Santa Monica Police Department Holding Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for December 15, 2023

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Police Department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

These extra enforcement efforts will take place on Friday, December 15, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

Pedestrians
· Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
· Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
· Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
· Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
· Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers
· Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
· Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
· Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists
· Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
· Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
· If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
· Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

The Palm Springs Surf Club announced will open its new wave pool in the Southern California desert to the public on Jan. 1, with reservations open now for the first of several artificial waves planned for Southewrn California.

You’ll need a reservation to surf at the Palm Springs Surf Club. An hour surfing session will cost $100 to $200 depending on a surfer’s skill level (on top of the $20 club admission fee). Board rental is also offered at an additional fee. Reservations can be made at palmspringssurfclub.com, with current availability starting on Jan. 7.

Intermediate waves will cost $150, with the first week already booked up hours after the opening announcement. Advanced, barreling waves will cost $200. Begginers will have to wait till spring, but for $100, the beginner waves will a Waikiki-style wave perfect for those who have never surfed before.



The Intermediate A-Frames are designed to offer a split peak experience which two surfers can ride in opposite directions on the same wave. There is a closeout section at the end which is intended to be there for a finishing maneuver. We throw 3 wave sets at 15 second intervals between waves with approximately one and a half minutes between sets.



Advanced A-Frames are not for the faint of heart. These slabby cylinders give surfers the option to pull in off the takeoff and come out in time to do one or two more turns if you are quick enough. The end section makes its presence known on these waves, its thick and powerful so bring all the power you can to it. Like the mellow A-Frames, stay in the pocket. These waves come in 3 wave sets with an 8 second interval between waves and approximately one and a half minutes between sets.

The video below shows waves recently being tested at the Palm Springs Surf Club. The lineup of surfers in the pool included Italo Ferriera, Parker Coffin, Jackson Dorian, Sierra Kerr, Josh Kerr, Caity Simmers, and many more heavy hitters.

From palmspringssurfclub.com.

From Nate.

The highlights from the awards ceremony for the 30th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon. Tonan takes the mic to announce the surf contest winners at the Sidewalk Cafe on the Venice Boardwalk.

Two firefighters were hospitalized Tuesday while battling an intense blaze that ripped through the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey.

Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters responded around 11:30 p.m. Monday to 4469 Admiralty Way where they found the club in flames, according to the fire department.

The firefighters were taken to a hospital in moderate condition, City News Service reported.

The fire department’s Arson Investigation Unit was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Fox 11.

The yacht club was founded in 1922 in Wilmington Harbor near San Pedro and the current facility in Marina del Rey was built in 1967, according to the club’s website.

Photos via VeniceIntel

December 08, 2023
Ocean Water Use Warning for Los Angeles County Beaches

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

On Saturday a vehicle plowed into some vendors on the Venice Boardwalk at Rose Ave. The driver was reportedly "under the influence" and arrested. It is unknown is there were any injuries.

A vehicle crashed into vendors on the Boardwalk at Rose Avenue in Venice Beach, CA. 12/09/2023 pic.twitter.com/zl1RnAvlOd

— WCoastSanta Monica (@WCoast_) December 10, 2023

Here's surfing photos from Saturday December 9th at the Venice Pier.

This set of surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by Jack's Surfboards.

These are just a few of the 40+ photos from this session. If you were out there, you probably got some surfing shots, probably multiple photos, they will be in the complete photo gallery for this day, check them out, the link to the complete gallery is down below.









You can find 40+ more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo gallery:

Venice Pier - Saturday 12-9-2023 Photos Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool surfing shots of you, go check them out!

Wanna see photos from previous days at this and other local surf spots from this photographer?
Click Surf Spot Galleries and look for the spot and then the date.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"In an unusual turn of events on Friday, December 8, 2023, a group of surfers at Venice Pier found themselves in a bind after accidentally locking their keys inside their car. Fortunately, Los Angeles Park Rangers, proficiently trained in handling such situations, came to their aid. Utilizing a slim jim, the rangers skillfully opened the car door, much to the surfers' relief. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the surfers offered to compensate the rangers for their help. However, in a heartwarming display of public service, the rangers declined any payment, stating that such assistance is part of their duty and comes at no cost. This act of kindness and professionalism highlights the diverse roles park rangers play in serving the community."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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