| Orange County is the fifth largest county in | | | | extraordinarily high when considering the |
| the United States with over 3 million people; | | | | population and comparing the amount of bike |
| putting it behind Los Angeles County and San | | | | accidents with Santa Ana and Anaheim. |
| Diego County in California in overall | | | | |
| population. However, when it comes to bike | | | | Costa Mesa, a suburban city of 110,000 that |
| accidents, Orange County from the northern | | | | borders Santa Ana, had 69 bike accidents with |
| tip in La Habra to the southernmost point in | | | | no fatalities. Although the overall number of |
| San Clemente; has the second most in the | | | | collisions might seem low, it is higher per |
| state with 1027 collisions in 2006. | | | | capita when compared to the three Californian |
| | | | cities mentioned above. |
| Orange County cyclists are facing many | | | | |
| dangers that seem to be getting worse each | | | | Lastly, Newport Beach, a community of 85,000 |
| year. As the population grows and tourists | | | | that borders the Pacific Ocean while only |
| continue to arrive in record numbers (for | | | | being 10 minutes from Santa Ana, had 85 bike |
| Disneyland among other things), the roads are | | | | accidents including two that resulted in |
| more congested than ever. Here is a brief | | | | deaths; one was using proper safety equipment |
| breakdown of the five cities in Orange County | | | | while the other was not. Newport Beach has |
| with the most bike accidents in 2006 and | | | | one of the worst bike accident rates per |
| their related statistics: | | | | capital in Orange County. |
| | | | |
| Santa Ana, Orange County's largest city with | | | | As you can see, Orange County has its share |
| over 350,000 people, had 111 bike accidents | | | | of difficulties when it comes to bike |
| in 2006 including 4 fatal collisions. In all | | | | accidents. While the county is considering |
| four bike accidents, proper safety equipment | | | | options for improving the roads for cyclists, |
| was not used. | | | | it is always a slow process that takes time. |
| | | | |
| Anaheim, the second largest city in the | | | | Out of the 1027 bike accidents in Orange |
| county with a population of just under | | | | County, only 261 cyclists were using proper |
| 350,000, had 102 bike accidents with two | | | | safety equipment; a mere 25%. As a cyclist, |
| deaths. Again, in both fatal collisions | | | | it's important that you always make sure to |
| safety equipment was not used. | | | | abide by the rules of the road and use proper |
| | | | safety gear to not only protect yourself |
| Huntington Beach, a seaside city with just | | | | against injury, but also increase your |
| under 200,000 people, had 120 collisions with | | | | visibility at night. |
| no deaths. The amount of collisions is | | | | |