By Fredric Reichel Santa Monica
Since moving to Santa Monica five and a half years ago, my wife and I have frequently enjoyed skating and walking on the beach path, never realizing that we were breaking the law. We were in the company of many other skaters, runners, walkers — some pushing baby carriages — kids on tricycles and scooters, as well as bike riders. Everyone seemed to be having fun and enjoying themselves. Yet it is a few bike riders who are unable to share the road and claim the path for their exclusive use.
I don’t know when the path was built or how it was financed, but obviously it should not be limited to bike riders when so many other activities can be easily accommodated. We all contribute to the maintenance of the path with our tax dollars and have as much right to enjoy the beach as bike riders.
Rather than try to enforce an obsolete and misguided law, the council could revise the law to allow multiple activities, legalizing what has been common use for years. They should instead enforce more meaningful laws, such as those prohibiting camping in the parks, public intoxication and attacking citizens on the streets.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2006. Read the original PDF.