Where in the U.S. do pedestrians and cyclists face the greatest danger? Arizona appeared more in the worst rankings than any other, according to a Consumer Affairs study. The study compared the top-100 most populous cities with data gathered in 2023.
Arizona metros take three of the worst 10 spots in each of the pedestrian and cyclist rankings. (Phoenix, Tucson and Glendale are the most dangerous Arizona cities for pedestrians; for cyclists, it’s Tucson, Mesa and Glendale.)
| Metro | Pedestrian danger rank | Cyclist danger rank | Pedestrian fatalities per 100K people | Cyclist fatalities per 100K people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | – | – | 2.21 | 0.35 |
| Chandler, Arizona | 79 | 48 | 1.8 | 0.36 |
| Gilbert, Arizona | 94 | 46 | 0.74 | 0.37 |
| Glendale, Arizona | 8 | 8 | 6.4 | 1.2 |
| Mesa, Arizona | 56 | 6 | 2.76 | 1.38 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | 6 | 39 | 6.71 | 0.43 |
| Scottsdale, Arizona | 84 | 13 | 1.65 | 0.83 |
| Tucson, Arizona | 7 | 5 | 6.44 | 1.47 |
Five worst cities for cyclists:
1. Stockton, California
Stockton, California, earned the worst rank for cyclist safety with seven cyclist fatalities in 2023, or a rate of 2.18 cyclist deaths per 100,000 residents — more than six times the national average. Cyclist fatalities constitute a staggering 20% of all fatalities from car crashes in the city. (For reference: Nationwide, cyclist fatalities make up just 2.9% of all car crash-related fatalities.)
However, some infrastructure projects aimed at improving cyclist safety are on the way. In March 2025, the San Joaquin Council of Governments approved $6.5 million in funding to implement the Citywide Stockton Bicycle-Pedestrian Connectivity Project, which will create an “active transportation network” aimed at improving walking and biking access to schools and adjacent neighborhoods. Stockton is also at work on the Downtown Stockton East-West Connection project to improve roadways by adding bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure, with construction expected to conclude by November 2026.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
Safely navigating the Big Easy on two wheels can be challenging — and dangerous. New Orleans had the same number of cyclist fatalities as Stockton (seven) in the latest data year, for a rate of 1.86 cyclist fatalities per 100,000 residents. That’s more than five times the national average. Nearly 12% of all car crash fatalities in New Orleans are cyclist deaths.
Unfortunately, statistics like these aren’t new for New Orleans: The city has been facing a crisis of cyclist safety for several years. From 2017 to 2021, New Orleans had the highest rate of fatal bicycle crashes of all major metros in the U.S. And from 2009 to 2023, a total of 53 cyclists were killed in car crashes.
3. Tampa, Florida
In Tampa, cyclist fatalities make up almost 12% of all car crash fatalities. In 2023, car crashes killed six cyclists in the Gulf Coast city. That’s a rate of 1.53 fatalities per 100,000 residents — over four times the national average. In cities like Tampa, there may be a link between heavy traffic congestion and poor cyclist safety: Among the five most dangerous cities for cyclists, Tampa has the worst traffic.
Unfortunately, Tampa isn’t the only Florida city with a high rate of cyclist deaths. Orlando ranks seventh, and St. Petersburg, also located in the Tampa Bay area, ranks ninth for danger to cyclists.
4. Sacramento, California
Just 50 miles from worst-ranked Stockton is Sacramento, ranked fourth worst for cyclist safety. The city had eight cyclist fatalities in 2023, which translates to a rate of just over 1.5 cyclist fatalities per 100,000 people. That’s more than four times the national average.
In this summer’s city ratings by the organization PeopleForBikes, Sacramento earned a poor score, 36 out of 100, with significant swaths of the city flagged as “high-stress” areas for biking. Shockingly, this score was still technically above average: The average score for all cities PeopleForBikes rated in 2025 was just 30.
5. Tucson, Arizona
With a population of more than 543,000, Tucson is the largest metro of the 15 cities ranked worst for cyclist safety. In 2023, there were 147 total car crash fatalities — the 10th most of all the cities we compared. Eight of those lives lost were cyclists. Overall, Tucson has a rate of 1.47 cyclist fatalities per 100,000 residents. That’s over four times worse than the national average.
The tragic number of cyclist fatalities — and total car crash fatalities — in Tucson is consistent with our finding that the Old Pueblo is among the cities with the worst drivers in 2024, ranking 20th out of more than 320 cities we compared.
Lincoln, Nebraska, reported only one pedestrian fatality in 2023, making it the safest city for pedestrians according to the study. And on the biking front, 20 cities reported zero cyclist fatalities in 2023.
Part of the blame can also be laid at the feet of the State of Arizona for allowing blind, inept and entitled maniacs a license to drive. Improper lane usage, tailgating, ignorance of signage, poor vehicle control (stopping midway in a crosswalk). Shall I go on?
That’s known, and the city spends lots of money promoting “Bicycle Friendly”.
Should be “Bicycle Deadly” and the City should be sued, like cigarette makers.
The truck driver comment that he gets within 6″. It used to be that truck drivers were the best drivers. Now they are a bunch of inconsiderate and poor drivers in a huge dangerous vehicle. Times have changed for the worse. BTW: The rule is 3 feet.
“… in Tucson is consistent with our finding that the Old Pueblo is among the cities with the worst drivers in 2024, ”
When I was here 1972-76 and 79-82, you didn’t hear of rollovers closing I-10 or Speedway or anywhere else locally. NOW, it’s a usual occurrence.
Tucson has the most unsafe/dangerous Ahole drivers of anywhere I have lived in my 60+ years.
Top it off with no traffic law enforcement ( nobody want’s to be a cop here because of the leftist dem city government, so we have a shortage of police as well.
I don’t ride me bike on surface streets if I can avoid it. We do have over 100 miles of bike path ( The Loop ) that allows me to avoid cars. Except now we have E-bikes going 30mph there as well.
don’t forget the cyclist responsibility
I’m in slow lane with huge truck mirrors
and stupid bicyclist hugging white line
when I pass within 6″ they get real – usual saluting me
pretty hard to fix stupid ain’t it! Add Meth – drug – drunk – falling asleep in the median / drugged – don’t know how to cross the street drugged – walking DEAD – walking DEAD… and sometimes they just step into the traffic – or ride into the path of oncoming traffic… oh yeah can’t fix stupid with white paint.
The cruelty and stupidity of liberals on display each and every day. Let’s call Tucson ‘bicycle friendly’ and paint a white line on the road so it is ‘safe’ for bikes to ride within inches of two ton vehicles doing 45-50mph.
A deadly bait and switch. democrats and their policies killing Americans each and every day.
It’s just like Portland OR – Ignore reality for feelings. They want to have the entire downtown if not the entire metro area to be like Europe – News flash: The city was designed around horses, carriage, and later cars. Bicycle enthusiasts will argue with you when you propose a bike tax to created dedicated spaces by arguing that they pay fuel taxes too, but they conveniently forget that the fuel tax rate was set to maintain auto roads, not bike paths.