Bike crash statistics and hotspots in San Francisco, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 2,477
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 251
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 9
- fatal
- street with the most
- Market St
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1Market St & Octavia St57 crashes · 9 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 9 of 57, a driver turned from the wrong position.
- 2Market St & 7th St65 crashes · 3 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 7 of 65, a driver opened a door into traffic.
- 3Fulton St & Fillmore St40 crashes · 11 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 8 of 40, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.
Is San Francisco 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: 2,477 bike crashes were reported in San Francisco from 2021–2026, 251 of them serious or fatal (9 fatal). The most were at Market St & Octavia St (57). 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 20% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in San Francisco
- 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 20% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 24% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in San Francisco
- 24% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 18% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 10% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- 5% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 67 crashes: a construction or repair zone (26), holes or deep ruts (23), something blocking the road (14) and loose material on the road (4).
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.
- 0157 crashes · 9 serious or fatal
Market St & Octavia St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 9 of 57, a driver turned from the wrong position. 31 of 57 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.
- 0265 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Market St & 7th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 7 of 65, a driver opened a door into traffic. 25 of 65 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.
- 0340 crashes · 11 serious or fatal
Fulton St & Fillmore St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 8 of 40, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 20 of 40 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.
- 0437 crashes · 6 serious or fatal
Leavenworth St & Eddy St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
16 of 37 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.
- 0546 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Market St & 5th St
A mix of crash types
46% 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.
- 0640 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Market St & Van Ness Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 5 of 40, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 22 of 40 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.
- 0742 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Mission St & 8th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 4 of 42, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 20 of 42 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.
- 0840 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
2nd St & Clementina St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 5 of 40, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 19 of 40 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.
- 0934 crashes · 4 serious or fatal
Folsom St & 17th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 8 of 34, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 15 of 34 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.
- 1037 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Valencia St & 18th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 7 of 37, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 17 of 37 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 San Francisco
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Market St | 165 | 13 |
| Mission St | 90 | 2 |
| 17th St | 77 | 5 |
| Polk St | 65 | 5 |
| Folsom St | 62 | 7 |
| Valencia St | 62 | 6 |
| 3rd St | 41 | 5 |
| Van Ness Ave | 39 | 6 |
| The Embarcadero | 39 | 2 |
| Harrison St | 37 | 6 |
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.
What the police reports say drivers did in San Francisco
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 301 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 161 | |
| opened a door into traffic | 92 | |
| turned from the wrong position | 74 | |
| ran a red light | 70 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 60 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 45 | |
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 39 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 1,361 cars, 148 SUVs, 65 pickup trucks, 42 minivans, 33 motorcycles and 21 truck or semis. In 90 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported bike crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.
Bike crashes in San Francisco by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 375 | 40 | |
| 2022 | 373 | 43 | |
| 2023 | 367 | 36 | |
| 2024 | 466 | 41 | |
| 2025 | 469 | 54 | |
| 2026 | 427 | 37 |
How people get to work in San Francisco
| Share of workers | San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 28.6% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 5.9% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 18.7% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 9.4% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 3.3% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 31% | 17.2% |
30.2% of households in San Francisco have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 30.4 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 830,235 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 Francisco's streets.
Common questions about San Francisco
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in San Francisco?
- The worst spot is Market St & Octavia St, with 57 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 9 of them serious or fatal. Next are Market St & 7th St (65) and Fulton St & Fillmore St (40).
- How many cyclists were killed in San Francisco?
- 9 crashes killed someone in 2,477 reported bike crashes in San Francisco from 2021–2026, and 251 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in San Francisco?
- 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 20% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 24% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in San Francisco, compared with California?
- Of 2,477 reported bike crashes in San Francisco from 2021–2026: 24% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 18% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 10% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.). 5% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 67 crashes: a construction or repair zone (26), holes or deep ruts (23), something blocking the road (14) and loose material on the road (4).
- Which streets in San Francisco have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Market St (165), Mission St (90), 17th St (77), Polk St (65), Folsom St (62). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in San Francisco?
- 3.3% of workers in San Francisco ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 18.7% take public transit. 30.2% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in San Francisco each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 375, 2022: 373, 2023: 367, 2024: 466, 2025: 469, 2026: 427. 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.
Visiting San Francisco
Weather, getting there without a car, parking and the crashes reported within a mile of each.
Places to ride to near San Francisco
Bike climbs near San Francisco
Bike crashes by neighborhood in San Francisco
San Francisco publishes its own neighborhood outlines (neighborhoods), so each one has a page: where bike crashes cluster there, which streets have the most, and what the reports show.
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 2026-10-22. How the data works.