Bicycle Crash Trends in Denver: What the 2024 Data Reveals

We dug into Denver’s 2024 bicycle crash data from the city’s Open Data Catalog. The patterns highlight a real need for safer infrastructure citywide.

Key Stats:

• 178 total crashes — nearly every one resulted in injury
• Crashes were spread across the city, not limited to just a few intersections
• Notable locations with multiple crashes:
  • Auraria Pkwy & Colfax
  • Alameda & Lipan
  • Central Park Blvd & 47th Ave

When Crashes Happen:

• Weekday crashes were most common, especially Monday and Friday
• Commute hours (8–10 AM and 3–5 PM) were the most dangerous times
• Crash volume peaked in September, followed by May and June

Conditions & Contributing Factors:

• Most crashes happened in broad daylight on dry roads
• Turning vehicles (right or left) were involved in the majority of cases
• Top contributing causes:
  • “Looked but didn’t see”
  • Failure to yield
  • Distracted or aggressive driving

The Big Picture:

These crashes aren’t happening during storms or at night. They’re happening in good conditions, during predictable commutes. The data points to a need for better road design, including protected intersections and safer bike lanes—not just more awareness campaigns.

View our full breakdown (with charts) here.