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Is Bakersfield a safe place to ride a bicycle? Bakersfield Californian

04.07.09

Bakersfield has wide streets and a premier bicycle path, but those amenities don't necessarily make it a safe place to ride a bicycle.

Since 2003, 24 bicyclists -- about four per year -- have been killed on the streets of Kern County, the coroner's office reported. Most of those happened in Bakersfield.

Kern's bicycle death rate is well above the state average.

In 2007, there was one death in Kern for every 250,000 people, about one-third higher than the state rate of .75 per 250,000 people.

The latest victim was well-known bicycle enthusiast, Alton Saceaux, who was killed Monday night.

Saceaux, 55, was riding his bicycle on South Union Avenue when he was struck from behind by a suspected drunken driver.

While that could happen to anyone, avid bicycle riders say they've had close calls with car and pickup drivers, too many of whom apparently believe a street is no place for a bicycle.

"I don't feel it's safe at all," said 32-year-old bicycle rider Miguel Berger, who was struck by a drunken driver on Chester Avenue a year ago.

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