Police urge caution after serious bicycle crashes in Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Two serious bicycle accidents in Palm Springs over the past week have become a cause for concern.

One cyclist is in critical condition after a crash Sunday night, according to police. The department said the crash happened at N Sunrise Way and E Vista Chino just before 10 p.m. The cyclist was trying to cross Vista Chino when they were struck by a vehicle. They were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where they remained in critical condition.

It's the second serious crash in the span of a week after a cyclist was killed last Monday, October 5th. That crash happened around 8:30 p.m. near E Palm Canyon Dr. and Cherokee Way. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jairo Rivas was riding along the CV Link with one of his coworkers on Monday night, taking advantage of cooler weather to commute to and from work. Coincidentally, he worked at a resort right next to the intersection the cyclist was killed last Monday.

"It’s crazy that it just happened by where we work," he commented.

While he doesn't ride often, he shared his concerns for when he does: "There’s some cars sometimes they get close to you, you know, and then sometimes the bike lane. The path ain't really, wide enough for for your bike."

And when he's tried to use the sidewalk as a safer option, he recounted, "Last time we were on the road over there by Rancho, we were on the sidewalk because there was no bike lane. Some people were mad because we were on the sidewalk and they yelled that out, like, 'What are you guys doing on the sidewalk?' We're just trying to be safe."

"They're very unfortunate to show up on those type of scenes. A lot of times they are ... simply avoidable," said Sgt. David Etchason, with the Palm Springs Police Department. As a patrol sergeant, he responded to both of the recent crashes.

He continued, "A lot of times is drivers typically are looking for vehicles. They're not looking for the bicyclists, they're not looking for pedestrians, and they're not looking for the motorcyclists. Please, please obviously look out for the vehicles, but also look out for the for the pedestrians and motorcyclists and the bicyclists."

As skies begin to darken earlier, police are urging everyone using the road to stay vigilant. They said safety was a shared responsibility: cars should stay alert for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians, which can be much more difficult to see. Cyclists should also abide by all traffic laws and utilize proper lighting to help them stay visible.

Despite these two serious crashes in short succession, Lt. Michael Torres said so far, collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians are down in 2026 (39 incidents) compared to 2025 (52 incidents).

Regardless, police urged drivers to use extra caution and to give cyclists extra space when passing them.

The City of Palm Springs has several resources for cyclists on its website, including bike maps and safety programs. You can find that information by clicking here.