Bike crash hotspots in Uc Santa Cruz, CA
94 bike crashes were reported in Uc Santa Cruz from 2021–2025, 16 of them serious or fatal. Below are the spots where they keep happening, what usually goes wrong at each one, and what to watch for.
How people on bikes get hit in Uc Santa Cruz
- 27% happened after dark.
Where bike crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
1. Merrill Rd & Mclaughlin Dr
16 crashes · 2 serious or fatalA mix of crash types
- → No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
2. Heller Dr & Meyer Dr
10 crashes · 2 serious or fatalA mix of crash types
- → No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
3. Hagar Dr & Village Rd
8 crashes · 1 serious or fatalFalls and fixed objects
3 of 8 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- → Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
4. Mchenry Rd & Steinhart
8 crashes · 1 serious or fatalFalls and fixed objects
3 of 8 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- → Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
5. Hagar Dr & Village Rd
6 crashes · 1 serious or fatalFalls and fixed objects
3 of 6 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- → Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
6. Coolidge Dr & High St
4 crashes · 1 serious or fatalFalls and fixed objects
2 of 4 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- → Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
7. Heller Dr & Rachel Carson Rd
5 crashesA mix of crash types
- → No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
8. Coolidge Dr & Hagar Dr
5 crashesFalls and fixed objects
2 of 5 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 40% happened after dark.
- → Watch the surface here: potholes, drain grates, rail tracks and gravel. Cross tracks at a right angle.
- → Use a front and rear light, even on lit streets.
9. Ucsc Meadow Bike Path & Music Center
3 crashes · 1 serious or fatalA mix of crash types
100% happened after dark.
- → No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
- → Use a front and rear light, even on lit streets.
10. Mchenry Service Rd & Parking Lot #120
3 crashes · 1 serious or fatalA mix of crash types
- → No single crash pattern stands out here. Slow down, stay visible, and leave extra room.
Bike crashes in Uc Santa Cruz by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 16 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 33 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 29 | 5 |
Common questions about Uc Santa Cruz
- Where do the most bike crashes happen in Uc Santa Cruz?
- The worst spot is Merrill Rd & Mclaughlin Dr, with 16 reported bike crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Heller Dr & Meyer Dr (10) and Hagar Dr & Village Rd (8).
- How many cyclists were killed in Uc Santa Cruz?
- No deaths were reported in 94 reported bike crashes in Uc Santa Cruz from 2021–2025, and 16 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do cyclists usually get hit in Uc Santa Cruz?
- 27% happened after dark.
- How many bike crashes happen in Uc Santa Cruz each year?
- Reported bike crashes with map locations: 2021: 6, 2022: 10, 2023: 16, 2024: 33, 2025: 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.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2025. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, and many city police reports have none, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-09-22. How the data works.