Fatal bike crashes jumped 500% in Austin in 2023
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin's Vision Zero program saw a 500% increase in fatal bike crashes in 2023 compared to 2022, staff said during an Austin Mobility Committee meeting Thursday.
That marked the only subcategory featuring a rise in serious injury and fatal crashes in 2023, when comparing it to 2022 data. Pedestrian and motor vehicle fatal crashes declined 17% and 24%, respectively, while there was a 50% decrease in fatal crashes involving motorcyclists.
There were six fatal crashes involving cyclists in 2023, compared to one cyclist-involved fatality in 2022. Experts said they're seeing a combination of factors behind that uptick, including an increasing number of pedestrian and bike fatalities involving people experiencing homelessness.
"Three of those crashes were involving people experiencing homelessness," said Joel Meyer, acting transportation safety officer with Vision Zero. "That’s certainly a factor that we’re seeing play out for vulnerable users. Certainly at night, in dark conditions, that’s another systemic factor.”
When looking at overall 2023 data, Meyer said there's been a disproportionate number of people experiencing homelessness linked to pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. In 2023, 43% of pedestrian fatalities and 50% of bike fatalities involved a person suspected of experiencing homelessness.
The dataset all noted Black and Hispanic populations in Austin comprised a disproportionate share of serious injury and fatal crash victims. Hispanic and Black residents make up 33% and 7% of Austin's overall population, respectively; when looking at their share of serious injury and fatal crashes, 36% of victims were Hispanic and 17% were Black.
That can be linked to a multitude of systemic issues, Meyer said, including historic redlining and segregation of residents from more walkable, centralized neighborhoods and many Black and Hispanic residents living closer to high-speed roadways with less accessible pedestrian facilities.
Vision Zero leaders are working to roll out 11 major intersection safety projects this year. Two of those are already in construction at the intersections of U.S. Highway 183 and Burleson Road along with Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue. Other planned intersection improvements this year are slated for:
- East Seventh Street and Springdale Road
- Stassney Lane and South First Street
- Cameron Road and U.S. Hwy. 183 Service Road
- Regency Drive and FM 969
- Seventh Street and Comal Street
- Bluff Springs Road and Quicksilver Boulevard
- South Lamar Boulevard and Ben White Boulevard
- Burleson Road, Stassney Lane and Montopolis Drive
- Balcones Woods Drive, Floral Park Drive and Jollyville Road
Additionally, Austin Energy and Vision Zero staff are collaborating on lighting improvement projects set to start this year, including at:
- Slaughter Lane
- Howard Lane
- Pearce Lane
Vision Zero staff noted substantial success at intersections treated with lower-cost countermeasures to help address safety risks. Data revealed intersections treated via safety projects saw a 31% reduction in serious injury and fatal crashes, as well as a 30% decrease in overall crashes.
The entire report is available online.