Ban on Free Wheeling

Skaters and boarders love navigating the challenging turf of Santa Monica’s popular Third Street Promenade. Until now, the wheeling passersby have been a common part of the eclectic crowd, weaving past tourists, shoppers and street musicians as they leap over street curbs and ride the edge of railings.

But come September, bicyclists, skateboarders and skaters will be banned from the bustling three-block-long Promenade in a move officials say is designed to protect pedestrian safety.

On Sunday, the mood was decidedly bummed among those on wheels gliding past the jacaranda trees and through the summer crowds.

“I’ve never had a collision,” said Joel Christian Fisher, 18, a Santa Monica skateboarder. “We have respect for people, and we get off and walk when it’s crowded. This is the only place we can go. All we want to do is ride our boards. We’re not hurting anybody.”

On Sept. 1, Fisher said, about 40 skaters plan to gather on the Promenade to protest the ban. “We don’t feel people who skate got enough notice they were voting on this,” he said.

Many said they felt the ban is part of an ongoing effort to drive young people from the Promenade.

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“It’s ridiculous,” said skateboarder Jeremy Frederick, 24, dejectedly shaking his head at the news. “It’s probably my fault. I come down here two or three times a week, and I don’t just skate. I jump over these [posts] and ride the rails. But I can stop on a dime.”

The Santa Monica City Council passed the ban on July 28 amid growing concern that the fast-moving skaters and cyclists pose a risk to those leisurely strolling down the walkway, including seniors and the disabled. Those who violate the law could be fined $50.

According to a city staff report, 40 claims have been filed against the city in the last five years for injuries involving bicycles or in-line skates citywide.

But Councilman Michael Feinstein, one of two council members who voted against the ban, said the city should have tried a safety education program and skater patrol before enacting the sweeping restrictions.

“We have an example right next door in Venice where skaters and pedestrians have coexisted well for 30 years,” said Feinstein, an avid in-line skater. “We had a chance to create that and more in Santa Monica. Essentially, we’re banning skaters, not just skating. You don’t ban a whole class of beings before you try a cooperative approach.”

On Sunday, many cyclists and skaters who learned of the ban were glum, saying a few reckless people had marred their reputation.

“No way,” groaned Marc Ngoho, 32, a modeling agent, as he sat on a bench next to his bike, drinking coffee and puffing a cigarette. “I bike down here to relax, to relieve pressure. I love coming down and riding. Who did something like that?

“They’ve taken away all the places for kids to go. Here’s a place for them to express themselves. There’s a good vibe. I’d rather they come out here instead of skating in an alley.”

Simi Valley resident Ian Hall, 14, and his cousin, Evan Lefwich, 15, spent most of Sunday morning skating up and down the Promenade, jumping curbs with dramatic leaps. They wove through the crowd with ease, waiting for a space in the traffic before executing fancy tricks.

“It’s not fair, because not all of us ride dangerously,” said Lefwich, on vacation from Dallas, Texas. “I like it here because the ground is nice and you can do jumps. Plus, there’s lots of people to show off for.” He grinned widely.

But some people praised the new ordinance, saying it was high time the city restricted the careening antics of fast-wheeling young riders.

“As a person who works out here, I can say the skateboarders are an annoyance,” said merchant Itay Yona, unpacking a jewelry cart on the Promenade. “They jump around, scaring people, and the street performers can’t perform without someone cutting in front of them. It’s kind of a relief they did something.”

Even some on wheels acknowledged the popular street walk, which is packed with people on the weekends, is a perilous spot for bikes and skates.

“You have a lot of kids out here, and when it’s cooking on a Saturday night, it can be dangerous,” said Cindy Ahlholm, 30, who biked from her Santa Monica home to the Promenade for a Sunday afternoon outing.

“It’s illegal now?” asked Santa Monica resident Brad Berling, 21, who was riding his bike down Third Street on his way to Barnes and Noble Bookstore. “It’s probably a good idea. A kid just jumped right in front of me, and I had to swerve to miss him.”

He’d start walking his bike, Berling said, when the ban went into effect.

But other wheel-bound riders weren’t as easily placated.

“This is the Promenade, where people come to skate, where people come to live,” Fisher said, shaking his head as he leaned on his skateboard. “It’s a great place, a street jungle. Where are we supposed to go now?”