How many bicyclists are killed and injured each year?
In 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 784 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles and 45,000 were injured. These numbers represent 2 percent of the total number of people killed and injured in traffic crashes. In 2000, the number of fatalities dipped below the 700 mark for the first time in the past decade:
| YEAR | FATALITIES | INJURIES |
| 2005 | 784 | 45,000 |
| 2004 | 727 | 46,000 |
| 2003 | 629 | 41,000 |
| 2002 | 665 | 48,000 |
| 2001 | 728 | 45,000 |
| 2000 | 690 | 51,000 |
| 1999 | 750 | 51,000 |
| 1998 | 760 | 53,000 |
| 1997 | 814 | 58,000 |
| 1996 | 765 | 59,000 |
| 1995 | 833 | 61,000 |
| 1994 | 802 | --- |
| 1993 | 8156 | --- |
| 1992 | 723 | --- |
| 1991 | 843 | --- |
| 1990 | 859 | --- |
However, a significant number of bike crashes requiring emergency room treatment are not included in these reported fatalities and injuries. Studies indicate that as few as 10 percent of injury crashes are reported to the police as they do not involve a motor vehicle, and/or do not happen on the roadway. Indeed, a recent Federal Highway Administration study found that 70 percent of bicycle injury events in emergency rooms did not involve a motor vehicle and 31 percent of bicyclists were injured in non-roadway locations. The number of bicyclists visiting hospital emergency rooms is estimated to be in excess of 500,000 per year.
