Bike crash statistics and hotspots in South Lake Tahoe, CA
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- 124
- bike crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 15
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
- street with the most
- Lake Tahoe Blvd
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1Lake Tahoe Blvd & Bal Bijou Rd7 crashes · 2 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 7, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.
- 2Lake Tahoe Blvd & Truckee Dr8 crashes · 1 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 8, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.
- 3Lake Tahoe Blvd & Ski Run Blvd7 crashes · 1 serious or fatalSide-impact crashes at the junction
Is South Lake Tahoe 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: 124 bike crashes were reported in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026, 15 of them serious or fatal. The most were at Lake Tahoe Blvd & Bal Bijou Rd (7). 65% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 13% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
Where to look next
How people on bikes get hit in South Lake Tahoe
- 65% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across).
- 13% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors).
- 19% happened after dark.
What the reports show about bike crashes in South Lake Tahoe
- 19% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 55% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 12% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.).
- 2% (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
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Bal Bijou Rd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 7, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 6 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. 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.
- 028 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Truckee Dr
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 8, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 6 of 8 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.
- 037 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Ski Run Blvd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
6 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. 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.
- 048 crashes
3rd St & Eloise Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
6 of 8 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.
- 058 crashes
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Brockway Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
7 of 8 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.
- 065 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Emerald Bay Rd & B St
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.
- 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.
- 076 crashes
Emerald Bay Rd & Lake Tahoe Blvd
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.
- 084 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Midway Rd & Lake Tahoe Blvd
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.
- 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.
- 094 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Pioneer Trl & Echo Rd
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.
- 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.
- 103 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Stockton Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- 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.
Streets with the most bike crashes in South Lake Tahoe
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe Blvd | 69 | 4 |
| Emerald Bay Rd | 12 | 1 |
| Pioneer Trl | 9 | 4 |
| 3rd St | 4 | 0 |
| Tallac Ave | 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.
What the police reports say drivers did in South Lake Tahoe
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 16 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 8 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 6 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 3 | |
| drove in a bike lane | 3 | |
| didn't yield at an intersection | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 52 cars, 31 SUVs, 23 pickup trucks, 3 truck or semis and 1 bus. 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 South Lake Tahoe by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 17 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2026 | 29 | 4 |
How people get to work in South Lake Tahoe
| Share of workers | City | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 60% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 10.6% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 2.3% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 6.5% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 3.5% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 17.2% |
7% of households in South Lake Tahoe have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 16.5 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 21,269 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 South Lake Tahoe's streets.
Common questions about South Lake Tahoe
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe?
- The worst spot is Lake Tahoe Blvd & Bal Bijou Rd, with 7 reported bike crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Lake Tahoe Blvd & Truckee Dr (8) and Lake Tahoe Blvd & Ski Run Blvd (7).
- How many cyclists were killed in South Lake Tahoe?
- No deaths were reported in 124 reported bike crashes in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026, and 15 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in South Lake Tahoe?
- 65% were side-impact crashes at junctions (drivers pulling out or turning across). 13% were sideswipes (close passes, right hooks, car doors). 19% happened after dark.
- When and where do bike crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe, compared with California?
- Of 124 reported bike crashes in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026: 19% (California: 21%) of crashes happened after dark. 55% (California: 41%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 12% (California: 13%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 3 p.m.). 2% (California: 3%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in South Lake Tahoe have the most bike crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Lake Tahoe Blvd (69), Emerald Bay Rd (12), Pioneer Trl (9), 3rd St (4), Tallac Ave (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many people bike to work in South Lake Tahoe?
- 3.5% of workers in South Lake Tahoe ride a bicycle to work (California: 0.7%), and 2.3% take public transit. 7% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many bike crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 12, 2022: 12, 2023: 17, 2024: 25, 2025: 29, 2026: 29. 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 South Lake Tahoe
Weather, getting there without a car, parking and the crashes reported within a mile of each.
Places to ride to near South Lake Tahoe
Bike climbs near South Lake Tahoe
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.