According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Florida roadways are a killing field for cyclists. On a per-capita scale, cyclist deaths in Florida are almost 60 percent higher than the next closes state. Between 2007-2016, Florida saw 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The next closest state, Louisiana, had 3.9 deaths per 100,000. According to statistics, Florida, California, and Texas alone account for 40% of all cyclist deaths in the United States. In 2017, the number of cyclist deaths dropped for the first time since 2010. However, the numbers seem to be going back up again, according to ABC Action News.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that in 2019 alone, 142 cyclists were killed statewide. 44 of those were in the 11 counties representing Tampa Bay.
In 2019, the counties making up the Tampa Bay area saw the following number of bicycle accidents:
- Hillsborough: 543 bike crashes, 11 of which were fatal
- Pinellas: 513 bike crashes, 6 of which were fatal
- Pasco: 191 bike crashes, 8 of which were fatal
- Polk: 136 bike crashes, 7 of which were fatal
- Manatee: 120 bike crashes, 4 of which were fatal
- Sarasota: 179 bike crashes, 6 of which were fatal
2020 is already off to a bad start. So far, there have already been 200 bicycle crashes in the Tampa Bay area with one fatality.
Changes, such as painting bicycle lanes bright green and raising overpasses over problematic intersections have been suggested. Another suggestion is to reduce the number of traffic lanes to make more room for bicycles and pedestrians.