Arizona has invested significantly in cycling infrastructure over the past decade — bike lanes, shared-use paths, and protected corridors have expanded in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Tucson. Yet the state continues to record some of the highest bicycle fatality rates in the country. The gap between the cycling infrastructure that exists and the infrastructure that is actually needed leaves riders exposed on some of the most dangerous arterial roads in the American Southwest.
Understanding which roads carry the highest risk — and what your legal rights are when a driver fails to share that road safely — is essential for every cyclist in Arizona.
Several factors combine to make Arizona roads disproportionately dangerous for cyclists. The state’s grid-based urban design means that most cycling trips involve crossing or riding along high-speed arterial roads — four to six lane corridors with 45 to 55 mph speed limits that were designed exclusively for vehicle throughput. These roads have wide lanes that encourage speeding, infrequent signalized crossings, and limited sight lines at driveways and side streets.
Arizona’s climate also plays a role. The state’s long riding season means cyclists are on the road year-round, including during the extreme heat of summer when driver attention may be compromised. Early morning and evening rides — the most common times for commuter cyclists to avoid the heat — coincide with low-light conditions that dramatically increase crash risk.
Finally, Arizona has a significant population of recreational cyclists who use roads that were not designed with cycling in mind: rural highways with no shoulder, mountain roads with blind curves, and suburban arterials where bike lanes end abruptly at intersections.
ADOT crash data and city traffic engineering reports identify several corridors that appear repeatedly in bicycle accident statistics:
Indian School Road and McDowell Road (Phoenix). These parallel east-west arterials carry enormous volumes of traffic across the width of Phoenix. Both roads have bike lanes in some sections, but the lanes are frequently interrupted by turning lanes, driveways, and bus stops. The combination of high vehicle speeds and frequent conflict points makes these corridors consistently dangerous for cyclists.
Van Buren Street (Phoenix). Van Buren is one of the most dangerous roads in Arizona for all vulnerable road users. It carries heavy truck traffic, has a significant homeless population that uses the road on foot and by bicycle, and has limited lighting in many sections. Bicycle fatalities on Van Buren are disproportionately high relative to the road’s length.
University Drive and Apache Boulevard (Tempe/Mesa). The corridor connecting Tempe and Mesa through the heart of the East Valley is heavily used by cyclists, particularly students commuting to Arizona State University. The road’s mix of light rail tracks, bus stops, driveways, and high-speed traffic creates multiple conflict points where bicycle accidents occur regularly.
Scottsdale Road (Scottsdale). The northern stretch of Scottsdale Road, particularly between Shea Boulevard and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, combines high speeds, heavy recreational traffic, and a significant number of cyclists using the road for training rides. Dooring incidents — where a driver opens a car door into a cyclist’s path — are common in the commercial sections of this corridor.
Under A.R.S. § 28-735, drivers must maintain a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction. When three feet is not possible due to road conditions, the driver must slow to a reasonable speed and pass only when it is safe to do so.
Violation of this law is a civil traffic violation — not a criminal offense — but it is directly relevant to civil liability. A driver who passes within inches of a cyclist and causes a crash has violated a specific statutory duty, which strengthens the cyclist’s negligence claim considerably. Dashcam footage, witness testimony, and in some cases, the physical evidence of the crash itself can establish whether the three-foot rule was violated.
One of the most common bicycle accidents in urban areas is a “dooring” — a driver or passenger opening a vehicle door directly into the path of a passing cyclist. Under A.R.S. § 28-817, it is illegal to open a vehicle door on the side of moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so. A person who opens a door into a cyclist’s path is liable for the resulting injuries.
Dooring accidents are frequently underreported because cyclists are often reluctant to involve law enforcement in what appears to be a minor incident — until the injuries manifest fully. Rib fractures, shoulder injuries, and traumatic brain injuries are common outcomes of dooring accidents, and the costs can be substantial.
Call 911 and get a police report even if the driver claims the accident was minor. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, the door position if it was a dooring, and your injuries. Get the driver’s information and any witness contacts. Do not move your bicycle until it has been photographed — its position and damage are evidence.
Seek medical attention immediately. Head injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries may not be apparent at the scene. A gap in medical treatment will be used by insurers to argue your injuries were not serious.
Contact an experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney before speaking with the driver’s insurance company. At Phillips Law Group, we represent cyclists across Arizona and we know how to build cases that account for the full extent of a cyclist’s injuries and losses. Call us at (602) 222-2222 for a free consultation.
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