The beach strip along the Boca del Rio Area is about to undergo a thorough restoration, restricting vehicular traffic and making the sandy stretch more family friendly and attractive to locals and visitors. The restoration project is spearheaded by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) to address the congestion of traffic in the area and reclaim the beach that is slowly eroding. Businesses in the area welcome the initiative, but some are concerned about adequate parking for their customers, as the beach project will prohibit parking once it is complete.

The restoration efforts began on Friday, January 17t and throughout the weekend SPTC employees were observed planting coconut trees in the middle of the beach road from in front of Sandbar Restaurant to near the detour at the San Pedro High School. The coconut trees are supported by short stumps, creating a two-way lane. The project has received the blessing by many of the residents living in the area. They believe it will ensure a safe environment for children and adults, and that the island will once again have a proper beach front. They are optimistic that it will not affect businesses and that eventually people will see the benefit of leaving their vehicles at home and instead walk or bike to the beach or take a cab. “People do not like changes, but I think this one is for the better, and everyone should be happy about it,” one resident said.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

Some clarification on the set up in Boca Del Rio.

As part of the San Pedro Town Council’s Beach Reclamation Project, the SPTC introduces Phase 1 to the general public which will take effect on Monday, March 15th, 2020.

PHASE 1 of the project will include new traffic regulations for Boca del Rio Drive between the sections from Sand Piper Street and Spider Lily Street. A portion of the beach has been reserved for ONE-WAY golf cart traffic passage and parallel parking for one golf cart on the east side of the street.

In order to allow the flow of traffic, the San Pedro Town Council is asking all residents and business owners to kindly clear the street in front of their property which includes relocating your garbage container inside your own property.



The San Pedro Town Council encourages everyone to begin practicing the new traffic regulations so that everyone (residents, tourists and children) can enjoy.



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SPTC announces first phase of beach reclamation project at Boca del Rio

A project that will see a much needed rehabilitation of the Boca del Rio beach strip is set to commence on March 15, 2020. The area is popular with beach bars and restaurants, but lack a proper beach and the constant vehicular traffic has made the area less family- friendly, and has contributed to its ongoing erosion. To address the matter, the initial phase of the project aims at implementing new traffic regulations between Sand Piper and Spider Lily Streets, next to the San Pedro High School (SPHS).

Phase one of the project includes new traffic regulations between San Piper Street on the beachside, from in front of Sandbar Beachfront Hostel and Restaurant, to the detour towards SPHS. A portion of this route will be reserved for ‘One-Way’ golf cart traffic only, while parallel parking for carts will be allowed on the east side of this section of the beach. The SPTC is asking residents and business owners in the area to kindly clear the area in front of their properties, including the moving of their garbage containers to their properties.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

It appears that parking parallel to the beach will halve the number of current parking spots in this location.

Half? That's generous. We walked down to Palapa Bar last night. There was no entertainment or special incentive to bring people to the area. There were a minimum of 60 golf carts parked on the beach between Blue Tang and Nu Palm. There is no possible way that this regulation is going to work unless there is a designated off beach parking lot. ...and I will add, during our walk we were passed by dozens upon dozens of golf carts, run off into the water by a reckless speeding cart , drunkenly apologized to as I was clipped by a mirror, and told to f off when we suggested to a Jeep driver that it was not safe to park on the east side in front of Oasis. Boca del Rio has gone to hell and, personally, due to the sheer number of carts and bad planning by the town, I don't think there is any way to save it.

There are many ways to change things and "save" areas - but it will take some planning and cooperation. How many places have you been where only trams or pedestrian traffic is the only option? Yeah, it sucks to think that may have to happen here - but that is "progress" and likely to occur here too.

I don't think it sucks at all! We don't have nor have we ever had a golf cart for more than a day trip. We walk or ride bikes (rarely for me anymore; the traffic is too crazy) everywhere. If Boca del Rio was a pedestrian only area we would absolutely love it. If there was tram service (although we have no mobility issues and don't need it for now) we would enthusiastically welcome it.

But the golf cart genie is out of the bottle. Does anyone know how many are on the island? Thousands? Tens of thousands? So the question remains...when north and south people (and townspeople who don't/can't walk) come to Boca del Rio with even a small percentage those carts for food, drink, entertainment, a day at the beach, etc. where do they park? And how do you change visitor's thinking that carts are dune buggies/toys for joy riding, that drinking and driving is funny, and (especially on the beach) that the rules of the road don't apply?