One cyclists involved in a crash weekly on average in Raleigh, data shows

On a recent Sunday, Brady Thomas went out for a ride and found himself in the Five Points area where a car came close to clipping him. The driver doesn't appear to see Thomas who has to cross over the yellow lines to avoid a crash.

This month alone there have been four crashes involving cyclists in Raleigh bringing the total this year to 18 in just as many weeks.

"It can be scary when they give you less than three feet," said Thomas, a seasoned cyclist who rides several days a week.

Thomas likens it to standing on a New York City subway platform and feeling the breeze when the railcar rolls through.

Most crashes in the city occur in areas that are similar to where Thomas was riding when bikes and cars are sharing space and there isn’t any extra room from the roadway, according to the crash data.

"Raleigh has more cycling and commuting infrastructure than a lot of cities although there is certainly a lot of room for improvement," he said.

The city started investing more in cycling infrastructure in 2016. That year, there were 73 cyclists involved in crashes. Since then, it has decreased down to 50 in 2022.

The improvements including putting in separated bike lanes like the ones along Morgan Street and Lineberry Drive.

"Having those small physical barriers provides an extra layer of security and sense of security," said Thomas.

He feels more people are turning to biking to get around. Census data shows it is still an unpopular option. Less than 1 percent of Raleigh-Cary residents are choosing it as their main mode of transportation to work. 

Thomas feels more can be done like connecting the city to the suburbs. Despite his experience and cycling for more than 20 years, there are still some places in the area he won't travel to on two wheels during the week. What can be seen as a hassle for drivers can become downright dangerous for him.

While he generally feels safe, Thomas avoids Wade Avenue. Data shows the Hillsborough-Wade neighborhood is one of the most dangerous in the city for cycling with 27 crashes there in the last five years. It is second only after North Raleigh which has had 29. Five Points - where Thomas encountered that driver, is actually one of the safest. Since 2019, six cyclists have been involved in crashes in the five points neighborhood. Only Glenwood, South and Southcentral Raleigh have had fewer.

Thomas says he thinks making yourself known and seen is important. He says distracted drivers and people getting antsy to turn at intersections can cause problems. More than 47 percent of the crashes occurred where there were lights or stop signs, the city data shows.

The city’s bike plans include expanding the on-road facilities to 70 miles around the city. Thomas feels investing in that more will help cyclists of all ages and abilities feel more comfortable on the road and get home safe.