Hearst Avenue Climb

We don't rate roads as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a ride is, and roads people like to ride draw more riders, so they see more crashes. What the records show: 28 bike crashes were reported on or beside Hearst Avenue along the climb from 2021–2025, 4 of them serious or fatal. The most were at Hearst & Shattuck (11). Of the 17 where the cyclist's direction along the climb can be read, 16 were coming down and 1 going up.

1. 11 crashes · 2 serious or fatal

   Hearst & Shattuck

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   5 of 11 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.

   See it on the map
2. 4 crashes · 2 serious or fatal

   Hearst & Euclid

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   3 of 4 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 50% happened after dark.

   See it on the map
3. 3 crashes

   California & Hearst

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   2 of 3 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal.

   See it on the map

How long and steep is the Hearst Avenue climb?

2.6 miles (4.2 km) at 4% on average, climbing 558 ft (170 m) from 26 ft to 584 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.86949, -122.29727, where Hearst Avenue leaves Sixth Street, and tops out at Cyclotron Road at 37.87503, -122.2528.

Is Hearst Avenue paved?

Yes, by its OpenStreetMap tags.

How is the category worked out?

From the climb's shape only: length in metres × average grade (%) of 16,000 or more for Cat 3, 32,000 for Cat 2, 64,000 for Cat 1 and 80,000 for HC. It describes how hard the climb is, not traffic or crashes.

Where does this data come from?

The climb is found from OpenStreetMap roads and USGS 3DEP elevation (every climb, not a list of famous ones). Access is from OpenStreetMap tags; gates and closures change, so obey posted signs. Crash counts are police reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) on data.ca.gov, counted where their map location is within 100 ft of the climb. The forecast is from the National Weather Service.

• Cedar StreetCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 5.3% · 525 ft · starts 0.6 mi away
• Marin AvenueCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 8.8% · 994 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Tunnel Road from Ashby AvenueCat 3 · 4.6 mi at 3.9% · 948 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Spruce StreetCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.9% · 591 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Euclid AvenueCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.7% · 561 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Centennial DriveCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.9% · 781 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Panoramic WayCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 8.1% · 679 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Claremont AvenueCat 2 · 3.2 mi at 6.7% · 1,142 ft · starts 2.8 mi away