This has got to stop.
Southern California streets keep claiming more victims, as traffic rebounds to pre-lockdown levels with little or no accommodation for the jump in bike riding in recent months.
The latest victim was a popular Fontana barber who was killed by a driver late Sunday night.
According to a notice from the San Bernardino County Coroner, 59-year old Fontana resident Adolph “Ray” Trujillo was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in 1600 block of Baseline Ave around 11:50 pm.
He died at the scene less than 15 minutes later.
The Fontana Herald News offers a little more detail, placing the crash near the intersection of Baseline and Juniper Avenues in Fontana.
According to the paper, Trujillo was riding east on Baseline when he was somehow run down by an 18-year old driver.
There’s no word on which direction the driver was going, or just how the crash may have occurred.
Baseline is a six-lane divided roadway with bike lanes in both directions, with wide, straight highway-like lanes where drivers could easily exceed the 45 mph speed limit, particularly at that late hour.
This is at least the 37th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County. It’s also the ninth SoCal bicycling death this month alone, and the 13th in the last two months.
Something has to be done now to stop this rising tide of traffic violence.
Because Ray Trujillo deserved better.
And do we all.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Adolph “Ray” Trujillo and all his loved ones.
How about starting a grass-roots campaign with local bike shops to educate new bike owners on sending a letter to their local government reps on improving cycling infrastructure.
We can provide shop owners with a “welcome” email for new bike owners that will help them build a stronger relationship with customers AND create a stock letter they can cut and paste to send to their local gov’t reps. This will help new bike owners feel better that they’re helping advocate for safer routes, which will ultimately lead to their health and safety.
We lift up the family and friends of Mr. Adolph “Ray” Trujillo in our prayers.