Bike crash statistics and hotspots in East Palo Alto, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 57
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 5
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
- street with the most
- University Ave
- street with the most
Is East Palo Alto safe to ride a bike?
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: 57 bike crashes were reported in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026, 5 of them serious or fatal. The most were at University Ave & Donohoe St (9). 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 25% happened after dark.
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in East Palo Alto
- 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 25% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in East Palo Alto
- 25% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 9% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
Set against all bike crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where bike crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 019 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
University Ave & Donohoe St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 027 crashes
Bay Rd & Glen Way
A mix of crash types
43% happened after dark.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- Use a front and rear light, even on lit streets.
- 034 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Woodland Ave & University Ave
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.
- Slow down approaching the junction, watch drivers' front wheels at side streets and driveways, and don't assume a driver waiting to turn has seen you.
- 044 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Runnymede St & University Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 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.
- Slow down approaching the junction, watch drivers' front wheels at side streets and driveways, and don't assume a driver waiting to turn has seen you.
- 054 crashes
University Ave & Bell St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 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.
- Slow down approaching the junction, watch drivers' front wheels at side streets and driveways, and don't assume a driver waiting to turn has seen you.
- 064 crashes
University Ave & Michigan Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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.
- Slow down approaching the junction, watch drivers' front wheels at side streets and driveways, and don't assume a driver waiting to turn has seen you.
- Use a front and rear light, even on lit streets.
- 073 crashes
Dumbarton Ave & Bell St
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.
- Slow down approaching the junction, watch drivers' front wheels at side streets and driveways, and don't assume a driver waiting to turn has seen you.
Streets with the most bike crashes in East Palo Alto
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| University Ave | 10 | 1 |
| Bay Rd | 8 | 0 |
| Runnymede St | 4 | 1 |
| Bayshore Rd | 4 | 1 |
| Woodland Ave | 3 | 1 |
| Donohoe St | 3 | 0 |
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.
Bike crashes in East Palo Alto by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 5 | 1 |
How people get to work in East Palo Alto
| Share of workers | East Palo Alto | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 64.2% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 12.3% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 1.9% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 2% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 17.2% |
6.1% of households in East Palo Alto have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 29,069 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 East Palo Alto's streets.
Common questions about East Palo Alto
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in East Palo Alto?
- The worst spot is University Ave & Donohoe St, with 9 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Bay Rd & Glen Way (7) and Woodland Ave & University Ave (4).
- How many cyclists were killed in East Palo Alto?
- No deaths were reported in 57 reported bike crashes in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026, and 5 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in East Palo Alto?
- 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 25% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in East Palo Alto, compared with California?
- Of 57 reported bike crashes in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026: 25% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 9% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- Which streets in East Palo Alto have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: University Ave (10), Bay Rd (8), Runnymede St (4), Bayshore Rd (4), Woodland Ave (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in East Palo Alto?
- 2% of workers in East Palo Alto ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 1.9% take public transit. 6.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in East Palo Alto each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 11, 2022: 8, 2023: 10, 2024: 10, 2025: 13, 2026: 5. 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.
Places to ride to near East Palo Alto
Bike climbs near East Palo Alto
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-07. How the data works.