At least four cyclists were injured in crashes near Soquel Avenue and Highway 1 since 2014, according to records. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)

In 2022, Santa Cruz County ranked second of 58 counties in California in reported cyclist deaths and injuries, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The county ranked fifth highest in pedestrian deaths and injuries that year. The rankings are based on number of crashes, county population and total miles driven.

“We’ve done a lot to prioritize the safety of people inside of cars, but we have not done a great job of prioritizing safety of people outside,” said Matt Miller, who runs programs to encourage biking and walking at the Santa Cruz-based nonprofit Ecology Action.

When people give reasons they don’t bike, “invariably, one of the big ones that came up was that it doesn’t feel safe.”

The California Highway Patrol and Santa Cruz County law enforcement records from 2013 to 2024 show the most reported crashes in north and mid-county on:

• Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.
• Highway 9 at Highway 1 in Santa Cruz.
• Soquel Avenue and Soquel Drive through Santa Cruz, Live Oak and Soquel.
• Highway 9 through Brookdale and Boulder Creek.
• Bay Avenue in Capitola.

Although Watsonville’s population is about 20% smaller than the city of Santa Cruz, more pedestrians were killed there from 2013 to 2024. Twenty pedestrians died in crashes in Watsonville in that period, compared with 14 pedestrians killed in Santa Cruz. 

In the Watsonville area, the most reported crashes were on: 

• Highway 152, which includes part of Main Street.
• Highway 129, which includes East Lake Boulevard.
• West Beach Street.
• Airport Boulevard.
• Freedom Boulevard.

“Freedom Boulevard kind of cuts the city in half,” said Anna Kammer, a cyclist safety advocate who used to cross the street regularly to get to work. “There’s really no safe way to cross.”

Three of Watsonville’s main roads — Highways 1, 129 and 152 — are state highways with higher speed limits. A pedestrian’s risk of death from a car crash increases severely as speeds increase. 

A pedestrian hit by a vehicle at 23 mph has a 10% chance of dying, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The likelihood of death increases to 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph and 75% at 50 mph.

State data only reflects reported crashes, so the actual number of crashes is higher, said Julia Griswold, director of the UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center. Crash victims “may go to a hospital, and there’s no police involved,” Griswold said. 

Law enforcement officers who respond to crashes also may report injuries as less severe than medical professionals later determine, she said.

Two cyclists and two pedestrians have been killed on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz since 2019, according to records. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)

Safety projects

City and Santa Cruz County officials are trying to make biking and walking safer by adding bike lanes and sidewalks and redesigning intersections. 

Some recent projects include:

• Sidewalks and protected bike lanes on parts of Soquel Drive and Soquel Avenue by July 2025.
• Protected bike lanes on Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Sections of the lanes are scheduled to open this year, 2026, and 2027.
• A new bike lane on Green Valley Road in Watsonville by fall 2025. A separate multi-use path on part of Green Valley Road outside of Watsonville has completed construction, and is set to officially open after new artwork is added.

Input wanted 

New long-term plans to improve safety are also underway, and Santa Cruz city and county staff want your input. 

• The Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan includes Watsonville, Scotts Valley and areas of the county outside of cities. A survey about street safety is open until July 19.
• Watsonville is updating its Vision Zero plan that aims for zero traffic crash deaths. Give input here. Click “Share your thoughts” in the top menu.

Separately, the Santa Cruz County Community Traffic Safety Coalition is surveying parents of 6th- to 12th-grade students about e-bike use to guide future safety education programs.

This report was supported by a USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Health Equity fellowship.

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