STUDY: The Most Dangerous Areas For Pedestrians And Bicyclists In Oregon

Oregon residents are among the most physically active in the U.S. and the state is generally viewed as a welcoming place to non-motorists.   In fact, Oregon has been named the second most bike-friendly state in the country by the League of American Bicyclists. Portland, the most populous city in Oregon, is ranked among the most walkable and bikeable cities in the United States.

However, despite having pedestrian and bike-friendly streets and policies, the unfortunate reality is that hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists are struck by vehicles every year, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.

At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we are devoted to our clients and have helped people recover millions of dollars in damages for injuries sustained in pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Oregon. In an effort to help prevent these accidents, we partnered with data visualization company, 1Point21 Interactive, to analyze data collected by the Oregon Department of Transportation between 2017-2021, to identify the most dangerous areas for pedestrian and bicyclist accidents throughout the state.

Below, you will find a map that identifies the most dangerous locations for pedestrian and bicyclist accidents throughout Oregon.

[Interactive Map] – Dangerous Zones for Non-Motorists

The map below shows areas where bicyclists and pedestrians are at higher risk of being struck by a motor vehicle. The map is interactive – hover over each zone or crash to reveal more information.

The Top 30 Most Dangerous Areas For Pedestrians & Bicyclists In Oregon

The table below outlines the most dangerous areas for non-motorists in Oregon – defined as areas where at least 12 collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists have occurred within close proximity of one another.

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Salem East Lancaster — Lancaster Drive NE x Market Street NE 33 17 0 16 0
2 Salem Downtown — Liberty Street NE x Marion Street NE 29 21 2 18 0
3 Salem Downtown — Commercial Street NE x State Street 24 20 2 10 0
4 Portland Downtown — SW Morrison Street x SW 9th Avenue 24 20 0 10 0
5 Portland Old Town — NW 3rd Ave x NW Couch Street 22 22 0 9 0
6 Portland Eliot — N Vancouver x N Weidler Street 21 7 0 24 0
7 Portland Buckman — E Burnside Street x SE Grand Ave 20 13 1 12 0
8 Portland East Portland — SE Morrison Street x SE 6th Ave 20 15 0 19 0
9 Salem Morningside — Commercial Street 19 11 2 6 0
10 Corvallis Downtown — NW Van Buren Avenue x NW 4th Street 17 13 0 7 0
11 Portland Lloyd District — NE Broadway x NE Grand Ave 16 13 1 9 0
12 Gresham City Central — NE Division Street x NE Burnside Road 15 20 2 10 0
13 Salem Lansing — Market Street NE x I-5 15 10 1 6 0
14 Portland Kerns — E Burnside Street x NE 14th Ave 15 9 0 9 0
15 Portland Pearl District — NW Park Avenue x NW Glisan Street 14 19 0 14 0
16 Portland Hazelwood — NW Glisan Street x NE 122nd Ave 14 17 0 2 0
17 Portland Downtown — SW Clay Street x SW Broadway 14 13 0 3 0
18 Portland Gateway — NE Halsey Street x 14 11 0 7 0
19 Eugene Downtown — High Street x E 13th Ave 14 8 0 9 0
20 Springfield Springfield — Olympic Street x 18th Street 14 8 0 7 0
21 Portland Nob Hill — NW Davis Street x NW 22nd Ave 13 13 1 5 0
22 Portland Downtown — SW 3rd Ave x SW Jefferson Street 13 11 0 7 0
23 Portland Hollywood — NE Sandy Blvd x NE Broadway 13 11 0 5 0
24 Portland Eliot — N Vancouver x N Graham Street 13 6 0 7 0
25 Medford Medford — S Riverside Ave x E Barnett Road 13 4 0 10 0
26 Portland South Tabor — SE Powell Blvd x SE 82nd Ave 12 13 0 3 0
27 Hillsboro Downtown Hillsboro — SE Baseline St x SE 2nd Ave 12 12 0 2 0
28 Salem East Lancaster — Lancaster Drive NE x Earle Ave NE 12 9 0 4 0
29 Portland Pearl District — NW Everett x NW 13th Ave 12 8 0 8 0
T-30 Salem West Salem — Wallace Road NW x Glen Creek Road NW 12 4 0 8 0
T-30 Corvallis Downtown — OSU Campus, NW 12th Street x Monroe Avenue 12 3 0 11 0

More than half of the top 31 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Oregon are located in Portland, while the top three can be found in Salem.

Most Dangerous Cities For Pedestrians And Bicyclists In Oregon

In order to find the top 30 most dangerous areas throughout Oregon, we collected data on the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in cities across the state.

Rank City Bike/Pedestrian Crashes Pedestrian Deaths Pedestrian Injuries Bike Deaths Bike Injury
1 Portland 2,014 92 1,165 10 813
2 Salem 507 20 277 6 220
3 Gresham 490 40 288 2 178
4 Eugene 326 13 151 2 170
5 Hillsboro 261 9 153 1 108
6 Medford 260 7 127 1 131
7 Beaverton 248 10 145 0 101
8 Corvallis 211 4 78 2 129
9 Springfield 188 4 83 0 103
10 Bend 162 5 64 2 94
11 Albany 114 6 49 0 62
12 Tigard 81 3 46 1 31

Let’s take a closer look at the top 12 most dangerous cities for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the state of Oregon.

Portland

Portland is the number one most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 21 high-risk areas, with a total of:

This may seem odd, especially since Oregon, and Portland in particular, is a very pedestrian and bicyclist-friendly city. The high rate of dangerous accidents in Portland may be attributed to a few factors: higher speed limits, darker road conditions, impaired driving, and a city designed primarily for vehicles rather than pedestrian safety.

Roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or higher tend to see the most accidents, and pedestrians are more likely to be injured by cars going 35 mph than they are by cars driving 25 mph. Additionally, the dark and gloomy road conditions that are common in the Pacific Northwest make it more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians and bicyclists at night. Lastly, impaired drivers are much more likely to not be aware of their surroundings and cause accidents.

According to the US Department of Transportation, Portland adopted a plan called Vision Zero, which is a strategy that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries while promoting health, safety, and equitable mobility for all. Portland adopted this plan in 2016 and plans to implement several changes by 2025 to dramatically improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Portland’s Vision Zero plans to improve roadway safety by:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 17 areas can be found in Portland. If we take a closer look at the city, the top 21 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Portland are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Portland Downtown — SW Morrison Street x SW 9th Avenue 24 20 0 10 0
2 Portland Old Town — NW 3rd Ave x NW Couch Street 22 22 0 9 0
3 Portland Eliot — N Vancouver x N Weidler Street 21 7 0 24 0
4 Portland Buckman — E Burnside Street x SE Grand Ave 20 13 1 12 0
5 Portland East Portland — SE Morrison Street x SE 6th Ave 20 15 0 19 0
6 Portland Lloyd District — NE Broadway x NE Grand Ave 16 13 1 9 0
7 Portland Kerns — E Burnside Street x NE 14th Ave 15 9 0 9 0
8 Portland Pearl District — NW Park Avenue x NW Glisan Street 14 19 0 14 0
9 Portland Hazelwood — NW Glisan Street x NE 122nd Ave 14 17 0 2 0
10 Portland Downtown — SW Clay Street x SW Broadway 14 13 0 3 0
11 Portland Gateway — NE Halsey Street x 14 11 0 7 0
12 Portland Nob Hill — NW Davis Street x NW 22nd Ave 13 13 1 5 0
13 Portland Downtown — SW 3rd Ave x SW Jefferson Street 13 11 0 7 0
14 Portland Hollywood — NE Sandy Blvd x NE Broadway 13 11 0 5 0
15 Portland Eliot — N Vancouver x N Graham Street 13 6 0 7 0
16 Portland South Tabor — SE Powell Blvd x SE 82nd Ave 12 13 0 3 0
17 Portland Pearl District — NW Everett x NW 13th Ave 12 8 0 8 0
18 Portland Boise — NE Fremont Street x N Vancouver Ave 11 5 0 9 0
19 Portland Kerns — NE 20th Ave x E Burnside Street 10 5 1 4 0
20 Portland Powellhurst-Gilbert — SE Powell Blvd x SE 122nd Ave 10 14 0 0 0
21 Portland Powellhurst — SE Division Street x SE 122nd Ave 10 13 0 3 0

Salem

Salem is the second most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Factors that may contribute to making Salem roads dangerous include inadequate infrastructure like poorly designed roads, lack of crosswalks, and poor signage, as well as driver inattention and error. Within the city, we have identified nine high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 7 areas are located in Salem. If we take a closer look at the city, the top nine most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Salem are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Salem East Lancaster — Lancaster Drive NE x Market Street NE 33 17 0 16 0
2 Salem Downtown — Liberty Street NE x Marion Street NE 29 21 2 18 0
3 Salem Downtown — Commercial Street NE x State Street 24 20 2 10 0
4 Salem Morningside — Commercial Street 19 11 2 6 0
5 Salem Lansing — Market Street NE x I-5 15 10 1 6 0
6 Salem East Lancaster — Lancaster Drive NE x Earle Ave NE 12 9 0 4 0
7 Salem West Salem — Wallace Road NW x Glen Creek Road NW 12 4 0 8 0
8 Salem Downtown — Center Street NE x 12th Street NE 11 7 1 4 0
9 Salem South Gateway — Baxter Road SE x Commercial Street SE 8 8 0 0 0

Gresham

Gresham is the third most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 10 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 1 of those areas is located in Gresham. If we take a closer look at the city, the top 10 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Gresham are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Gresham City Central — NE Division Street x NE Burnside Road 15 20 2 10 0
2 Gresham Rockwood — SE 181st Ave x E Burnside Street 10 14 2 10 0
3 Gresham Centennial — W Powell Blvd x SW Highland Drive 9 16 0 2 0
4 Gresham Wilkes East — NE Halsey Street x NE 162nd Ave 7 13 2 0 0
5 Gresham Northeast — SE Stark Street x NE Hogan Drive 7 10 0 6 0
6 Gresham Glenfair — SE 162nd Ave x SE Stark Street 6 11 1 0 0
7 Gresham Powell Valley — SE Powell Valley Road x NE Burnside Road 5 6 4 0 0
8 Gresham Rockwood — SE Stark Street x SE 187th Ave 5 6 2 2 0
9 Gresham Centennial — SE Division Street x SE 182nd Ave 5 2 2 6 0
10 Gresham Hollybrook — W Powell Blvd 5 10 0 2 0

Eugene

Eugene is the fourth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 1 of those areas is located in Eugene. If we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Gresham are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Eugene Downtown — High Street x E 13th Ave 14 8 0 9 0
2 Eugene Downtown — W 10th Ave x Charnelton Street 11 7 1 6 0
3 Eugene Downtown — West 6th Ave x Adams Street 11 6 0 5 0
4 Eugene River Road — River Road x River Ave 8 3 2 3 0
5 Eugene Eugene — Franklin Blvd x Orchard Street 7 6 1 2 0

Hillsboro

Hillsboro is the fifth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 1 of those areas is located in Hillsboro. If we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Hillsboro are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Hillsboro Downtown — SE Baseline x SE 2nd Ave 12 12 0 2 0
2 Hillsboro Downtown — SE Walnut Street x SE 10th Ave 9 11 1 2 1
3 Hillsboro Reedville — SE Tualatin Valley Highway x SE Century Blvd 7 2 2 5 0
4 Hillsboro Downtown — SE 12th Ave x SE Baseline Street 6 6 0 0 0
5 Hillsboro Witch Hazel — SE Tualatin Valley Highway x SE Brookwood Ave 6 3 0 3 0

Medford

Medford is the sixth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 6 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 1 of those areas is located in Medford. If we take a closer look at the city, the top 6 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Medford are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Medford Medford — S Riverside Ave x E Barnett Road 13 4 0 10 0
2 Medford Downtown — East 8th Street x Pacific Highway 9 9 0 7 0
3 Medford Downtown — E Jackson x N Riverside Ave 8 3 1 5 0
4 Medford Medford — Crater Lake Ave x Stevens Street 6 4 0 4 0
5 Medford North Medford — Biddle Road x E McAndrews Road 5 3 0 2 0
6 Medford Medford — S Pacific Highway x Lowry Lane 5 2 0 3 0

Beaverton

Beaverton is the seventh most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, none are located in Medford. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Medford are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Beaverton Downtown — SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway x Beaverton Tigard Freeway 9 4 1 4 0
2 Beaverton Downtown — SW Washington Ave x SW Farmington Road 6 8 0 1 0
3 Beaverton Downtown — SW Canyon Road x SW 115th Ave 6 5 0 1 0
4 Beaverton Gray Oak — SW 170th Ave x SW Baseline Road 5 6 0 1 0
5 Beaverton Highland — SW Murray Blvd x SW Allen Blvd 5 2 0 6 0

Corvallis

Corvallis is the eighth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 2 of the areas are located in Corvallis. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Corvallis are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Corvallis Downtown — NW Van Buren Avenue x NW 4th Street 17 13 0 7 0
2 Corvallis Downtown — Monroe Ave x NW 12th Street 12 3 0 11 0
3 Corvallis Downtown — SW 4th Street x SW Washington Ave 9 4 1 4 0
4 Corvallis Corvallis  — NW Circle Blvd x NW 9th Street 9 3 1 5 0
5 Corvallis Downtown — NW Van Buren Avenue x NW 9th Street 8 3 0 6 0

Springfield

Springfield is the ninth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, 1 area is located in Springfield. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Springfield are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Springfield Springfield — Olympic Street x 18th Street 14 8 0 7 0
2 Springfield Downtown — Main Street x S 5th Street 9 5 0 9 0
3 Springfield North Springfield — Gateway Street x Kruse Way 7 4 0 3 0
4 Springfield Thurston — Main Street x S 58th Street 6 3 0 3 0
5 Springfield Springfield — Main Street x N 54th Street 5 2 1 2 0

Bend

Bend is the tenth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 6 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, none are located in Bend. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 6 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Bend are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Bend Downtown — NE Franklin Ave x NE 3rd Street 10 5 0 5 0
2 Bend Downtown — NE 3rd Street x NE Greenwood Ave 7 3 0 5 0
3 Bend Bend — NE 3rd Street x NW Mervin Sampels Road 4 3 1 0 0
4 Bend Downtown — NW Wall Street x NW Oregon Ave 4 3 0 3 0
5 Bend Downtown — NW Greenwood Ave x NW Kearney Ave 4 2 0 2 0
6 Bend Downtown — NE Greenwood Ave x NE 9th Street 4 1 0 5 0

Albany

Albany is the eleventh most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, none are located in Albany. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Albany are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Albany Albany — Geary Street SE x Pacific Blvd SE 10 4 0 7 0
2 Albany Albany — Waverly Drive SE x Santiam Highway SE 7 1 1 7 0
3 Albany Albany — Sherman Street SE x 9th Ave SE 6 4 1 1 0
4 Albany Downtown — Albany-Corvallis Highway x 2nd Ave SW 5 5 0 2 0
5 Albany Albany — Pacific Blvd SE x Airport Road SE 5 5 0 2 0

Tigard

Tigard is the twelfth most dangerous city in Oregon for pedestrians and bicyclists. Within the city, we have identified 5 high-risk areas, with a total of:

Out of the top 30 most dangerous areas in Oregon, none are located in Tigard. However, if we take a closer look at the city, the top 5 most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists in Tigard are:

Rank City Zone Name Crashes Pedestrian Injuries Pedestrian Deaths Bike Injuries Bike Deaths
1 Tigard Tigard Triangle — SW Pacific Highway x SW 72nd Ave 5 3 0 2 0
2 Tigard Tigard Triangle — SW Pacific Highway x SW 68th Parkway 5 3 0 2 0
3 Tigard Derry Dell — SW Pacific Highway x SW Frewing Street 4 1 1 2 0
4 Tigard King City — SW Royalty Parkway x SW Pacific Highway 3 4 0 0 0
T-5 Tigard West Portland Park — SW Capitol Highway x SW Huber Street 3 2 0 1 0
T-5 Tigard Bull Mountian — SW Gaarde Street x SW 112th Ave 3 1 0 2 0

How To Use This Information

Pedestrian and bicyclist safety is important, especially in a state that prides itself on being one of the most pedestrian-friendly in the United States. With a high population of both pedestrian and bicyclist commuters, there are many lives at risk, making it crucial to prioritize safety. At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we are committed to equipping Oregon residents with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe, whether on foot or on a bicycle.

If you live in or near an area that is dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists, it is essential to stay vigilant and walk or ride defensively to keep yourself safe. Drivers who reside near these dangerous hot spots can also use this information to exercise more caution when on the roads, keeping an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists, driving slower, and driving sober.

Tips For Pedestrians And Bicyclists In Oregon

When walking near traffic, it is important to stay safe, these safety tips can help pedestrians increase their chances of traveling safely:

  1. Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings and avoid distractions like texting or talking on the phone when walking near traffic.
  2. Use Crosswalk Signals: Obey crosswalk signals and green lights at intersections, only cross when it is your turn.
  3. Look Both Ways: Even when you have the right of way, be sure to look left, right, and left again before crossing the road for any unexpected dangers.
  4. Walk Defensively: It is best to assume that not all drivers see you. Make eye contact when possible to ensure drivers acknowledge your presence before crossing.

When biking in or around traffic, your safety is important. These tips can help you to stay safe while riding near the roads:

  1. Obey Traffic Laws: Follow the same rules of the road as cars and other vehicles. This includes stopping at stop signs and obeying other traffic signals.
  2. Ride In The Same Direction As Traffic: Always ride in the same direction as traffic, and stay on the right side of the road. Never ride against oncoming traffic.
  3. Stay Visible: Use lights, reflectors, and bright clothing, especially when riding at dawn or dusk, or other low visibility conditions, to make your presence known to drivers.
  4. Use Hand Signals And Be Predictable: Help drivers predict your next moves by signaling your intentions using hand signals to indicate turns and stops. Additionally, ride in a straight line and avoid making sudden movements or swerving.

Data And Methodology

The data used to determine the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists was derived from the Oregon Department of Transportation. We looked at the data on pedestrian and bicyclist crashes between the years of 2017-2021. If you would like to use any of the tables, graphics, or data included in this study, please link to this page to provide credit.