For millions of Americans, bicycles are becoming more than recreational equipment. They are increasingly being used for commuting, exercise, errands, and everyday transportation. But according to new research conducted by H&P Law, America’s infrastructure has not evolved quickly enough to safely support the growing number of cyclists now sharing the roads.
The study, released during National Bike Month, analyzed bicyclist fatality trends, commuting patterns, and state-by-state safety conditions to determine where cyclists are safest — and where riding remains particularly dangerous.
Its findings suggest that roadway design itself may be one of the largest factors determining cyclist survival.
Across the United States, bicyclist fatalities have surged over the past decade even as cycling participation continues growing. Researchers identified an approximately 87% increase in cyclist roadway deaths since 2010, a period that also saw expanded bicycle commuting and recreational riding nationwide.
Transportation planners increasingly argue that this trend reflects structural problems within American roadway systems.
Many roads throughout the United States were engineered around maximizing vehicle throughput and maintaining higher driving speeds rather than accommodating vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Wide lanes, large intersections, limited protected cycling space, and vehicle-centric traffic design all contribute to dangerous riding conditions.
The study found that states with stronger bicycle infrastructure generally produced lower fatality rates for cyclists.
Protected bike lanes were among the most significant safety measures identified in the research. Unlike painted bike lanes placed directly beside moving traffic, protected lanes create physical separation between cyclists and vehicles using barriers, curbs, posts, or other infrastructure. Researchers cited evidence suggesting separated bike lanes may improve cyclist safety by nearly 90%.
Yet much of the country still lacks this infrastructure entirely.
In many suburban and rural areas, cyclists must travel on roads designed almost exclusively for automobiles, often without shoulders, bike lanes, or safe crossing points. Even in urban environments, cyclists frequently encounter disconnected bike networks that abruptly end or force riders back into vehicle traffic.
The danger intensifies during spring.
The research identified March through May as a particularly hazardous period for bicyclists, coinciding with warmer weather, increased ridership, and National Bike Month events such as Bike to Work Week. During this seasonal window, the national bicyclist fatality rate rises significantly, with numerous states exceeding the national average.
Researchers suggest part of the risk stems from driver adaptation.
After winter months with fewer cyclists on the roads, motorists may initially be less attentive to bicyclists reappearing in larger numbers during spring and early summer. This creates a dangerous adjustment period when bicycle traffic increases rapidly while driver awareness lags behind.
State-by-state differences were especially striking.
Mississippi, Alaska, Oregon, Louisiana, Arizona, and Oklahoma all experienced substantial increases in bicyclist commuter fatality rates between the 2014–2018 and 2019–2023 study periods.
At the same time, states with more bike-friendly infrastructure and urban planning approaches generally maintained lower fatality rates.
Transportation experts increasingly emphasize that cyclist safety cannot rely solely on individual rider behavior. Instead, roadway environments themselves must be designed to reduce conflict points and lower vehicle speeds.
This philosophy has driven the expansion of “complete streets” programs in some cities, where transportation systems are intentionally designed to accommodate cyclists, pedestrians, transit users, and drivers simultaneously.
Traffic-calming features such as narrowed lanes, raised crossings, protected intersections, curb extensions, and lower urban speed limits have all been associated with improved safety outcomes for vulnerable road users.
The study also highlighted how vehicle size trends may be worsening the situation.
SUVs and pickup trucks now dominate American vehicle sales, but their larger blind zones and higher front-end profiles increase collision severity for cyclists. Impacts involving larger vehicles are more likely to result in fatal injuries compared to collisions involving smaller passenger cars.
As bicycle commuting continues rising nationally, infrastructure deficiencies may become increasingly difficult for cities and states to ignore.
The research suggests America’s transportation systems are entering a transition period where roads originally built around automobile dominance must now accommodate growing numbers of cyclists without exposing them to disproportionate fatality risks.
Without major infrastructure modernization, the data indicates bicyclist deaths could continue climbing alongside cycling participation itself.
