What are California’s most dangerous cities for cyclists? These spots made top 10
Two California cities rank among the most dangerous for bicyclists — including Fresno.
That’s according to a new study by Texas law firm Angel Reyes & Associates.
The personal injury law analyzed 55 major cities across the United States to reveal the most and least dangerous places for bicycling, based on factors including weather, speed limits and traffic fatalities involving bikes.
“Cyclists in some of America’s biggest cities are facing far higher risks than others,” a spokesperson said in a Tuesday, May 26, news release.
Here’s which cities pose for the highest risks for cyclists:
What is California’s most dangerous city for bicyclists?
Los Angeles took third place on the list of the worst cities for cyclists in the nation, scoring 61.8 out of 100, according to the study by Angel Reyes & Associates.
The Southern California city’s poor air quality and high number of cyclist fatalities “pushed it toward the top of the danger ranking,” the release said.
Los Angeles ranked among the most polluted cities in the nation in the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area was worst in the nation for high ozone days in 2026, the State of Air report found, and ranked among the 10 metro areas with the particle pollution.
Los Angeles had 13.8 cyclist fatalities per 10,000 people, Angel Reyes & Associates said.
The City of Angels had a relatively low number of bicycle-friendly businesses and bike instructors per 10,000 people.
What makes Fresno a risky city for bike riders?
Fresno was No. 10 on the law firm’s list of the most dangerous cities for cyclists, earning a total score of 54.23 out of 100.
The Central Valley city had the second-worst air quality in the country, according to Angel Reyes & Associates.
It also sported low numbers of bike instructors and cycling-focused businesses, the study found.
Fresno had 3.8 cyclist fatalities per 10,000 people, according to the report.
However, Fresno had slower speed limits than other cities on the list, with 70 mph.
Why are Fresno residents worried about bike safety?
Safety is a major concern in Fresno, where a number of children have been killed or seriously injured in crashes involving e-bikes, electric scooters and motorized mini bikes. The Fresno Bee previously reported.
At Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno, incidents involving electric bicycles and e-scooters increased from 11 in 2023 to 41 in 2025.
In the first four months of 2026, the hospital saw 22 e-bike and e-scooter incidents.
Starting in the fall, Fresno State will ban the use of motorized vehicles such as e-bikes, scooters and skateboards on campus, The Bee reported in April.
Where did other California cities rank?
According to Angel Reyes & Associates, Riverside narrowly missed being included among the 10 worst cities for cyclists, landing at No. 11.
Sacramento was ranked lower on the list, at No. 40, making it one of the safest cities in California for bike riders.
San Diego was No. 41, and San Jose was No. 43.
Where are the 10 worst cities for cyclists in US?
According to Angel Reyes & Associates, these were the 10 most dangerous cities for cyclists:
- New York City
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Memphis
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Jacksonville, Florida
- New Orleans
- Chicago
- Miami
- Fresno
How did Texas law firm rank best cities for cyclists?
To determine the best and worst cities for cyclists, Angel Reyes & Associates looked at six key categories measuring road safety, weather conditions and community support:
- Cyclist fatalities
- Annual precipitation
- Air quality
- Speed limits
- Bicycle-friendly businesses
- Bike instructors
The law firm used data from the League of American Bicyclists, National Center for Environmental information, AQI.in, Wisevotes and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
