A cyclist passes by on the Kern River Parkway, more commonly known as the bike path. Photo by Jennifer Baldwin

It may be called the “bike path,” but the 30-mile stretch of pavement that follows the Kern River through Bakersfield is so much more.

Bicyclists share the path with walkers, joggers, skaters, dogs, children, strollers, and fundraiser run/walk events – to name a few. And when you get that many people using the only non-motorized thoroughfare through town, there are bound to be issues.

To address these concerns, a public meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in the auditorium at Franklin School, 2400 Truxtun Ave. All who use the path are invited to give their input on rules, signs and other ideas for enhancing the safety and friendliness of the path.

The meeting is a joint venture lead by the Bakersfield Department of Recreation and Parks, the Kern River Parkway Foundation, Bike Bakersfield and Kern Wheelmen. After the three community groups approached the parks department separately, director Dianne Hoover brought them together for a community discussion.

“There are a lot of misconceptions,” she said. “Some people think it’s just a bike path. However, it was created for multi-use. The official name is the Kern River Parkway, but it’s easier to say ‘bike path.’ ‘Multi-use path’ is even a mouthful.”

Furthermore, the funding source for the path designates it as a “multiple-use trail,” according to Rich O’Neil of the Kern River Parkway Foundation. Ninety-five percent of the path has been funded by California Transportation Development Act Article 3 money, which funds non-motorized transportation projects such as bike paths and sidewalks.

“It’s always been intended for multi-use. It really needs a sign out there saying that,” O’Neil said.

The main issues faced on the path are safety and respect. Some of the problems include bicycles going too fast, walkers not getting out of the way, and children and dogs running across the path, said Tina Chapa, executive director of Bike Bakersfield.

To solve those problems, some of the proposals include:

• Posting speed limits of 15 miles per hour for bicycles in the most heavily used areas of the path – where parks border the path from Beach Park southwest to the Park at Riverwalk.
• Posting signs with rules such as to stay to the right except to pass, give an audible warning when passing, keep pets on 6-foot leashes, and respect other path users.
• Create a set-back of 7 to 10 feet for any new trees, benches, water fountains or other features added along the path, so that users have an area to move off the path and avoid danger.

“Really, it’s the way it’s always been,” Chapa said. But rather than just refer to the safety measures as common courtesy, the community groups want signs posted so that people can read and understand the rules of the road.

Some cyclists might disagree and want the path to be for bikes only, she said, “But that’s like saying cars can go fast and not respect bikers or walkers because the road belongs to them.” The staff and board members of Bike Bakersfield are on the same page for these proposed ideas.

So is a committee from Kern Wheelmen, a local road biking club.

“This is for safety,” said member Earl Norcross. “We just don’t want people to run into each other.”

Although many members of his club like to go fast, many also realize they can’t speed through areas of the path when there are walkers, children and dogs present. They support the 15 mile per hour speed limit.

“We can live with it,” Norcross said. “Sometimes even that’s too fast, especially when you get people pushing strollers taking up the whole path. It’s just a matter of being patient with each other.”

Out of the community meeting, the parks department will then decide how to move forward. A change in policy will require city council action. Or, if the solutions already exist in a general policy, the parks department can just put signs out, Hoover said.

In any case, rules will be good for everyone, not only for safety but also to foster respect and friendliness on the path.