Golden Empire Transit is the operator of mass transportation in Bakersfield, California. There are 16 routes serving Greater Bakersfield, which includes both the City of Bakersfield and adjacent unincorporated communities. Since 2005, almost the entire bus fleet has been powered by compressed natural gas. In 2021, 5 hydrogen buses were added to the fleet, with an additional 5 planned for purchase in the future. In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .

The government agency is an independent transit agency and is not directly associated with either the City of Bakersfield or the County of Kern. However, it co-ordinates with both the city and county, as well as the Kern Council of Governments (which represents most local governments in the county). It is also the direct descendant of the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway, which originally provided streetcar service to the city.

History Prior to the mid-1950s, public transportation in Bakersfield was provided by a private company named the Bakersfield Transit Company (formerly the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway). However, yearly losses resulted in the city acquiring it in 1956, under the new name Bakersfield Transit Agency. The city made little investments in the system. Already suffering from deferred maintenance from the previous owner, the lack of investment resulted in the system sinking into further disrepair. Operating losses were also increasing.Bergman, John. The Southern San Joaquin Valley: A Railroad History. Jostens Printing and Publishing Company. Visalia, California: 2009. . Page 134-136.

In 1973, voters approved a measure which established the Golden Empire Transit District. It would take over ownership and operation of the Bakersfield Transit Agency. The new transit district started purchasing new equipment. It also eliminated unnecessary routes. In 1986, the transit authority would undergo its first major alteration in the system. Previously, routes were running in circular routes. The company changed to a crosstown system. Buses operated on linear paths, and generally looped back when the bus needed to change direction. They also operated between transit hubs. The first was located downtown (Downtown Transit Center). Later a second was added at the Valley Plaza Mall, in the Southwest (Southwest Transit Center). A third transit center was built in 2011 on Panorama Drive at Bakersfield College. Golden Empire Transit implemented a new system of routes on October 7, 2012. The system transitioned from a crosstown system to an express/local system. Although the agency divides the system into five categories, it is easier to describe it in three: Express, Rapid, and Local. Express service runs between major destinations on the most direct route. It also makes a limited number of stops. Rapid service runs more frequently than express and makes more stops between end points. Local routes stop most frequently. Routes have been straightened for faster service.Short Range Transit Plan. Golden Empire Transit. Page 3. Accessed: 04-21-2011. In 2021, GET opened a transit center at Cal State Bakersfield.

Routes

Local routes Routes that begin with either a "4" or a "6" are Local routes. Technically, Golden Empire Transit defines routes that begin with a "6" as Circulation routes, but they operate the same; except for the headway. Local routes make frequent stops. Routes that start with a "4" run every 30 minutes while routes that start with a "6" run every hour.

RouteTerminalsviaNotes41 Route 41. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Southwest Transit CenterBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeSR 99, Mt. Vernon Av, University Av42 Route 42. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield GET OfficesBakersfield Walmart21st St, Oak St, Monitor St Serves Downtown Transit Center and Southwest Transit Center43 Route 43. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Office Park Dr & Commercial WyBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeTruxtun Av, Q St, Columbus St44 Route 44. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield McNair Ln & Gosford RdBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeWhite Ln, Union Av, Mt. Vernon Av45 Route 45. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Oildale Chester Av & China Grade LoopBakersfield Morning Dr & Pioneer DrMcCray St, Truxtun Av, Niles St Serves Downtown Transit Center46 Route 46. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Village La & Stockdale HwyBakersfield Morning Dr & Pioneer DrStockdale Hwy, 4th St, Virginia Av, Pioneer Dr47 Route 47. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Office Park Dr & Commercial WyBakersfield WalmartNew Stine Rd, Panama Ln61 Route 61. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Stine Rd & Maybrook AvBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeHarris Rd, Gosford Rd, Coffee Rd, Olive Dr, Columbus Av Serves Cal State Bakersfield Transit Center62 Route 62. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Southwest Transit CenterBakersfield Akers Rd & Panama LnHughes Ln, H St, Hosking Av, Stine Rd

Rapid routes Routes that begin with a "2" are Rapid routes. They make fewer stops than local and express routes, but run more frequently. Rapid routes run every 15 minutes.

RouteTerminalsviaNotes21 Route 21 – CSUB/Bakersfield College. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Cal State Bakersfield Transit CenterBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeStockdale Hwy, California Av, Mt. Vernon Av22 Route 21 – CSUB/Oildale. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Cal State Bakersfield Transit CenterOildale Chester Av & China Grade LoopMing Av, Chester Av Serves Southwest Transit Center and Downtown Transit Center

Express routes Routes that begin with an "8" are Express-Circulator routes. This group can generally be considered in two categories. Route 81 operates as in express for its entire length, stopping only at transit centers. Routes 82 and 84 run as express routes between the Downtown Transit Center and NW Promenade on Rosedale, and run local beyond the NW Promemade hub. Route 83 operates as in local for its entire length, making frequent stops. All four routes run either every 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or every hour.

RouteTerminalsviaNotes81 Route 81. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Southwest Transit CenterBakersfield Bakersfield CollegeSR 99, SR 178 Serves Downtown Transit Center82 Route 82. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Cal State Bakersfield Transit CenterBakersfield Downtown Transit CenterStockdale Hwy, Rosedale Hwy83 Route 83. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Half Moon Dr & Ashe RdBakersfield Wilson Rd & Fremont StWilson Rd Serves Southwest Transit Center84 Route 84. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Frontier High SchoolBakersfield Downtown Transit CenterOld Farm Rd, Hagaman Rd, Rosedale Hwy

Long-Distance Express routes Routes that begin with a "9" are Long-Distance Express routes. They generally connect Bakersfield with large industrial centers (or other areas of large employment) outside of the city. They make only a few stops in Bakersfield, and then make no additional stops until reaching the industrial center. It will then make frequent stops within the center. Long-distance Express routes run every 2 hours, and generally do not run in the evenings. There is only one route in the system, X92.This route has an "X" before the route number. A Regular Day Pass for the Route X92 is $6.00. And a Monthly pass is $55.00. This route operates almost like the old service Route 16, it runs from Downtown Bakersfield to Tejon Ranch/IKEA, then comes back and ends service until 5:00PM at the Downtown Transit Center(Bakersfield). This route now parks in Bay F, in the Downtown Transit Center.

RouteTerminalsviaNotes92 Route X92. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 01-10-2013.Bakersfield Downtown Transit CenterWheeler Ridge Industrial Pkwy Dr & IKEASR 99

Transit centers

Downtown Transit Center The Downtown Transit Center is the transit center primarily serving Northwest, North and East Bakersfield. It is located in Downtown Bakersfield, in between Chester Avenue and Eye Street, on 22nd Street. It is the largest transit center in the system, encompassing 1/2 of a city block. It has 15 off-street bus parking spaces. The transit center is staffed and includes restrooms, and shaded outdoor waiting areas. The transit center was constructed in the mid-1980s.

In addition to Golden Empire Transit, Kern Regional Transit also uses the transit center for one of its hubs. They currently have 6 routes that stop at it, although not all routes run 7-days a week. Their buses stop on the south side of the transit center.

Southwest Transit Center The Southwest Transit Center is the transit center primarily serving Southwest, South, and Southeast Bakersfield. It is located on 1912 Wible Road south of Ming Avenue, directly adjacent to Valley Plaza Mall. It has 7 off-street bus parking spaces. The transit center is unstaffed, except for security, and contains restrooms and shaded waiting areas.

The transit center was constructed in the mid-1990s. In addition, two bus routes stop on Wible Road, north of the transit center. There is no room for expansion. In the past, it had been suggested moving the transit center to a new location, but those plans have been shelved in favor of other priorities.

Bakersfield College Transit Center This transit center is located on Panorama Drive adjacent to Bakersfield College. It has 8 off-street parking spaces. Six spaces are currently used by GET and one is used by Kern Regional Transit. The transit center is unstaffed and contains restrooms and shaded waiting areas.

CSUB Transit Center The California State University Bakersfield Transit Center finished construction in April 2021 located off Don Hart Drive West. The transit center contains 6 bus bays being used by GET and one is used by Kern Regional Transit. The center also contains new lighting and security measures. The center has no unpaid parking; visitors must park in one of CSUB's parking lots. It is walking distance to the Icardo Center.

Services

Bicycle transportation All Golden Empire Transit buses are equipped with bike racks. Each rack can hold two bicycles. If the rack is full, the driver may allow bicycles to be carried on the bus, if there is room. Otherwise, bicycle riders must wait for the next bus.Bikes on Bus. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 11-08-2011. Most bus stops and all transit centers do not have bicycle racks or storage lockers.

To complement the bus system, there is also a network of bike paths and bike lanes. The Kern River Bike Path is a dedicated bike path that runs along the Kern River in the Kern River Parkway. It travels through almost the entire length of the city. Several spur routes diverge from the bike path, serving other locations such as California State University, Bakersfield. In addition, many spaced arterials have dedicated, striped bike lanes. The width of the lane depends on whether on-street parking is allowed.Bikeway Master Plan . City of Bakersfield. June 30, 2010. Accessed: 11-08-2011.

The Reading Express The Reading Express is a program provided by Golden Empire Transit. Most buses are equipped with a small library of books for children from infant through third grade. The program is design for parents to read with their children while riding together on the bus. This also promotes education, as well as providing entertainment while traveling. Books can not be borrowed and must remain on the bus.The Reading Express. Golden Empire Transit. Accessed: 11-08-2011.

Fare and fare collection The following are Golden Empire Transit fares, effective January 1, 2023 (children below 6 ride for free with fare-paying rider, limit is 3):