The Community Traffic Safety Coalition’s crash report from September shows that deaths and serious injuries on the road have decreased in recent years, although the problem remains serious overall.
biking
Santa Cruz ranks sixth among California’s most dangerous cities for cyclists, study shows
A study from a California-based law firm has ranked Santa Cruz the sixth-most-dangerous city in the state for cyclists. Active transportation advocates and professionals, despite not being intimately familiar with the study, say that the ranking reflects persistent gaps in bike infrastructure, even as safety improvements move forward.
Bike Santa Cruz County seeks nominations for Wheelie Awards
Bike Santa Cruz County is seeking nominations for its annual Wheelie Awards, which aim to recognize people, organizations and projects that contributed to cycling in Santa Cruz County in 2025.
Why Soquel Drive is worth the investment for bikers – and why it matters to all of us
Matt Machado, Santa Cruz County’s director of community development and infrastructure and an avid cyclist, knows Soquel Drive; here, he explains improvements the county is making to ensure a 5.6-mile stretch of the road is safer for bikers, pedestrians and drivers.
Soquel Avenue bike lane improvements are good – we need even more
Avid biker Dan Arias takes issue with a recent Lookout op-ed criticizing balusters on Soquel Avenue as dangerous for cyclists. On the contrary, he says, officials should be praised for finding ways to separate bikers from traffic. He makes a plea for more such efforts, particularly on Soquel Avenue.
Letter to the editor: Santa Cruz cyclists need to learn rules of the road
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruzan writes that cyclists should be better about following traffic rules to help increase road safety.
Riding a bike should not be so dangerous in Santa Cruz County – plastic balusters are endangering cyclists
Longtime Santa Cruz County resident Rick Boyce critiques the county’s approach to traffic safety, especially the use of plastic balusters meant to protect cyclists. While acknowledging well-intentioned infrastructure like the Whale Bridge and buffered bike lanes, Boyce argues that poorly executed solutions — such as damaged and hazardous lane dividers — might be doing more harm than good.
Santa Cruz County ranks second in California for bike, alcohol-related crashes, safety report shows
Santa Cruz County ranks among California’s most dangerous regions for cyclists and pedestrians, a decadelong traffic safety report shows. Local advocacy groups cited inadequate cycling infrastructure and population growth as key factors contributing to the high rate of serious crashes.
Carmageddon: SCPD eyes traffic, bike, pedestrian safety programs with new grant funding
Two grants the Santa Cruz Police Department has received since the beginning of November will be brought to the Santa Cruz City Council in December for direction and clarity around next steps. Both are going to be put toward various programs and activities to promote traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Bike Santa Cruz County names 2024 Wheelie Award winners
At a special event Sunday, Bike Santa Cruz County will honor the 2024 winners of its Wheelie Awards, which recognize “excellent work toward expanding and improving safety and awareness of cycling in Santa Cruz County.”

