Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Are Fresno Bike Lanes Safe? Not With This Driver on the Road
Tony tries to stay on the Website
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 3 weeks ago on
November 15, 2024

(Special to GV Wire)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A driver narrowly avoided a collision Tuesday as another motorist sped through the bike lane at Princeton and Palm avenues, using the blocked-off lane as a personal fast-pass.

The incident shows the growing concerns about the dangers for bicyclists on Fresno roads, even in dedicated bicycle lanes.

Fresno Police Respond to Over 200 Collisions This Year

“We all see it every day, and we kind of fear for our lives at intersections with the high levels of red light violations, and we’re seeing distracted drivers all the time.” — Dr. Anthony Molina, chair of the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition

The Fresno Police Department reported that there have been 204 collisions involving bicyclists in 2024. Seven of these collisions were reported as fatal from the Oct. Active Transportation Advisory Committee meeting report.

A Fresno Police spokesperson spoke to GV Wire about bicycle safety, emphasizing the need for cyclists to protect themselves.

“We encourage all bicyclists to ride their bicycle while wearing a helmet. Not only is it the law, but most importantly, it can help minimize injury or save their life in case of a traffic collision,” the spokesperson said. “We encourage all bicyclists to ride with traffic and obey all traffic laws with motor vehicles. We encourage all bicyclists to have working lighting on their bicycles and wear reflective clothing at night.”

Joe Martinez Shares the Story of Losing His Son

Joe Martinez, a street safety advocate in Fresno, lost his son 10 years when a speeding driver struck him while walking.

“Paul was 21. Prime of his life. Loved life. Loved his family, his church, he volunteered, was a member for many years with the Boys and Girls clubs, played basketball, just loved life like every 21 year old,” Martinez said.

Fresno City Council Vice-President Mike Karbassi is a vocal advocate for bike safety.

“For the first time in 20 years, Fresno is poised to have more deaths from traffic-related collisions than homicides. But these deaths are 100% avoidable. Driving your car, riding your bike, and walking shouldn’t be life-threatening activities. With better planning, enforcement of traffic laws, and improved driver and rider awareness, we can make Fresno a safer and healthier place to live,” Karbassi said.

Local Advocates, Residents React to Lack of Bicycle Safety

“I want to ride more but what stops me is the fear of being hit by a car,” — Fresno resident Nauhi Lopez

The increase in unsafe driving behaviors has prompted concern among local advocates. “We all see it every day, and we kind of fear for our lives at intersections with the high levels of red light violations, and we’re seeing distracted drivers all the time,” said Dr. Anthony Molina, chair of the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition.

Molina, a retired family physician, also spoke about the upcoming World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Crashes in Fresno. This event, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday at Fresno City Hall, will honor those lost in traffic incidents and call for safer streets.

According to Dr. Molina, Fresno has some of the highest rates of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, attributed to widespread red-light violations, distracted driving, and high-speed road designs. Fresno’s Vision Zero Action Plan, funded by a $400,000 Safe Streets for All federal grant, is one effort to address this.

The plan aims to reduce pedestrian and cyclist deaths through improved street designs, lower speed limits, and increased public engagement.

Molina emphasized the need for complete streets, a safe systems approach, and technologies such as automatic braking and speed cameras. Sunday’s event will include a ceremonial ride featuring ghost bikes, symbolizing lives lost to unsafe roads.

Nauhi Lopez, a Fresno resident living near Palm Avenue, said, “I actually don’t see many people use the bike lanes, and people do cut over into them to make turns. I have actually used them when riding bikes with friends and family from Tower to Woodward Park and back. I don’t ride often and I am no expert. So, when I used those new bike lanes, it relieved my stress and anxiety.”

Added Lopez: “I want to ride more but what stops me is the fear of being hit by a car.”

The bike lane on Palm Avenue in Fresno while it was under construction. (GV Wire)
The bike lane on Palm Avenue in Fresno while it was under construction. (GV Wire)

“If bicycle paths are planned appropriately, they will get used by commuters, recreationists, folks going to school,” said Darius Assemi, CEO and President of Granville Homes.

He emphasized that well-designed bike paths, especially cycle tracks separated from roadways, are the safest option for cyclists.

Assemi also stressed the importance of developing safe routes to schools, pointing out that many neighborhoods still lack sidewalks and that the state is cutting funding for them.

“There are many of our existing schools and existing neighborhoods that are not connected via sidewalks. That’s an issue. That’s an area the state of California and the federal government, with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, should be investing in,” Assemi said.

(Disclaimer: Darius Assemi is the publisher of GV Wire)

Fresno’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims will begin Sunday with a bike ride at 1 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 3 p.m. Family members of collision victims, the Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, elected officials, and community leaders will gather to honor those lost in traffic incidents and advocate for safer streets.

Attendees, including people who have experienced injuries or lost loved ones in traffic crashes, will share their stories to highlight the urgency of preventing these deaths, which disproportionately affect pedestrians, cyclists, low-income communities, and people of color.

Fresno Unified Awarded $200,000 for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

Fresno Unified has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to enhance its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program, the district announced Friday in a news release.

Running through September 2025, the program will focus on educating the community about safe practices for pedestrians and cyclists while emphasizing drivers’ responsibilities to share the road.

Grant activities include bike training courses, safety education for vulnerable populations, and community events promoting road safety awareness. The program aims to reduce accidents and build safer, more walkable neighborhoods in Fresno.

County of Fresno Awarded $223,082 for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

The Fresno County Public Works & Planning Department has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program, The County of Fresno announced Friday afternoon.

The grant will fund the Safe Routes to School initiative, which promotes walking and biking to school by improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, and lowering emissions.

The program, which also runs through September 2025, will include site assessments, school education presentations, and the development of action plans for safety improvements at 10 school sites.

The initiative aims to engage students, families, and communities in fostering safer travel near schools.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

DON'T MISS

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

DON'T MISS

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

DON'T MISS

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

DON'T MISS

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

DON'T MISS

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

DON'T MISS

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Sergeant Injured While Taking Down Suspect. Two Arrested.

DON'T MISS

Police Found No Evidence of a Threat at California Capitol After Evacuation

UP NEXT

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

UP NEXT

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

UP NEXT

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

UP NEXT

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

UP NEXT

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

UP NEXT

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

UP NEXT

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Sergeant Injured While Taking Down Suspect. Two Arrested.

UP NEXT

Police Found No Evidence of a Threat at California Capitol After Evacuation

UP NEXT

Fresno State Signs 10 Football Recruits Same Day It Hires Matt Entz

Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and has an MBA at Fresno State, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

2 hours ago

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

3 hours ago

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

3 hours ago

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

3 hours ago

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Sergeant Injured While Taking Down Suspect. Two Arrested.

4 hours ago

Police Found No Evidence of a Threat at California Capitol After Evacuation

4 hours ago

Fresno State Signs 10 Football Recruits Same Day It Hires Matt Entz

4 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Around Its Records After a Solid Jobs Report

5 hours ago

Supreme Court Will Decide if Palestinian Authorities Can Be Sued in US Over Middle East Attacks

5 hours ago

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

NEW YORK — Deciding whether Juan Soto tops Shohei Ohtani for baseball’s largest contract could be in the eye of the beholder because o...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

1 hour ago

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

1 hour ago

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

2 hours ago

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

A study suggests that consuming dark chocolate may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, though causation remains unproven. (Shutterstock)
3 hours ago

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

A 27-year-old Selma man, Julian Angelo Gonzales, was arrested for a road rage shooting that injured a woman after a brief verbal altercation on December 3, 2024. (Fresno PD)
3 hours ago

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

3 hours ago

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

3 hours ago

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend