Santa Monica Pier

We don't rate places, roads or trails as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a ride is, and places riders like draw more riders, so they see more crashes. What the records show: 161 bike crashes were reported within a mile of Santa Monica Pier from 2021–2026, 12 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at Ocean Ave & Colorado Ave (23). Car-free paths nearby: Marvin Braude Coastal Trail (The Strand) and Ballona Creek Bike Path.

• Marvin Braude Coastal Trail (The Strand)Class I Protected Beach Path (0 Cars) · 22 Miles Continuous · passes right by it
• Ballona Creek Bike PathClass I Grade-Separated Waterway Bikeway · 7.4 Miles Continuous · passes 4 mi away

1. 23 crashes · 1 serious or fatal

   Ocean Ave & Colorado Ave

   A mix of crash types

   Police reports: in 4 of 23, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.

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2. 21 crashes · 1 serious or fatal

   Ocean Ave & California Ave

   A mix of crash types

   Police reports: in 6 of 21, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.

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3. 13 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal

   Lincoln Blvd & Michigan Ave

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   5 of 13 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.

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• 20% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
• 12% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
• 19% happened after dark.
• 12% were hit-and-run.

Where is Santa Monica Pier?

Pier on the Marvin Braude beach path, busy with people walking. Its location is 34.0089, -118.4974.

Are there car-free paths near Santa Monica Pier?

Yes: Marvin Braude Coastal Trail (The Strand) (Class I Protected Beach Path (0 Cars), right by it), Ballona Creek Bike Path (Class I Grade-Separated Waterway Bikeway, 4 mi away).

How long does it take to ride to Santa Monica Pier?

It depends where you start. On our cycling map, Ride to… gives the ride time from where you are, or from anywhere you move the map, and plans a route with the weather and the crashes reported along it.

Where does this data come from?

Crash counts are police reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) on data.ca.gov, counted where they have map coordinates or could be placed from the street names on the report. The place's location is from OpenStreetMap, and the forecast from the National Weather Service.