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Home My WebLink About18 - Oceanfront Boardwalk Update - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Item No. 18 From: Rieff, Kim Sent: Monday, February 22, 20218:06 AM To: Mulvey, Jennifer Subject: FW: Balboa Boardwalk From: Evelyn Chidsey <emchidsey@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, February 21, 20216:12 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Balboa Boardwalk [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hello, I live on the peninsula and have been walking on the boardwalk for many years. It has become more and more unsafe as the years go on and now with the electric bikes, stand up and 2 -seated scooters it is getting even worse. I happened to talk to a policeman a few weeks ago and asked why the electric vehicles were allowed and he informed me that according to the city attorney's interpretation of the code, they weren't considered motorized. I am not sure how the code reads but if this is true it is pretty ridiculous as if someone isn't pedaling the bike and it is moving nonetheless, what is it if it isn't motorized? If I understand correctly my Chevy Bolt, which is electric and runs completely on batteries isn't motorized either and yet it gets me around town without having to pedal. Could I take an electric golf cart on the boardwalk and be legal? Either the code needs to be changed or the interpretation of the code needs to be reinterpreted, because the regular bikes are going plenty fast, not to mention all of the electric vehicles, and making walking on the boardwalk unsafe. I understand that the businesses that rent these electric vehicles will not be happy but I know many people will feel safer without them on the boardwalk. Hoping the city council will step up to the plate and do the right thing for both the residences and the tourists. As an aside, I see that "enforcement" is going to be one of the strategies used on the boardwalk. Unless there are consequences, I do not consider ambassadors telling people to "slow down" to be considered enforcement. This is a warning at best. As soon as the people are a little ways away, there is a good chance they will continue to weave in and out and go over the speed limit unless there are negative consequences. In my opinion, this is a waste of time and effort. This issue has been going on a long time, why is the city council hesitating when safety is an issue? Evelyn Chidsey, 123 E Edgewater Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Item No. 18 From: Rieff, Kim Sent: Monday, February 22, 20218:05 AM To: Mulvey, Jennifer Subject: FW: Item #18 Oceanfront Boardwalk Update From: Nancy Kreft <n.nancyk@verizon.net> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 20219:20 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Item #18 Oceanfront Boardwalk Update [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To All City Council Members, I agree with the plan to widen the Boardwalk for vehicle and pedestrian recreation. I live on 13th Street and would like to see the plan develop from the Newport Pier to the Balboa Pier. Respectively, Nancy Kreft Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Item No. 18 From: Rieff, Kim Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20217:14 AM To: Mulvey, Jennifer Subject: FW: Separating pedestrians & bicycles works in other cities, especially with simple intuitive pavement markings. From: craig morissette <craigmorissette@hotmail.com> Sent: Monday, February 22, 202111:46 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Cc: ddixon@dianedixonnb.com; Maureen Cotton, President of Pier -to -Pier <hello@mynewportbeach.org> Subject: Separating pedestrians & bicycles works in other cities, especially with simple intuitive pavement markings. [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members: -Ten-speed bikes, skateboards, surreys, Segways, electric skateboards, electric scooters, and electric bikes have made boardwalk safety an ever-changing challenge over the decades. Peninsula residents, collectively, have had thousands of close -calls and direct -hit collisions on the boardwalk. -Separating pedestrians & bicycles works in other cities, especially with simple intuitive pavement markings. There are many cities to learn from: Copenhagen, Barcelona, Vienna, Long Beach, and Portland, to name a few. -Roaming ambassadors may be hopelessly overwhelmed when summer day crowds arrive. The paths must speak for themselves. That said, friendly roaming enforcement is essential. -The summer boardwalk pedestrians -only idea is unworkable. It would force more bicycles onto 5ft Balboa Blvd sidewalks. Bikes on narrow peninsula sidewalks is already a plentiful and serious hazard—especially with faster electric bikes in the mix. Summer visitors don't think of, or know of, safer alternative alley routes. -Elderly, disabled, ....and skaters, skateboarders, baby strollers, and distracted walkers are all good reasons for no bumps of any kind! Visit the Fountain Valley Costco if in doubt. Some other perspectives on the challenge, if we're short on ideas. Vienna: https://theDer).unece.orL/sites/default/files/2017-05/Siizns and signals for cvclists and Dedestrians.odf Copenhagen: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/228196 Barcelona: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/cVcline- guidance/manual for the design of cyclepaths in catalonia.pdf Thanks for listening, and for your efforts to make the boardwalk safe. Craig Morissette (949)293-4621 Resident and Homeowner Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Mulvey, Jennifer Item No. 18 From: Rieff, Kim Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20213:45 PM To: Mulvey, Jennifer Subject: FW: Board walk rules -----Original Message ----- From: alan goatham <alangoatham@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20213:10 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Board walk rules [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. I tried out the new board walk rules. At 8mph some heavier bikes are harder to balance, at 12 mph they are much more stable. Pedestrians also walk three and four abreast blocking the path. Not all bikes have a speedometer and it's hard to gauge. People with speedometers we're running around 10 but bikes without knowing their speed would run up fast on the bikes running the correct speed and almost running into them. I'm sure the businesses that rent surreys and various forms of bikes are going to loose a lot of business and their livelihood. Another path just for bikes, skate boards, scooters and surreys might work. Venice beach and Santa Monica did that and it seems to work. You start banning bikes in the summer businesses will suffer and some will go under. I know you can count me out and I've been coming for 70 years. For now patrol it and give out warnings if it warrants till better solutions are found. Most likely the residents that wanted to the fire rings are some how connected to making this their private beach. I wish you luck as your going to have one hell of a summer trying to enforce all these new rules. I did like the couple stop signs on the path by the piers. If you collect enough 200 dollar fines put toward another path or widen what you have. It must be nice to have a wealth enough city that you don't need tourists to help support it. Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully make some well thought out solutions. Sent from my Whone Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Mulvey, Jennifer Item No. 18 From: City Clerk's Office Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20217:35 PM To: Mulvey, Jennifer; Rieff, Kim Subject: FW: Boardwalks From: Kathy Shaw Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20217:34:35 PM (UTC -08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: City Clerk's Office Subject: Boardwalks [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Why doesn't the city just enforce the rules that are already in place?? No electric vehicles are allowed. Hire an outside source, like you do for parking?? Just enforce the rules you have in place instead of making new rules!! We see electric vehicles and people speeding all the time. Sent from my iPhone To From Subject P i e r.. - i L Central Newport Beach Com munRyAssoc iation uwww.MyNewportB each-org PQ- Box $84 Newport Beach, CA 92661 Members of the Newport Beach City Council Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Item No. 18 Maureen Cotton, President Central Newport Beach Community Association Meeting of 2-23-21, Item #18 Oceanfront Boardwalk The Central Newport Beach Community Association, Pier To Pier, has been active in the topic of Boardwalk safety for many years. This is reflected in the Municipal Code sections referencing the Boardwalk. This is not a new problem. The arrival of electric motors to power bicycles, scooters, etc., has exacerbated safety problems. The population of Orange County and environs has increased substantially, impacting use of the Boardwalk. Members have indicated that all the laws they have helped to pass over the years are being neglected. The need for enforcement is needed now more than ever. The recommendations in this "receive and file" item are well intended, but no one expects that ambassadors will have a noticeable impact. Widening the Boardwalk has been proposed several times over the years (decades!) and has met with resistance. Perhaps, times have changed. Widening or separating the Boardwalk will take a long time to implement (i.e., public meetings, design, permitting, funding, construction). So, in the meantime, please initiate a discussion of how the City can step up enforcement of existing laws and regulations. This is needed NOW not later. Spring/summer are upon us. Sincerely, Maureen Cotton Received After Agenda Printed February 23, 2021 Mulvey, Jennifer Item No. 18 Subject: FW: Item #18 Oceanfront Boardwalk Update From: Rod Sudbeck <rsudbeck@hotmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 20218:35 PM To: Dept - City Council<CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Item #18 Oceanfront Boardwalk Update To All City Council Members, Why can't we do the same as Huntington Beach? Motorized vehicles, bikes including ebikes prohibited. They posted it on Instagram. 80 likes cityofhb HBPD has an important reminder about our beach paths, bike paths and sidewalks! Per the municipal code, motorized vehicles and bicycles, including e - bikes, are prohibited on our local beach paths and sidewalks, due to the speeds they are capable of traveling. Please work with us to enhance the safety of all our residents and visitors. Enjoy your day, Rod Sudbeck I