Bike crash statistics and hotspots in San Clemente, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 148
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 16
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 1
- fatal
- street with the most
- El Camino Real
- street with the most
Is San Clemente 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: 148 bike crashes were reported in San Clemente from 2021–2026, 16 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at Avenida Victoria & El Camino Real (11). 36% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were riders hit from behind.
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in San Clemente
- 36% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 14% were riders hit from behind.
- 23% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in San Clemente
- 23% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 11% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 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.
- 0111 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Avenida Victoria & El Camino Real
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 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.
- 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.
- 028 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Avenida Pico & Avenida La Pata
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 8 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.
- 038 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Avenida Del Mar & Ola Vista
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 8 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.
- 048 crashes
W Eascalones & El Camino Real
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 056 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Ola Vista & Avenida Barcelona
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 065 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
El Camino Real & Avenida Valencia
Riders hit from behind
2 of 5 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind.
- Run a bright rear light day and night, and ride where drivers see you early rather than tucked into the gutter. A mirror or rear radar helps.
- 073 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Avenida La Pata & Camino Del Rio
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 3 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
- 085 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Avenida Palizada & Calle Seville
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. 40% 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.
- 095 crashes
Avenida Vista Hermosa & Avenida La Pata
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 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.
- 105 crashes
I-5 & Avenida Vista Hermosa
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- 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.
- Traffic is fast here. A quieter parallel street is often worth the extra minutes.
Streets with the most bike crashes in San Clemente
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 22 | 3 |
| Avenida Pico | 14 | 1 |
| Avenida La Pata | 12 | 2 |
| Avenida Vista Hermosa | 10 | 1 |
| Avenida Del Mar | 7 | 1 |
| Avenida Vaquero | 7 | 0 |
| Ola Vista | 5 | 1 |
| Avenida Victoria | 4 | 1 |
| South El Camino Real | 4 | 1 |
| Avenida Palizada | 4 | 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 San Clemente by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 42 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 19 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2026 | 25 | 3 |
How people get to work in San Clemente
| Share of workers | San Clemente | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 68.7% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 5.6% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 0.1% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 0.8% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 17.2% |
3.1% of households in San Clemente have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 28.6 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 63,273 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 San Clemente's streets.
Common questions about San Clemente
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in San Clemente?
- The worst spot is Avenida Victoria & El Camino Real, with 11 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Avenida Pico & Avenida La Pata (8) and Avenida Del Mar & Ola Vista (8).
- How many cyclists were killed in San Clemente?
- 1 crash killed someone in 148 reported bike crashes in San Clemente from 2021–2026, and 16 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in San Clemente?
- 36% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were riders hit from behind. 23% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in San Clemente, compared with California?
- Of 148 reported bike crashes in San Clemente from 2021–2026: 23% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 11% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- Which streets in San Clemente have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: El Camino Real (22), Avenida Pico (14), Avenida La Pata (12), Avenida Vista Hermosa (10), Avenida Del Mar (7). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in San Clemente?
- 0.3% of workers in San Clemente ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 0.1% take public transit. 3.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in San Clemente each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 12, 2022: 42, 2023: 19, 2024: 24, 2025: 26, 2026: 25. 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 San Clemente
Bike climbs near San Clemente
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.