Santa Monica driver destroys plastic bollards on 23rd Street bike lane

A driver recently destroyed plastic bollards on the 23rd Street bike lane in Santa Monica. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, August 9, was captured on video by a witness who reported that the driver fled the scene after noticing someone attempting to record the vehicle's license plate.

Bicycle advocates have used the incident to argue that while plastic bollards provide some separation between cyclists and motorists, they lack the durability of concrete barriers. Critics suggest that upgrading to more rigid low-plastic barriers, similar to those used in Barcelona or Culver City, could offer better protection and resistance to vehicle impact.

The 23rd Street protected bike lane was part of a city-wide effort to expand safe cycling routes, with the specific project between Ashland Avenue and Airport Avenue completed in December 2021.