By Booth Vance Los Angeles
As one who has logged countless hours cycling and inline skating on the Santa Monica Beach bike path, I feel very fortunate to have access to such a resource. As an alternative to taking to the street and sharing the road with distracted drivers, the path offers those of us who enjoy these forms of exercise a safe, controlled and dedicated environment.
At least, that’s the theory. I am wondering what it will take for the city of Santa Monica to properly address the dangerous issue of groups of pedestrians on the bike path. This does not relate to people walking single file, as my understanding is that pedestrians are indeed allowed to use the path. This is about groups of people filling an entire lane. This is about parents letting their children run free. This is about protecting pedestrians, as well as cyclists and skaters, many of whom are traveling at a high rate of speed.
I have had numerous accidents over the past few years after having been cut off, hit or forced off the path by unaware pedestrians. I have also stopped and helped many injured people who were also the victims of this negligence. Isn’t it time for the city of Santa Monica to post clear signs, set intermittently throughout the path, urging pedestrians to walk single file and making them aware that they are sharing the path with cyclists and skaters?
I would be interested to find out how many calls are made to paramedics each week to attend to yet another victim of bike path accidents. I would also be interested to learn why, despite the relatively nominal cost of strategically placed signs, the city has not helped to make the path safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2007. Read the original PDF.