Signs instruct motorists to back in to the newly installed parking spaces along East Cabrillo Boulevard by the East Beach vollyeball courts and picnic area. In addition to the new parking requirements, the city has restriped the roadway to two lanes from four. 
Jerad Wachtmann, talking with a friend at his birthday party Sunday at East Beach, says he likes the newly installed reverse-angled parking nearby — and the elimination of the chain-link fence. Another friend, Kyle Brekke, at left, was less impressed. 
Abraham Phillips says he appreciates the new angled parking because it’s safer and makes it easier to unload and load beach gear at the picnic area.
It’s the urban craze sweeping cities across the nation. And now it’s come to Santa Barbara.
The American Riviera has traded parallel parking for reverse-angled parking along East Cabrillo Boulevard in front of the East Beach volleyball courts.
The city restriped the four-lane street into two lanes to create back-in parking on the eastbound side, adding about 25 spaces, and making it easier for people to unload their gear directly from their trunks to the picnic tables and beach area. The restriping project is expected to cost about $75,000.
An estimated 10,200 people travel through the intersection of East Cabrillo Boulevard and Niños Drive daily, according to the city. It’s been a couple of weeks since the transition and so far, so good — for most of the people Noozhawk came across on a recent visit.
“I come here about every other weekend,” said Jerad Wachtmann, who was celebrating his 35th birthday with friends. “It’s really good that they have done this. It’s really functional.”
He noted that the city also removed the low chain-link fence between the street and the picnic area so there is no longer a barrier to the beach.
Over the weekend, motorists for the most part figured out how to park without much trouble.
Previously, when the parallel parking spaces were full, some motorists would double-park to unload, idling in the bike lane and forcing other drivers to swerve into the inside lane. The elimination of the outside lane also eliminated that risky maneuver since East Cabrillo Boulevard is no longer four lanes east of Niños Drive.
If there are no parking spaces to back into, however, it’s not terribly easy to adjust. Drivers must continue east to the Santa Barbara Cemetery to turn around at Los Patos Way and then circle all the way back to Niños Drive.
Some beachgoers were appreciative of the change.
“It opened up more parking spots,” said Abraham Phillips, who was returning to his car after a few hours at the beach. “There are also less people making U-turns.”
He, too, liked the removal of the fence because it means he can get to the beach quicker and not have to walk to find an opening.
“For me, it’s good,” said Ventura resident Gilbert Medina, who was spending the day at the beach with his wife and two daughters. “It’s a lot easier coming out.”
Not everyone was pleased with the reverse-angled parking.
“I think it’s a pain in the ass,” Kyle Brekke exclaimed.
He said he’s worried about cars backing up waiting for a space. As a bicyclist who rides to the beach a couple of times a week, he’s also concerned about cars pulling out face-forward and colliding with cyclists.
“It was good the way it was before,” he said.
The change in parking is part of the city’s Vision Zero program, which vows “to end severe or fatal transportation-related injuries in Santa Barbara by 2030.” In the nine-year period between 2008 and 2017, city officials say there were 43 collisions on that stretch of roadway, including one fatality.
City Councilman Jason Dominguez said he supports the change so far, but noted that if collisions increase or other problems occur, the city will make changes.
“It looks like it is working,” he said.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.