By Armando Lopez SMPD, retired
One lane on (Ocean Park Boulevard)? Why not just block OP at Lincoln, and again at Centinela, so we can have a giant 24-hour block party? Who needs internal combustion engines anyway?
Thinking out of the box is generally a great thing, but when we ignore history and fail to incorporate lessons learned we may be in for a bumpy ride... no puns intended.
Please, pull out some old photographs (Ansel Adams took a few) and you will quickly discover this pedestrian problem was solved in the ’40s. I was born in Santa Monica, served as a police officer and issued quite a few tickets on OP. These citations were given to past generations of aggressive, impatient drivers who also mowed down “peds” crossing with impunity. How was this problem solved? The Douglas Aircraft plant was located on the south side of OP, and each morning and each afternoon, a portable tri-light traffic signal was wheeled out and controlled by a man in uniform that pushed a little button. One of my tasks was to ensure the light was in place before the hordes of people crossed. And what do you know? Accidents were reduced, more pedestrians survived and traffic was “calmed.” I don’t believe people back then needed as much calming as they do now.
Take another look at the problem — one lane is a dumb idea. Just pull up a chair on 28th (Street) and Ocean Park at 5 p.m. and watch just how “calm” the drivers are!
City of Santa Monica, take it from an old, retired cop, you are going to piss off many people and do little to enhance the community. My advice to the person responsible for this fiasco: Look at a few old photos, ask a few old-timers’ opinions and “calm down.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.