Bike crash statistics and hotspots in San Luis Obispo, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 207
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 26
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 2
- fatal
- street with the most
- Higuera St
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1Marsh St & Chorro St17 crashes · 1 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 17, a driver ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping.
- 2Higuera St & South St10 crashes · 2 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 10, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.
- 3Foothill Blvd & SR-17 crashes · 1 serious or fatalSide-impact crashes at the junction
Is San Luis Obispo 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: 207 bike crashes were reported in San Luis Obispo from 2021–2026, 26 of them serious or fatal (2 fatal). The most were at Marsh St & Chorro St (17). 56% 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 Luis Obispo
- 56% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 20% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 14% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in San Luis Obispo
- 14% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 21% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 13% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- 2% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 6 crashes: a construction or repair zone (4) and holes or deep ruts (2).
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.
- 0117 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Marsh St & Chorro St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 17, a driver ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping. 9 of 17 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.
- 0210 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Higuera St & South St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 10, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 5 of 10 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.
- 037 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Foothill Blvd & SR-1
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 7 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.
- 044 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Higuera & Nipomo
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 3 of 4 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.
- 056 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
California Blvd & Taft St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 067 crashes
California Blvd & Monterey St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
5 of 7 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.
- 075 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Los Osos Valley Rd & Madonna Rd
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. Traffic is posted at about 40 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.
- 085 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Grand Ave & SR-101
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.
- 096 crashes
Broad St & South St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 of 6 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.
- 104 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Broad St & Orcutt Rd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
4 of 4 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 40 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 Luis Obispo
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Higuera St | 32 | 4 |
| Broad St | 17 | 2 |
| Los Osos Valley Rd | 14 | 2 |
| California Blvd | 11 | 1 |
| Foothill Blvd | 9 | 0 |
| Marsh St | 7 | 2 |
| Santa Rosa St | 7 | 0 |
| Johnson Ave | 6 | 2 |
| Madonna Rd | 5 | 2 |
| Orcutt Rd | 4 | 1 |
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 Luis Obispo
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 26 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 12 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 9 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 8 | |
| opened a door into traffic | 3 | |
| ran a red light | 2 | |
| turned from the wrong position | 2 | |
| didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 125 cars, 25 SUVs, 22 pickup trucks, 3 truck or semis and 1 bus. In 8 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 Luis Obispo by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 33 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 39 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 43 | 4 | |
| 2026 | 28 | 4 |
How people get to work in San Luis Obispo
| Share of workers | City | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 63.8% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 6.8% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 1% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 6.1% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 4.5% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 17.2% |
6.8% of households in San Luis Obispo have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 16.1 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 48,491 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 Luis Obispo's streets.
Common questions about San Luis Obispo
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in San Luis Obispo?
- The worst spot is Marsh St & Chorro St, with 17 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Higuera St & South St (10) and Foothill Blvd & SR-1 (7).
- How many cyclists were killed in San Luis Obispo?
- 2 crashes killed someone in 207 reported bike crashes in San Luis Obispo from 2021–2026, and 26 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in San Luis Obispo?
- 56% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 20% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 14% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in San Luis Obispo, compared with California?
- Of 207 reported bike crashes in San Luis Obispo from 2021–2026: 14% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 21% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 13% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.). 2% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 6 crashes: a construction or repair zone (4) and holes or deep ruts (2).
- Which streets in San Luis Obispo have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Higuera St (32), Broad St (17), Los Osos Valley Rd (14), California Blvd (11), Foothill Blvd (9). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in San Luis Obispo?
- 4.5% of workers in San Luis Obispo ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 1% 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 San Luis Obispo each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 39, 2022: 33, 2023: 25, 2024: 39, 2025: 43, 2026: 28. 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 Luis Obispo
Bike climbs near San Luis Obispo
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.