The League of American Bicyclists ranks California fourth for bicycle friendliness nationwide. This ranking is based on many factors, including the state’s bicycle infrastructure, laws, and education programs. San Bernardino, however, hasn’t applied for certification as a bike-friendly city. 

The city has limited bicycle infrastructure, with just a few miles of bikeways. Moreover, it sees dozens of bicycle accidents annually that cause injury or death. However, the city has extensive improvements planned. These investments may improve the city’s bicycle safety.

By understanding the alarming increase in bicycle accidents, identifying high-risk locations, and recognizing the current limitations and future plans for bikeway infrastructure, cyclists can make informed choices to protect themselves while riding in San Bernardino.

San Bernardino Bicycle Accident Statistics Overview

According to California’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) summary, San Bernardino had 59 bicyclists injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles in 2024. This number is concerning for two reasons.

First, it’s much higher than the five-year moving average. Over the past five years, the city has averaged 41.2 bike-related injuries and deaths annually. The difference is significant, with 2024’s number being more than 43% higher than the city’s moving average.

Second, this statistic represents a long-term trend of rising cyclist casualties. 2024’s total injuries and deaths were the highest number recorded in the past five years. The number has increased every year since 2020. Worst of all, the increase has been rapid. The total number of cyclists injured or killed in 2024 was more than twice the number in 2020.

Bicycle Collision Outcomes in San Bernardino

San Bernardino’s recorded bicycle accidents in 2024 produced the following outcomes:

  • Two fatal injuries
  • Three serious injuries that required ambulance transportation
  • 54 minor and possible injuries that didn’t require an ambulance

These numbers included three cyclists under 18 who suffered minor or possible injuries.

Common Locations of San Bernardino Bicycle Accidents

In its 2022 Active Transportation Plan, San Bernardino officials mapped the city’s bicycle crashes and identified hotspots where crashes tended to cluster. 

The following roads were identified as having the most crashes:

  • Baseline Street, with 18 collisions over the five-year study period
  • 9th Street, with 15 collisions over the study period
  • Highland Avenue, with 12 collisions over the study period
  • Sierra Way, with 11 collisions over the study period

Kendall Drive and Cajon Boulevard also saw multiple fatal or serious injury crashes during the five years studied.

San Bernardino Bicycle Infrastructure

The purpose of the city’s research is to address the bicycle safety issues its commuters face. One of the most effective countermeasures for bicycle accidents is bikeways. 

California authorizes city planners to implement the following four types of bikeways:

  • Class I, including multi-use paths used exclusively by non-motorized users
  • Class II, covering bike lanes marked on a road shared with motor vehicles
  • Class III, covering bike routes where bikes and motor vehicles share lanes
  • Class IV, including bike lanes protected from motor vehicle traffic by barriers

San Bernardino has very little existing bicycle infrastructure. 

According to the city’s most recent bicycle infrastructure map, only the following four roads feature Class II bike lanes:

  • Kendall Dr.
  • University Pkwy.
  • Campus Pkwy.
  • Northpark Blvd.

The city’s most recent map contains no other bikeways, although the ease of implementing Class II and III bikeways could render the map outdated.

The map does include ambitious plans for new bikeways, including several Class I and IV bikeways that provide the highest levels of cyclist protection. 

The city’s plan proposes protected bike lanes in the following locations:

  • Cajon Blvd.
  • Highland Ave.
  • Little Mountain Dr.
  • Baseline St.
  • Del Rosa Ave.
  • Segments of D St., Mountain View Ave., Mt. Vernon Ave., and Rialto Ave.

The city also proposes connecting to the Pacific Electric Trail that crosses the Inland Empire. This multi-use path currently runs from Claremont to Fontana.

Riding Safely in San Bernardino

Cyclists in San Bernardino face several safety challenges. The number of auto-bicycle collisions is increasing, and the city currently has little infrastructure to protect cyclists. 

However, bike riders can improve their safety by avoiding the city’s most dangerous roads and exercising additional caution when using major routes. By remaining alert and following all traffic laws, cyclists can significantly lower their risk of injury while navigating San Bernardino’s streets.