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What’s Causing an Increase in Bicycle Accidents in Santa Monica?

There has been a shocking increase in the number of bicycle accidents in Santa Monica, which has long prided itself on being a city friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians.  According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, in a study of 103 California cities of similar size, Santa Monica ranked at number three in the number of bicycle accident in 2008.  Not only that, the city also saw higher numbers of serious pedestrian accidents in 2008.

In fact, as far as pedestrian accidents were concerned, Santa Monica had the worst record in the state.  According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were more serious pedestrian accidents reported in the Santa Monica area, than in any of the other 102 other cities in the study.  The cities in the study had populations ranging between 50,000 people to 100,000 people.  Even when the researchers looked at the number of vehicle miles traveled in the city, Santa Monica ranked poorly.  It ranked at the bottom of the heap in pedestrian accidents, and was fifth worst in bicycle accidents.

This is a disappointment for a city that has prided itself on being friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians.  It has also been disappointing to California bicycle accident lawyers to see such horrifying accident and collision figures for Santa Monica.  Local safety advocates believe that the numbers of accidents and collisions in Santa Monica probably seem higher because of a higher number of tourists in the daytime.  These tourists along with local employees contribute to a spike in the daytime population, and locals believe that this is contributing to an inflated per capita collision rate.

However, there is no doubt that Santa Monica authorities have been complacent about the increasing numbers of bicyclists and pedestrians, and have failed to take appropriate measures for their safety.  That lack of action has possibly contributed to an environment in which pedestrians and bicyclists are more at risk of an accident than ever.

The Santa Monica Police Department is now trying to enforce traffic safety laws strictly in order to keep streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Officers have been out recently issuing citations not just to motorists, but also to pedestrians and bicyclists.  According to the Santa Monica City Hall Office of Sustainability and the Environment, this month, accidents involving bicycles and vehicles have increased a staggering 78% from 2007.  These kind of figures can’t be explained away with talk of daytime populations.  It is obvious that the city needs to make more investments in bicycle safety.

California bicycle accident lawyers would suggest a greater focus on education and awareness about bicyclists rights.  Most motorists tend to regard bikers as casual or recreational bicyclists, while the fact is that many bikers in Santa Monica, and in fact around California, now choose to bike not just for recreation and leisure, but also to work and everywhere else.  That means bicycles are now going to be a permanent fixture of your streets, and motorists need to live with these vehicles.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bicycle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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