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July, 1998
Proposal for a Santa Monica Safe Skating Program
By Mike Feinstein, Santa Monica City Councilmember
presented to the City Council, July 28, 1998
The City Council has given direction to city staff to develop a city-wide pedestrian
safety program. Skaters are legally-defined as pedestrians. The
numbers of skaters in our community is only increasing. Skaters
not only skate on the Promenade, but they skate city-wide.
Integrating a ‘how to skate safely in Santa Monica’ element into
the city-wide pedestrian safety program would both promote safe
skating and understanding on the Promenade, and would do the same
city-wide.
Such a ‘how to skate safely in Santa Monica’ program could include,
but not be limited to:
o Designing a brochure on ‘how to skate safely in Santa Monica’, including the particularly dense areas (Promenade, Pier, Ocean
Front Walk) where one needs to exercise extra caution. Such a
brochure could be handed out through a variety of venues.
o Including instruction on skating ettiquette and safety in official city functions like the Police Department’s Bicycle
Rodeo (skate brochure useful here)
o Including instruction on skating ettiquette and safety as part
of the school district’s physical education programs. (skate brochure
useful here)
o Including instruction on skating ettiquette and safety through
community organizations like the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club
(which has already indicated its interest). (skate brochure useful
here)
o Work with local skating stores to hand out the safe skating brochure during skate purchase and
rentals, to post this information in visible places in the stores
as well, and to talk to their customers about appropriate skating
etiquette in Santa Monica.
o Work with a professional skate patrol, as discussed in the staff report, (like the successful program
in Miami Beach) to talk to the skaters on the Promenade to let
them know proper skating etiquette there