Newport Beach to consider revision to city’s ‘Oceanfront Boardwalk Safety Program’

Residents are elevating considerations about security on the boardwalk, pointing to rushing cyclists, skate boarders, electrical bikes and scooters — a difficulty that the Newport Seaside Metropolis Council will take up at Tuesday’s council assembly.

The boardwalk spans about 3 miles from E Road to thirty sixth Road, offering a pathway for pedestrians and cyclists between Balboa Pier and Newport Pier. Security on the boardwalk was introduced up in the course of the Metropolis Council’s Feb. 11 study session with public remark focusing mainly on the proliferation of electrical bicycles. Metropolis workers stated a lot of the considerations had been associated to hurry.

Others, in assist of electrical bikes, stated that such units improve mobility and permits them to journey the peninsula with out vehicles.

The quickest class of e-bikes is already prohibited from the slim path, together with surreys, motorized scooters and skateboards, however like surreys, electrical bikes can be found for renting at Newport’s many tourist-serving seaside bike outlets.

Up for consideration Tuesday is an ordinance to amend present metropolis code — the “Oceanfront Boardwalk Safety Program” — that can replace language and definitions to incorporate new and foreseeable modes of transportation and improve most fines for violations of boardwalk rules from $50 to $200.

A workers report ready for Tuesday’s assembly additionally opinions signage and regulatory measures already carried out, together with alternative of light, broken and lacking indicators and radar pace suggestions indicators. The pace restrict on the boardwalk is 8 mph.

Nonetheless pending are revision of text-based indicators to symbol-styled indicators and the potential addition of speed-calming units reminiscent of rumble strips, that are at present present process a pilot program at three places alongside the Castaways Park path till the tip of the yr.

If accredited, the ordinance will likely be handed to a second studying and adoption on the Metropolis Council’s Oct. 13 assembly.

Metropolis workers can also be looking for course on whether or not or to not carry again a code revision merchandise that may prohibit some or all motorized transportation units and/or if dialogue on such a risk needs to be tabled to see if elevated signage, fines for violations and potential pace calming measures have any impact.

Tuesday’s council assembly will start at 5 p.m. and will be seen on NBTV or streamed on-line at newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/public-information-office/nbtv/nbtv-live. Telephone numbers will likely be listed on-screen in the course of the assembly for residents to name in and touch upon particular agenda objects. Solely 20 individuals will be on maintain at one time.

Members of the general public are additionally inspired to submit feedback to the town clerk at cityclerk@newportbeachca.gov by 5 p.m. on Sept. 21.

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