Bike crash statistics and hotspots in San Marcos, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 132
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 21
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 2
- fatal
- street with the most
- Mission Rd
- street with the most
Is San Marcos 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: 132 bike crashes were reported in San Marcos from 2021–2026, 21 of them serious or fatal (2 fatal). The most were at Las Posas Rd & Mission Rd (5). 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in San Marcos
- 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 19% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in San Marcos
- 19% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 16% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 3 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.
- 015 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Las Posas Rd & Mission Rd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
5 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.
- 025 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Mission Rd & Knoll 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.
- 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.
- 034 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Mission Rd & Pico Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
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. 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.
- 045 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Twin Oaks Valley Rd & San Marcos Blvd
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.
- 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
Rancho Santa Fe Rd & San Marcos Blvd
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 066 crashes
Twin Oaks Valley Rd & Richmar Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 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.
- 074 crashes
Rancho Santa Fe Rd & Descanso Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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 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.
- 084 crashes
Las Posas Rd & Armorlite Dr
Close 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.
- 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.
- 093 crashes
Linda Vista Dr & Pacific St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- 103 crashes
Grand Ave & Las Posas Rd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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.
- 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 Marcos
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Rd | 16 | 4 |
| San Marcos Blvd | 16 | 3 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Rd | 14 | 1 |
| Las Posas Rd | 10 | 2 |
| Twin Oaks Valley Rd | 9 | 0 |
| Woodland Pkwy | 4 | 1 |
| San Elijo Rd | 4 | 1 |
| Grand Ave | 4 | 1 |
| Borden Rd | 3 | 2 |
| SR-78 | 3 | 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 Marcos by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 23 | 7 | |
| 2024 | 33 | 7 | |
| 2025 | 32 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 12 | 1 |
How people get to work in San Marcos
| Share of workers | San Marcos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 67.7% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 8% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 0.5% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.5% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 20.5% | 17.2% |
3.5% of households in San Marcos have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 94,882 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 Marcos's streets.
Common questions about San Marcos
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in San Marcos?
- The worst spot is Las Posas Rd & Mission Rd, with 5 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Mission Rd & Knoll Rd (5) and Mission Rd & Pico Ave (4).
- How many cyclists were killed in San Marcos?
- 2 crashes killed someone in 132 reported bike crashes in San Marcos from 2021–2026, and 21 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in San Marcos?
- 49% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 19% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in San Marcos, compared with California?
- Of 132 reported bike crashes in San Marcos from 2021–2026: 19% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 16% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- Which streets in San Marcos have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Mission Rd (16), San Marcos Blvd (16), Rancho Santa Fe Rd (14), Las Posas Rd (10), Twin Oaks Valley Rd (9). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in San Marcos?
- 0.6% of workers in San Marcos ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 0.5% take public transit. 3.5% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in San Marcos each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 8, 2022: 24, 2023: 23, 2024: 33, 2025: 32, 2026: 12. 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 Marcos
Bike climbs near San Marcos
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.