3 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- New York ranks #10 nationwide with a Pedalcyclist Risk Score of 40.75, the tenth-highest of any U.S. state.
- New York records an average of 48.4 fatal pedalcyclist crashes annually between 2020 and 2024 while experiencing 2.44 fatal bicycle crashes per million residents.
- New York is among the top 10 highest-risk states without a 3-feet safe passing law, contributing to its overall cyclist risk score.
New York ranks as the tenth most dangerous state in America for bicyclists, earning a Pedalcyclist Risk Score of 40.75. Although the state has one of the nation’s largest populations, it still averages nearly 50 fatal bicycle crashes each year. Its fatality rate relative to population, combined with the absence of a statewide 3-feet safe passing law, places New York among the nation’s highest-risk states for cyclists.
The study, by Breakstone, White & Gluck Law Firm, analyzed average annual fatal pedalcyclist crashes between 2020 and 2024 across all 50 U.S. states. Researchers calculated fatal pedalcyclist crashes per million residents and incorporated the presence or absence of a 3-feet safe passing law into a composite Pedalcyclist Risk Score, ranking states from #1 (highest risk) to #50 (lowest risk).
New York At A Glance
| Metric | Value |
| National Rank (Pedalcyclist Risk Score) | #10 |
| Average Annual Population (2020–2024) | 19,811,248 |
| Average Annual Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes (2020–2024) | 48.4 |
| Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes per Million Population | 2.44 |
| 3-Feet Safe Passing Law | No |
| Pedalcyclist Risk Score | 40.75 |
The U.S. States Where Riding a Bicycle Is Most Dangerous
Table 1: Top 10 States by Pedalcyclist Risk Score (2020–2024)
| Rank | State | Avg. Annual Population | Avg. Annual Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes | Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes per Million Population | 3-Feet Safe Passing Law | Pedalcyclist Risk Score |
| 1 | Florida | 22,320,038 | 210.2 | 9.42 | Yes | 80.00 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 4,607,560 | 39.4 | 8.55 | Yes | 72.64 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 5,291,575 | 24.4 | 4.61 | No | 59.17 |
| 4 | Arizona | 7,367,185 | 50.2 | 6.81 | Yes | 57.88 |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,247,413 | 15.2 | 3.58 | No | 50.40 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,118,467 | 7.2 | 3.40 | No | 48.87 |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,842,919 | 22.8 | 3.33 | No | 48.30 |
| 8 | Texas | 30,117,201 | 92.2 | 3.06 | No | 46.01 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,717,092 | 32.0 | 2.99 | No | 45.36 |
| 10 | New York | 19,811,248 | 48.4 | 2.44 | No | 40.75 |
New York ranks tenth with a Pedalcyclist Risk Score of 40.75, behind North Carolina (45.36). Although its fatality rate of 2.44 deaths per million residents is lower than the other states in the top 10, the absence of a statewide 3-feet safe passing law contributes to its placement among the nation’s highest-risk states for bicyclists.
How New York Compares to the Lowest-Risk States
Table 2: Pedalcyclist Risk Metrics, New York and the Lowest-Risk States
| State | Rank | Avg. Annual Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes | Fatal Pedalcyclist Crashes per Million Population | Pedalcyclist Risk Score |
| New York | #10 | 48.4 | 2.44 | 40.75 |
| Nebraska | #47 | 2.4 | 1.21 | 10.32 |
| Connecticut | #48 | 4.2 | 1.16 | 9.85 |
| North Dakota | #49 | 0.8 | 1.02 | 8.68 |
| Maine | #50 | 1.4 | 1.01 | 8.59 |
New York’s fatal bicycle crash rate is substantially higher than that of the nation’s safest states. While Nebraska, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Maine record between 1.01 and 1.21 fatal pedalcyclist crashes per million residents, New York records 2.44 per million, more than twice Maine’s rate. The lack of a statewide 3-feet safe passing law further contributes to New York’s elevated Pedalcyclist Risk Score.
Methodology
The study analyzed average annual fatal pedalcyclist crashes between 2020 and 2024 across all 50 U.S. states. Researchers calculated fatal pedalcyclist crashes per million residents and incorporated the presence or absence of a 3-feet safe passing law into a composite Pedalcyclist Risk Score, ranking states from #1 (highest risk) to #50 (lowest risk).
Data Sources
- Pedalcyclist Fatalities Data:
https://cdan.dot.gov/query - Population Data:
https://data.census.gov/table?q=population+by+age+by+state - 3-feet/Safe Passing Laws by State:
https://bikeleague.org/riding-news/3-feet-please-laws-state/ - Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y8YLGmypIldBkde4mSnS4p2OJSi4Qs1MxPhdG1yPAYg/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- Study by:
https://www.bwglaw.com/
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston-based personal injury law firm with over 30 years of experience representing victims of negligence, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. Recognized among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Massachusetts and New England, the firm advocates for individuals harmed by preventable accidents.
