The Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area is the deadliest region in the country for bicyclists, according to a new study by the Wall Street Journal.
According to federal data compiled for the study, Pinellas County has the highest per-capita cyclist death rate in the past decade among the four counties in the Tampa Bay area.
The Tampa Bay metro region has the highest fatality rate of any major metro area in the United States, the study claimed, with the next three deadliest regions also in the state of Florida.
Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami came in with the second, third and fourth in regards to highest fatality rates in the country, respectively.
Experts interviewed by the Wall Street Journal suggest texting at the wheel and alcohol are the most common reasons for accidents between motor vehicles and bicyclists.
They also mentioned that the high collision rate in Florida specifically isn’t due to the heat, but more due to the state’s influx of tourists who are unfamiliar with local roadways.
You can read more on the study by the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) by clicking here.
