The number of pedestrians killed on our roadways has hit a tipping point and frustration is growing. Advocates and experts point to a host of problems, from inattentive drivers to rampant jaywalking.
As of Monday, 34 pedestrians had been killed in Kern County in 2013, according to a tally maintained by 17 News. That's eight more than all of 2012. The figure includes three people killed by trains and a man on a skateboard.
The Kern Coroner's Office counts at 33 pedestrian deaths in 2013. That total excludes those injured in Kern but who died outside the county, and includes those injured outside Kern but who died here. It does not include those hit by trains.
Neither list counts the official killed when a race car jumped the track at Bakersfield Speedway Aug. 9.
On both lists, one area of Bakersfield has become particularly problematic: the East side. 17 News plotted the 2013 pedestrian fatalities on a Google map and found not a single pedestrian was killed in the greater Bakersfield area West of Highway 99.
And statistically, Niles Street is among the most dangerous part of that the city. Four pedestrians died along a 2.5 mile stretch of Niles Street so far this year.
"It's a huge problem and we just don't have the manpower to just sit there and focus on just one violation," said CHP Officer Robert Rodriguez. "Motorists are distracted or are just not paying attention. You've got pedestrians who are distracted. Everyone is just not paying attention."
17 News drove through downtown Bakersfield with a dashcam rolling. The camera caught a bicyclist swerving into traffic, a mother pushing a stroller across the street, outside of a crosswalk, and a woman walking diagonally across an intersection.
Officer Rodriguez says he hears the same excuses: "Oh, I know better. I should have crossed the street at the crosswalk, but this is more convenient for me."
"So a lot of it has to do with convenience because they don't want to walk a block or two down the street," he added.
The CHP has a grant in hand to conduct special enforcement stings to ticket pedestrians and drivers violating the law. The CHP was hoping to conduct one such sting before Thanksgiving, Rodriguez said.
The latest pedestrian fatality occurred Tuesday. Caterin Orellana, 16, of Bakersfield, was crossing Niles Street near Orange Drive when she was struck by a Honda Prelude driven by Jamal Tate, 26.
The teenage pedestrian was wearing headphones and dark clothing, the CHP reported, and was not in a crosswalk. The driver was not charged, officers said.
Transportation consultant Zachary Griffin thinks he knows why the East side has been plagued with pedestrian fatalities: Fewer people have cars.
"The guy who is making $100,000 a year can afford to go to Trader Joe's easily in his SUV if he doesn't feel comfortable riding his bike," Griffin said. "He can afford to go to the gym and pay $100. Most of these people can afford to do that."
Griffin contends many people who risk crossing busy roadways are doing so to catch buses, a sentiment reiterated by several bus riders. He suggests the solution may be twofold. First, he says the county needs to take a hard look at infrastructure and make sure crosswalks and lighting are in appropriate places and bus stops are not spaced too far apart.
Second, he says local law enforcement needs to step up pedestrian safety education in schools — something he fears has fallen by the wayside due to budget cuts.
"We do have a planner to study traffic flow to determine appropriate places for bus stops," said Kern Golden Empire Transit spokeswoman Gina Hayden. "The bottom line is people need to plan time for their trip and make sure they get to the bus stop on time."
As of Monday, 34 pedestrians had been killed in Kern County in 2013, according to a tally maintained by 17 News. That's eight more than all of 2012. The figure includes three people killed by trains and a man on a skateboard.
The Kern Coroner's Office counts at 33 pedestrian deaths in 2013. That total excludes those injured in Kern but who died outside the county, and includes those injured outside Kern but who died here. It does not include those hit by trains.
Neither list counts the official killed when a race car jumped the track at Bakersfield Speedway Aug. 9.
On both lists, one area of Bakersfield has become particularly problematic: the East side. 17 News plotted the 2013 pedestrian fatalities on a Google map and found not a single pedestrian was killed in the greater Bakersfield area West of Highway 99.
And statistically, Niles Street is among the most dangerous part of that the city. Four pedestrians died along a 2.5 mile stretch of Niles Street so far this year.
"It's a huge problem and we just don't have the manpower to just sit there and focus on just one violation," said CHP Officer Robert Rodriguez. "Motorists are distracted or are just not paying attention. You've got pedestrians who are distracted. Everyone is just not paying attention."
17 News drove through downtown Bakersfield with a dashcam rolling. The camera caught a bicyclist swerving into traffic, a mother pushing a stroller across the street, outside of a crosswalk, and a woman walking diagonally across an intersection.
Officer Rodriguez says he hears the same excuses: "Oh, I know better. I should have crossed the street at the crosswalk, but this is more convenient for me."
"So a lot of it has to do with convenience because they don't want to walk a block or two down the street," he added.
The CHP has a grant in hand to conduct special enforcement stings to ticket pedestrians and drivers violating the law. The CHP was hoping to conduct one such sting before Thanksgiving, Rodriguez said.
The latest pedestrian fatality occurred Tuesday. Caterin Orellana, 16, of Bakersfield, was crossing Niles Street near Orange Drive when she was struck by a Honda Prelude driven by Jamal Tate, 26.
The teenage pedestrian was wearing headphones and dark clothing, the CHP reported, and was not in a crosswalk. The driver was not charged, officers said.
Transportation consultant Zachary Griffin thinks he knows why the East side has been plagued with pedestrian fatalities: Fewer people have cars.
"The guy who is making $100,000 a year can afford to go to Trader Joe's easily in his SUV if he doesn't feel comfortable riding his bike," Griffin said. "He can afford to go to the gym and pay $100. Most of these people can afford to do that."
Griffin contends many people who risk crossing busy roadways are doing so to catch buses, a sentiment reiterated by several bus riders. He suggests the solution may be twofold. First, he says the county needs to take a hard look at infrastructure and make sure crosswalks and lighting are in appropriate places and bus stops are not spaced too far apart.
Second, he says local law enforcement needs to step up pedestrian safety education in schools — something he fears has fallen by the wayside due to budget cuts.
"We do have a planner to study traffic flow to determine appropriate places for bus stops," said Kern Golden Empire Transit spokeswoman Gina Hayden. "The bottom line is people need to plan time for their trip and make sure they get to the bus stop on time."