By Maire Brandon-Hanson Santa Monica
I’m writing this in response to the combined articles: “A dead-end for riders,” and “Cyclists tripped up by a lack of enforcement” (SMDP, July 18, page 1).
I moved to Santa Monica over a year ago from Rockford, Ill., where I was an avid, serious, competitive cyclist, runner and athlete. In moving here I was very excited about the prospect of cycling for “miles” along the ocean path or utilizing the “many” bike lanes, both of which had been espoused favorably to me.
My first experience on the “bike path” proved also to be my last. Between the sand, inattentive pedestrians and recreational tourists on rented trikes, I couldn’t really ride. I decided the path was out and that I should try the roads. I started out commuting up Ocean Avenue to my gym, just as treacherous only for different reasons, already stated in the prior article. After three weeks of grappling with traffic and traffic lights, I gave it up and decided to walk to the gym instead.
I also had been told that the PCH was a nice long stretch along the ocean for serious cyclists, so I set out one day for the PCH. I ended up putting in 25 miles that day... all survival biking. There are points where the shoulder completely disappears. Yes, one must either like to subject themselves to continual frustration, danger and/or have a death wish to ride around the city streets, path or PCH. So I took my road bike back to Illinois where I still spend 30 percent of my time and where they have hundreds of miles of actual bike paths, and where I can ride upwards of 30 mph without all the risks.
All that said, I got my old-school quad skates out. I thought they would be a viable alternative... my mistake. I’m an athlete, I travel 15 to 20 mph or better on my skates and end up passing about 98 percent of the path users, bikes included. I skate five evenings a week, Saturdays and Sundays are complete chaos and out of the question. I’ve had kids and adults dart out, trike riders make U-turns without looking and pedestrians in general just being where they don’t belong and hanging out there. I’m always ready to straight arm or body check anyone I have to, so I’m not the one going down. The issue here is not just bikes versus other users. The athletes know how to use the path, whether it’s runners, bikers, skate boarders or bladers, we all stay right and pass left — it’s not rocket science, it’s just like driving. I’m sorry, but I consider the pedestrians and trike riders the biggest hazard and fair game if they’re in the wrong place and I can’t maneuver.
I’ve actually had pedestrians yell at me when I’m on my skates to slow down. They’re trying to regulate me when they’re the ones breaking the regulations. I believe the intelligent solution as to the proper use and enforcement of the path should be decided by the Santa Monica residents who use it consistently and not a group of board members, sitting around a table trying to make arbitrary rules and regulations for an issue which doesn’t or rarely apply to them. Let the real users have a say.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2006. Read the original PDF.