Subject: SMPD Bike Patrol

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Letter to the Editor, SMDP

From: Roger Swanson

SMPD Bike Patrol: Sunday Ride at the Beach?

On Sunday, November 14 at 1:35 PM, a friend and I rode behind two members of the SMPD Bike Patrol on the beach bike path south of the Pier. This was my first encounter with the Bike Patrol since moving to Santa Monica 12 years ago. In over 500 rides on the Santa Monica portion of the bike path, this was a first! So, I took some photos with my cellphone camera.
That’s the good news.
Now, the bad: The attached photos show the Bike Patrol completely ignoring the pedestrians on the beach bike path. In the background is a parallel, and separate, pedestrian walkway, the Beach Promenade. One must conclude that the inaction of the Bike Patrol means this portion of the bike path is a shared bikeway where pedestrians are allowed, according to the Santa Monica Municipal Code (Public Safety) 3.12.550 – Bike-path and beach promenade.
OK, shared bikeway.
SM MC 3.12.550 also says: “All persons riding bicycles on the bike-path shall comply with all lawful signs and directional markings, including, but not limited to, painted directional arrows, bike-path route boundaries, and signs designating permissible travel lanes.”
Did I miss the signage and the travel lanes?
Maybe a shared bikeway with poor signage?
On the other hand, if it is a true bike path, then CA Vehicle Code Section 21966 – Pedestrian in Bicycle Lane applies: “No pedestrian shall proceed along a bicycle path or lane where there is an adjacent adequate pedestrian facility.” As far as I can tell, there is an adjacent adequate pedestrian facility
So, which is it, 1) shared bikeway with poor signage, or 2) a bike path with pedestrians?

Now the irony: If riding bikes on sidewalks is a public safety issue (and prohibited by SM MC (Public Safety) 3.12.540 – Bicycle riding and coasting restricted), then why are pedestrians on a bike path not a public safety issue? The beach bike path looks like a sidewalk to me.
I really hope the Bike Patrol promoted public safety elsewhere on Sunday.

And here what appears to be the resulting article:
Equal treatment under the law

quote from the article:

“What we’re concerned about is the presence of a double standard, one that cannot stand. If the Santa Monica Police Department is going to be aggressive in ticketing bikers on sidewalks (which it should), officers should be equally vigilant about ticketing pedestrians on the bike path. On our ride we were behind two officers on bikes and watched as they failed to cite or even talk with pedestrians, this despite the fact that the path was packed with peds and their kids, some of whom were left unsupervised to swerve in opposing lanes. This would have been a perfect time to raise awareness that the bike path is for bicycles.

People need to be more responsible and respect the law, and that includes cyclists who fail to stop at stop signs or ride without lights at night. And the police department needs to stop the selective enforcement. City Hall needs to live up to its reputation as being bike and pedestrian friendly. Right now, the bike path is neither.“

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