Las Vegas ranks among the top five most dangerous cities in the U.S. for cyclists because of poor infrastructure, roads in disrepair, drunk drivers, and tourists that are unfamiliar with local bicycle laws. People who ride bicycles in Las Vegas need to make certain that they understand the laws and take steps to reduce their risks of being involved in accidents. Motorists should watch for cyclists, should follow all traffic laws, and should never drink and drive.
Bicycle Accident Prevalence
In the 10 years from 2000 to 2010, the number of people who chose to commute by bicycle increased by 60 percent to 786,000. In 2015, 35,000 cyclists were injured in bicycle accidents in the U.S., and 818 cyclists were killed. Among fatal bicycle accidents, 70 percent occurred in urban settings. Researchers have found that there is not a correlation between commuting via bicycle and an increased risk of bicycle accidents in large cities with populations of more than 500,000 people. For example, 2.5 percent of people commute to work by bicycle in both Boston and Tuscon. However, Boston had zero fatalities in 2015 while Tucson had the second highest fatality rate of all large cities in the U.S.
24/7 Wall Street reviewed data from the 32 largest cities in the U.S. to determine which ones were the most dangerous for bicyclists. The cities in the study all had populations of more than 500,000 people. The bicycle fatality rate was defined in terms of fatalities per one million people.
Las Vegas in Top Five Most Dangerous Cities
The top five most dangerous cities for bicyclists include the following:
- 5. San Jose, California with a fatality rate of 4.9 per 1 million people
- 4. Phoenix, Arizona with a fatality rate of 5.1 per 1 million people
- 3. Las Vegas, Nevada with a fatality rate of 6.4 per 1 million people
- 2. Tucson, Arizona with a fatality rate of 7.5 per 1 million people
- 1. Albuquerque, New Mexico with a fatality rate of 8.9 per 1 million people
Las Vegas has a poor infrastructure for bicyclists such as not enough bicycle lanes. Many streets and roads are in need of repair and can cause accidents when cyclists hit potholes. Tourists who drive while they are intoxicated present a real danger to cyclists. Finally, tourists who choose to ride bicycles may not be aware of the local bicycle laws, which can lead to accidents, often requiring the assistance of an injury lawyer in Las Vegas.
