Bike crashes on California St, San Francisco
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 17
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 3
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
Is California St in San Francisco safe to ride a bike?
We don't rate streets 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. This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. What the records show: 17 bike crashes were reported on California St in San Francisco from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. The most were at California St & Battery St (4). 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 18% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit on California St
- 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 18% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 47% happened after dark.
Where on California St crashes cluster
California St & Battery St
4 crashesClose passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 50% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Use a front and rear light, even on lit streets.
California St & Polk St
3 crashesSide-impact crashes at the junction
3 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. 67% 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.
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
When bike crashes happen on California St
The busiest hour was 8 p.m..
Bike crashes on California St by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions about California St
- Where on California St do the most bike crashes happen?
- California St & Battery St, with 4 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026. Next are California St & Polk St (3).
- How do cyclists usually get hit on California St?
- 41% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 18% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 47% happened after dark.
- How many bike crashes happen on California St each year?
- Reported bike crashes on California St in San Francisco: 2021: 7, 2022: 4, 2023: 0, 2024: 2, 2025: 3, 2026: 1. 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, counted by the street each report names first. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.
Other streets in San Francisco
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. Crashes are counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Long, busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-07. How the data works.