A new ranking reveals the 10 best and worst cities in the US for walking and cycling, based on the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents. Cities in the South and Southwest appear to be the most dangerous.
Pedestrians and cyclists are the most vulnerable road users. While many cities have taken it at heart to make life safer for those who cycle or walk, a lot remains to be done in order to secure safety for all. Drivers of motor vehicles, in particular, should be more aware of the traffic rules and the rights of those travelling on foot or by bike.
According to personal injury law firm Wagner Reese, recent Google searches for ‘bike lane rules’ are up over 130% while searches asking ‘do pedestrians have the right of way’ are up over 70%. This highlights what seems to be a lack of information and awareness that may be contributing to both pedestrian and bicycle accidents. In the first half of 2024, 3,304 pedestrians were killed across the US – a 48% increase compared to 10 years ago. As for bicyclists, nearly 1,000 of them die in crashes across the country every single year.
In order to raise awareness, Wagner Reese looked at the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents – provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System – in 300 cities across the US to determine which scored best at protecting them and which could do a lot better.
Watch out for people! In the United States, a pedestrian dies every 72 minutes and one is injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes on average.
— Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (@OkHighwaySafety) October 8, 2025
Everyone needs to work together to keep our roads safe. #PedestrianSafety #DriveSafe #DriveSober #TrafficSafety pic.twitter.com/9vSQe8C0Zm
Worst cities for pedestrians and cyclists
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Tucson, Arizona
- Jacksonville, Florida
- San Bernardino, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Detroit, Michigan
- Tampa, Florida
- Glendale, Arizona
- Phoenix, Arizona
According to the analysis, a lot of factors are to blame for the high number of casualties in some US cities. High-speed roads located near residential or commercial areas, dangerous roads with poor visibility at intersections, a lack of lighting, a lack of crosswalks and protected bike lanes, and limited traffic enforcement in high-risk zones are just some of the pain points to take into account.
“No matter how well a city has updated the roads to better accommodate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, a significant problem remains with distracted drivers and aggressive drivers. More attention needs to be given to public awareness paired with active law enforcement to help reduce injuries and fatalities that give rise to both pedestrian accident claims and bicycle accident claims”, Wagner Reese specifies.
Best cities for pedestrians and cyclists
- New York City, New York
- Irvine, California
- Frisco, Texas
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Plano, Texas
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Santa Clarita, California
- Omaha, Nebraska
The high safety score for New York City can mainly be explained by the city’s Vision Zero initiative, according to the personal injury firm. By focusing on making streets safer by reducing speed limits, including leading pedestrian intervals, protected bike lanes, and raised crosswalks, these efforts have successfully curbed the occurrence of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.
Wagner Reese also has some tips for pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe in traffic. Using crosswalks, wearing reflective clothing, and avoiding distractions can do a lot. Cyclists are also advised to wear a helmet and to make sure their safety lights are in place when riding at night.
