A dark blue gradient background featuring faint diagonal streaks and soft, semi-transparent geometric shapes, including rectangles and angled lines, creating a modern and minimal design.A dark blue gradient background featuring faint diagonal streaks and soft, semi-transparent geometric shapes, including rectangles and angled lines, creating a modern and minimal design.

Cycling in Oregon Major Cities

Posted on Nov 20, 2025 by The Advocates

The Good Side

According to the American League of Bicyclists, Oregon ranks 2nd overall in the nation as one of the most bike-friendly states. Portland, the largest city, has implemented several programs to encourage biking, ensuring that cyclists have safe and accessible routes. Local laws also protect bicyclists from common traffic dangers, making cycling not only a sustainable option but a reliable one.

Across the state, Oregon boasts 12 bicycle-friendly communities, where infrastructure is designed with cyclists in mind. These communities provide seamless and safe connections throughout the city, making it easy for residents and visitors to navigate by bike.

Additionally, Oregon is home to 19 bicycle-friendly businesses and 4 bicycle-friendly universities, which offer key amenities like convenient bike parking, maintenance stations, and air pumps. These features help support cyclists in their daily commutes and ensure that biking is a dependable mode of transportation.

The Down Side

Cycling continues to gain traction in Oregon’s urban areas, promoting healthy living and sustainable transportation. However, the safety of cyclists remains a significant concern. Recent statistics reveal a troubling picture: there were 454 reported cycling accidents, resulting in 18 fatalities and 459 injuries, with 52 of those injuries deemed life-threatening. Most of these incidents occurred in urban environments, with only a minimal percentage taking place off-road.

Demographics highlight a concerning trend in cycling fatalities. Among the fatal accidents, 44% involved individuals aged 55 to 64. Males accounted for the majority of these deaths, with 15 men compared to just 3 women. 

Additionally, 51 of the 459 injured victims were under the age of 14, and the age group most affected by accidents was individuals aged 20 to 24, comprising 81 victims. 

While the majority of accidents and injuries occur at intersections, a striking number of fatalities happen in non-intersection areas. Notably, failure to yield has been a critical factor in these incidents, leading to 12 deaths and sending 302 individuals to the hospital.

The data shows that more than 95% of cycling accidents are caused by passenger cars, although there are occasional reports of trucks and emergency vehicles causing accidents—up to one every 60 days. Darkness is a contributing factor in cycling safety; 12 out of 78 accidents occurring during nighttime resulted in fatalities, marking a significant percentage.

In rural areas, the situation is no less alarming, with 28 accidents reported, resulting in 7 fatalities and 21 injuries. All individuals involved in these fatalities were over the age of 35, with issues such as failure to yield and improper driving cited as major contributing factors.

In Oregon, most bicycle accidents occur on city streets, with a mere 13 incidents taking place on highways. Within Portland, an impressive 94% of these accidents transpired on roads, which include dedicated bike lanes, while the remaining 6% happened on shoulders or sidewalks.

Examining the cyclist demographics involved in these incidents, it’s noteworthy that over 78% of the cyclists were male, with 27% falling within the age range of 25 to 34 years.

Cyclist Injuries Reported

  • 3% of cyclists experienced severe injuries that required transport by ambulance
  • 51% sustained visible injuries but did not need ambulance assistance
  • 46% reported no visible injuries, yet experienced symptoms such as pain, dizziness, or headaches

Major Locations for Bicycle Crashes

The following roads and intersections have been identified as frequent sites for bicycle accidents:

  • E Burnside St. and 102nd Ave.
  • NW Broadway and Hoyt St.
  • SE Hawthorne Blvd. and 7th Ave.
  • N Broadway St. and Larrabee Ave.
  • NE Going St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

E-Bikes

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are reshaping urban landscapes, creating a new reality for both cyclists and pedestrians. As more people adopt these high-speed vehicles for commuting, the dynamics of road sharing are evolving, even for pedestrians.

Recently, an Oregonian tragically lost his life in an accident involving a high-speed e-bike. The 15-year-old victim was riding an Amyet S8, a model capable of reaching speeds up to 32 mph. Under current Oregon law, e-bikes are classified as vehicles that can travel at a maximum of 20 mph on flat roads. However, high-speed e-bikes are readily available online, with some models reaching nearly 40 mph.

It is important to acknowledge that technology alone cannot be blamed for accidents. In another tragic incident in 2024, Jason Thomas, a well known resident chef, was riding his e-bike in a designated bike lane on a Medford highway when he was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash by a driver apparently under the influence. Despite wearing a high-visibility vest and a helmet, he was following all safety measures yet still lost his life.

The electronic implementations in pedal vehicles underscore the intricate, evolving, and frequently misunderstood laws governing e-bikes and cars in Oregon. These regulations prohibit e-cyclists from riding on sidewalks, yet grant them the same rights as pedestrians when crossing intersections.

Hurt in an Oregon Bike or E-Bike Crash?

If you or someone you love has been injured while riding in Portland, Beaverton, or anywhere else in Oregon, you don’t have to sort through the laws and insurance process alone. The Advocates’ bicycle accident lawyers help cyclists and e-bike riders understand their rights, deal with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation after a crash.

We handle cases involving:

  • Collisions with passenger cars and trucks

  • Crashes in Portland bike lanes and intersections

  • E-bike accidents caused by speeding vehicles, unsafe road design, or defective equipment

  • Serious injuries and wrongful death claims after a fatal crash

You can learn more and get help here:

If you’re not sure where to start, contact The Advocates for a free consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your options, and help you decide what to do next.