Newport Beach bike officers will patrol boat parade crowds on Balboa Island
For the first time, Newport Beach police plan to put bicycle officers on duty to patrol Balboa Island during the Christmas Boat Parade this week in an effort to quell traffic stemming from the popular annual attraction.
The parade, which will run Wednesday through Sunday, typically brings thousands of people nightly to harborfront locations in Newport Beach. But residents say Balboa Island sees the most visitors traveling by foot, bike and car.
“We have had some pretty significant traffic problems,” said Balboa Island Improvement Assn. President Lee Pearl. “Last year we basically had gridlock on the island.”
Pearl said he asked the Police Department for help in mitigating the congestion this year.
Traffic Lt. Tom Fischbacher said the department decided to tap bicycle officers, who can more easily navigate the boardwalk and congested streets, to help patrol the area. Though parade days have always been busy, Fischbacher said, the city has seen larger crowds on the island in the past four years.
Bicycle officers will be on the lookout for some of the more common problems, including illegally parked cars and alcohol on the beach. Officers also plan to direct pedestrian and vehicle traffic along Marine Avenue, the island’s main drag, Fischbacher said.
“We haven’t done that in the past,” he said. “We kind of let it manage itself, and that has resulted in some gridlock.”
There also will be some changes to traffic patterns.
The left-turn lane on westbound West Coast Highway at Jamboree Road and the right-turn lane on eastbound West Coast Highway at Jamboree will be closed during the boat parade in an effort to make Jamboree heading south the main feeder onto Balboa Island, Fischbacher said. The parade runs from 6:30 to about 9 p.m. each day.
Fischbacher suggested that people heading to the island leave early, plan their routes and carpool or use a ride-sharing service, if possible.
“Not everyone down there is going to the boat parade,” he said. “They have their appointments, and if you’re trying to get back on the island, it’s not too terribly fun.”
Still, he said he’s “guardedly optimistic” about the plan. “If it works, it’s going to be something that we’ll look forward to continuing in the future,” he said.
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IF YOU GO
What: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
When: 6:30 to about 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
Where: Newport Harbor
Cost: Free for spectators onshore. Parade-watching cruises and boat rentals also are available.
Grand marshal schedule
•Wednesday: Mickey Mouse, with fireworks over the Newport Pier at 6:15 p.m.
•Thursday: Local U.S. Olympians Misty May-Treanor, Kaleigh Gilchrist, Maddie Musselman, Courtney Mathewson and Merrill Moses
•Friday: Former “The Voice” contestants Nick Hagelin, Peyton Parker, Kylie Rothfield, Adam Wakefield, Will Champlin and Paxton Ingram
•Saturday: Local emergency first-responders
•Sunday: Members of the USC Trojan Marching Band, with fireworks over the Balboa Pier at 9:05 p.m.
Information: christmasboatparade.com
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
