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Advocate says Bakersfield exceeded prior record for pedestrian deaths; council asks police for annual update
Summary
A public commenter said Bakersfield recorded 57 pedestrian fatalities and urged the council to step up cultural and policy changes; Councilmember Bob Smith asked the police department to present annual pedestrian and cyclist fatality statistics.
Zachary Griffin, a local cycling advocate and special education teacher, told the council that Bakersfield has exceeded its previous record for pedestrian fatalities. Griffin said he confirmed with local media KGET and morgue records that the city saw 57 fatalities, surpassing the prior record of 56.
Griffin urged the council to continue work on engineering, enforcement and cultural change to reduce pedestrian and cyclist deaths. He emphasized outreach to youth as part of long‑term cultural change.
Council member Bob Smith asked the police department to provide the annual pedestrian and cyclist fatality numbers at the next council meeting so the council and the public can track trends and evaluate the effectiveness of current safety programs.
No formal action or ordinance was taken at the meeting on the subject; the comment and the council request for data were recorded as public comment and a staff request.
