State Street success leads to more safety measures

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Closing State Street to cars has been a success. City officials are pleased with the business it's created and customers say they'd like to see the changes become permanent.

Santa Barbara reverted State Street into a pedestrian promenade in May to allow more space for restaurants to serve customers. With more people heading downtown, officials are adding more restrictions to make it safer for everyone.

According to the city and county guidelines for physical distancing:

• Restaurants are allowed to use the sidewalk in front of their business and go into the street
• Tables must be placed so that customers remain six feet away from another customer at a different table
• Face covering are strongly encouraged for those walking in the street our inside a business
• Face covering can be taken off while seated at a table to eat or drink
• Restaurants that have set up tables on State Street's street must keep a 14 foot distance from the business across from them to allow emergency vehicle to have access to the street
• Bicycles may ride their bikes, but can only go five miles per hour or slow and they cannot do any trick riding like doing wheelies.