Study: East Baton Rouge, New Orleans are some of the most dangerous places for cyclists

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A study ranks two Louisiana parishes among the Top 10 most dangerous places in the U.S. for cyclists.

The study by law firm Bader Scott analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to identify which places in the nation are the most dangerous for cyclists.

According to data, seven Florida counties are in the Top 10 most dangerous for cyclists. The No. 1 most dangerous county is Pasco County, with 40 deaths between 2017 and 2021

In Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish was ranked No. 4 and Orleans Parish was ranked No. 6.

Data shows East Baton Rouge had 23 cyclist deaths between 2017 and 2021 among its 456,781 population. Orleans Parish, the study shows, had 19 deaths among 383,998 residents.

Biking paths in Baton Rouge

There are a few places cyclists can go in Baton Rouge to bike safely at parks and paths.

• Mississippi River Levee Trail: This is a 13-mile path along the river going from downtown Baton Rouge to LSU to L’Auberge Casino.
• Perkins Road Community Park: This park has a BMX track. Helmets are required and a waiver must be signed, according to BREC.
• Downtown Greenway: This path is for bicyclists and pedestrians and is connected to public parks and recreational facilities, according to the Downtown Development District.