Bike crash statistics and hotspots in Imperial Beach, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 33
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 3
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
- street with the most
- Palm Ave
- street with the most
Is Imperial Beach 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: 33 bike crashes were reported in Imperial Beach from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. The most were at Palm Ave & 9th St (5). 48% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 12% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in Imperial Beach
- 48% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 12% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 21% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in Imperial Beach
- 21% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 9% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 2 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.
- 015 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Palm Ave & 9th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 of 5 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.
- 023 crashes
Seacoast Dr & Elm Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door.
- Ride at least 4 feet from parked cars to stay out of the door zone, and watch for drivers who overtake and then turn right across you.
- 033 crashes
Imperial Beach Blvd & 9th St
Head-on crashes
2 of 3 crashes were head-on, often riding against traffic or a driver cutting across the centre line on a turn.
- Ride with the flow of traffic, and watch for oncoming drivers turning left across you.
- 043 crashes
Georgia St & Imperial Beach Blvd
Crashes with people on foot
2 of 3 crashes were with a pedestrian.
- Slow down near crossings and on shared paths, and give people walking plenty of room.
- 053 crashes
Dahlia Ave & 2nd 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 Imperial Beach
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Ave | 8 | 1 |
| 13th St | 3 | 1 |
| Georgia St | 3 | 0 |
| Seacoast Dr | 3 | 0 |
| Imperial Beach Blvd | 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 Imperial Beach by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
How people get to work in Imperial Beach
| Share of workers | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 70.8% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 9.3% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 3.9% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 3.6% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 17.2% |
6.8% of households in Imperial Beach have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 27.1 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 25,764 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 Imperial Beach's streets.
Common questions about Imperial Beach
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in Imperial Beach?
- The worst spot is Palm Ave & 9th St, with 5 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Seacoast Dr & Elm Ave (3) and Imperial Beach Blvd & 9th St (3).
- How many cyclists were killed in Imperial Beach?
- No deaths were reported in 33 reported bike crashes in Imperial Beach from 2021–2026, and 3 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in Imperial Beach?
- 48% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 12% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 21% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in Imperial Beach, compared with California?
- Of 33 reported bike crashes in Imperial Beach from 2021–2026: 21% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 9% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 2 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- Which streets in Imperial Beach have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Palm Ave (8), 13th St (3), Georgia St (3), Seacoast Dr (3), Imperial Beach Blvd (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in Imperial Beach?
- 0.3% of workers in Imperial Beach ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 3.9% take public transit. 6.8% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in Imperial Beach each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 5, 2022: 3, 2023: 4, 2024: 8, 2025: 11, 2026: 2. 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 Imperial Beach
Bike climbs near Imperial Beach
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.