Transportation plans
This is regarding the Nov. 20 letter, "Pedestrian safety issue has income component." It is true that Bakersfield has a built environment that is auto centric. This urban design has consequences on the social equity of the community. Lower-income individuals are forced to spend a higher proportion of income for transportation when the automobile is the dominant transportation mode.
A community which is designed for safe and comfortable pedestrian and bicycle use offers a much more affordable transportation choice to its citizens. Bakersfield is moving into the 21st century and plans for the future with its general plan update. The update will certainly require new development to be more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
This will require a change in the street standards as they now exist. The new standards will need to comply with new state laws SB 375 and the Complete Streets Act. As the planners and transportation engineers work out the details of a built environment that is not based solely on automobile movement, we will begin to solve many of the problems which we now face, including but not limited to air quality, traffic congestion, obesity and social equity.
The solutions will need to be incorporated into the existing urban fabric. Much of what has been built needs to be modified. Funding choices will have to be made.
We look forward to working with the city of Bakersfield and the county of Kern to redefine how they provide safe, comfortable, healthy transportation choices to all of its citizens.
ROBERT E. SMITH
Bike Bakersfield
