Arcata?

3.2% of workers in Arcata ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 1.4% take public transit. 7.6% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.

How many bike crashes happen in Arcata each year?

Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 4, 2022: 13, 2023: 10, 2024: 12, 2025: 6, 2026: 6. The latest year can rise as late reports come in.

Where does this data come from?

Police crash reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published by the state on data.ca.gov. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.