TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

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.

"GET buses and soccer moms have run me off the road," Berger said.

He frequently rides from his downtown home to Snider's Cyclery on Union Avenue, where he works. He thinks the town can use more signs and bicycle lines to separate the two-wheel from the four-wheel vehicles.

Another who feels Bakersfield needs to improve safety for bicyclists is Tina Chapa, 49, executive director of Bike Bakersfield, a nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization.

She said she hears "people say they want to ride, but they don't feel safe. There seems to be animosity between automobile operators and bicycle operators."

The key to improvement, Chapa said, is more education of both motorists and bicycle riders.

She noted that in bicycle friendly areas such as Marin, San Francisco and Santa Barbara counties, training begins in elementary school.

That creates an aware community in which "people share the road with you."

For example, Santa Barbara County hasn't had a bicycle death in several years, said Senior Deputy Medical Examiner Craig Stevens.

Not all people write off Bakersfield as a dangerous place to ride a bicycle.

Kerry Ryan, owner of Action Sports, said Bakersfield "is one of the most phenomenal riding communities."

Contrasting the wide roads of Bakersfield with the narrow roads on the East Coast, and noting that Bakersfield has one of the top three bicycle paths in the state, Ryan said Bakersfield is a good place to ride.

"I've ridden all over the world," he said.

Still, while riding, he looks behind himself about every 15 seconds to try to anticipate any trouble.

He acknowledges to some degree all bicyclists are at the mercy of the motorist behind them. That was true of Saceaux "who was at the wrong place at the wrong time," Ryan said.

Another avid rider, Bob Smith, a 57-year-old retired dentist, said Bakersfield and Kern County "is a pretty safe place to ride, if you are a defensive rider."

He said many bicycle accidents are the fault of the bicyclists "who are being unpredictable to motorists."

A review of news stories about bicycle traffic deaths in Kern County show many who dart out into traffic, and others who run stop signs or red lights. A fair number of victims are children who don't watch out.

"You have to ride in a defensive posture," said Smith, who rides to Arvin, Glennville and Round Mountain Road on a regular basis.

"It's a lot like driving a car," Smith said. "An accident could happen if you are not focused."