Bike crash statistics and hotspots in Santa Clara, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 151
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 16
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 2
- fatal
- street with the most
- El Camino Real
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs Santa Clara 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: 151 bike crashes were reported in Santa Clara from 2021–2026, 16 of them serious or fatal (2 fatal). The most were at San Tomas Expy & Monroe St (7). 64% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
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How people on bikes get hit in Santa Clara
- 64% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 23% happened after dark.
- 11% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about bike crashes in Santa Clara
- 23% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 25% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 11% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- 5% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
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.
- 017 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
San Tomas Expy & Monroe St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
7 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.
- 025 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Kiely Blvd & Homestead 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.
- 035 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Kiely Blvd & Benton St
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.
- 045 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
El Camino Real & San Tomas Expy
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 5 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 45 mph. 40% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- Traffic is fast here. A quieter parallel street is often worth the extra minutes.
- 056 crashes
El Camino Real & Halford Ave
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.
- 064 crashes
Brokaw Rd & Coleman Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 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.
- 074 crashes
Benton St & Monroe St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver opened a door into traffic. 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.
- 083 crashes
San Tomas Expy & Benton St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver ran a red light. 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. Traffic is posted at about 45 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.
- 093 crashes
Benton St & Los Padres Blvd
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. 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.
- 103 crashes
El Camino Real & Flora Vista Ave
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 Santa Clara
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 19 | 4 |
| Benton St | 14 | 1 |
| Kiely Blvd | 11 | 3 |
| Homestead Rd | 11 | 1 |
| Monroe St | 7 | 2 |
| San Tomas Expy | 7 | 0 |
| Great America Pkwy | 6 | 1 |
| Lafayette St | 6 | 0 |
| Lawrence Expy | 4 | 1 |
| Scott Blvd | 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 Santa Clara
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 18 | |
| ran a red light | 10 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 8 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 8 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 7 | |
| opened a door into traffic | 6 | |
| didn't yield at an intersection | 6 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 5 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 98 cars, 24 SUVs, 6 pickup trucks, 5 minivans, 3 buses and 1 truck or semi. In 4 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 Santa Clara by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 42 | 7 | |
| 2023 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 27 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 34 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
How people get to work in Santa Clara
| Share of workers | Santa Clara | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 58.2% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 7.3% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 25.7% | 17.2% |
5.8% of households in Santa Clara have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 130,256 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 Santa Clara's streets.
Common questions about Santa Clara
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in Santa Clara?
- The worst spot is San Tomas Expy & Monroe St, with 7 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Kiely Blvd & Homestead Rd (5) and Kiely Blvd & Benton St (5).
- How many cyclists were killed in Santa Clara?
- 2 crashes killed someone in 151 reported bike crashes in Santa Clara from 2021–2026, and 16 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in Santa Clara?
- 64% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 14% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 23% happened after dark. 11% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in Santa Clara, compared with California?
- Of 151 reported bike crashes in Santa Clara from 2021–2026: 23% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 25% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 11% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.). 5% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in Santa Clara have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: El Camino Real (19), Benton St (14), Kiely Blvd (11), Homestead Rd (11), Monroe St (7). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in Santa Clara?
- 1.3% of workers in Santa Clara ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 2.5% take public transit. 5.8% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in Santa Clara each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 12, 2022: 42, 2023: 34, 2024: 27, 2025: 34, 2026: 2. 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 Santa Clara
Bike climbs near Santa Clara
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.