Colorado is ranked as the sixth most bicycle-friendly state by the League of American Bicyclists. Denver has earned the League’s silver award for the past 22 years. Neighboring areas like Golden and Boulder have also earned high marks, creating a bike-friendly region on the Front Range.

However, bicycle accidents still happen in Denver, despite this high ranking, due to its large population and traffic congestion. The city plans to expand its bicycle infrastructure to reduce these accidents and make Denver safer for riders. Here’s what you should know.

Bicycle Crash Statistics

According to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the Denver metropolitan area saw 742 bicycle accidents in a recent year. 

The counties in this survey included: 

  • Adams
  • Arapahoe
  • Boulder
  • Broomfield
  • Denver
  • Clear Creek
  • Douglas
  • Gilpin
  • Jefferson

Those 742 bicycle accidents caused 11 deaths. They also produced 135 serious injuries that required ambulance transportation to a hospital.

Of these crashes, 255 — or roughly 34% — of the metro area’s bicycle accidents occurred in Denver. The city’s collisions caused two deaths and 51 serious injuries.

Bicycle Crash Locations

The DRCOG dashboard also lists the most dangerous locations for bicyclists. These crash hotspots tend to develop due to high-speed vehicle traffic, lack of bicycle infrastructure, and poor traffic controls, such as insufficient traffic lights and crosswalks. 

The region’s bicycle accident hotspots included:

  • 30th St. and Aurora Ave. in Boulder with three accidents
  • US-287/Main St. and 17th Ave. in Longmont with three accidents
  • US-287 and Miramonte Blvd. in Broomfield with three accidents
  • 120th Ave and Washington St. in Northglenn with three accidents

You can also see where bicycle crash hotspots are in Denver through this dashboard.

Those hotspots included:

  • California St. and 15th St. with three accidents
  • 16th Ave. and Gaylord St. with two accidents
  • 16th Ave. and Sherman St. with two accidents
  • 17th Ave. and Esplanade with two accidents
  • 19th Ave. and Grant St. with two accidents

From the map provided on the DRCOG dashboard, you can also find that many crashes happen along 16th Ave., 19th St., and Broadway.

Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Denver

According to the Colorado Crash Dashboard, most people injured in bicycle accidents are between 25 and 44. Only 24 bicycle crash victims in Denver were under 15 years old in a recent year, and just one crash was attributed to darting or dashing into traffic, a common cause of crashes involving children.

Most crashes happened during daylight in the summer or fall. Only a small fraction of collisions occurred at night or during winter. This means weather and lighting played a role in only a few collisions in Denver.

Instead, the most common causes of accidents included:

  • Failing to yield at intersections
  • Disobeying traffic signs or signals
  • Making improper turns or merges

Improper passing was another frequent cause.

Bicycle Infrastructure in Denver

From 2018 through 2021, Denver built or improved 96 miles of bicycle lanes. The city also upgraded 183 traffic signals and redesigned 61 intersections to better protect pedestrians and cyclists.

By 2050, the city plans to add another 235 miles of new bicycle lanes and 134 miles of upgraded lanes. These upgraded lanes include buffered and protected bike lanes. Buffered bike lanes have a gap between the bicycle and travel lanes designated by painted lines. Protected bike lanes have a physical barrier, such as plastic bollards, separating bicycle and travel lanes.

For riders traveling long distances or through areas without bicycle infrastructure, Regional Transportation District (RTD) buses and light rail trains accommodate bicycles. These buses have bike racks, and the trains have bike zones where riders can stand with their bikes.

Riding in Denver Safely

Although Denver experiences bicycle accidents annually, you can generally expect to ride safely in the area. The city has extensive infrastructure, including bike lanes and bicycle-friendly transit. By planning your route to avoid crash hotspots and using the city’s bike facilities, you can commute or ride recreationally easily and safely.