The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies recently reviewed claims data on more than two million motorcycles insured over the past three years to determine the likelihood of a motorcyclist getting into an accident or having a bike stolen. The analysis focused on the 89 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.

The study found Honolulu riders are most likely to have their bikes stolen, even though it is the 53rd largest metropolitan area. In fact, a motorcyclist in Honolulu is four times more likely to have a bike stolen than is a motorcyclist in Chicago or Detroit, which are the third and seventh largest metro areas in the country, respectively.

Similarly, though Baton Rouge ranks 75th in population, it ranks third when it comes to the likelihood of a rider there having a motorcycle crash. And a motorcyclist in Philadelphia, the country's fifth largest metro area, is 36 percent less likely to have an accident as one in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metro area, which is the 47th largest.

One metropolitan area where the statistics are more in line with expectations is New York; it ranks number one both in population and in the likelihood of motorcycle collisions. And, while three metro areas rank among the most likely for both thefts and collisions (New York, Norfolk-Virginia Beach, and San Diego), only one — Cincinnati — ranks among the least likely for both.

Cities with Most Motorcycle Crashes

New York, N.Y.-N.J.
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Portsmouth, Va.-N.C.
Baton Rouge, La.
San Diego, Calif.
San Francisco-Oakland, Calif.
New Orleans, La.
San Antonio, Texas
McAllen-Pharr-Edinburg, Texas
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.
Orlando, Fla.

Cities with Most Motorcycle Thefts

Honolulu, Hawaii
Miami, Fla.
San Diego, Calif.
Las Vegas, Nev.
New York, N.Y.-N.J.
Washington, DC-Md.-Va.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Fla.
New Orleans, La.
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Portsmouth, Va.-N.C.

Source: Progressive Insurance Company

Special Reports /

Hog Heaven: Safe Cities For Motorcyclists

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