The City of Santa Monica and the businesses operating in the beach-side community are committed to making activities and businesses inclusive to all guests. This includes making the beach accessible to everyone. There are several places in Santa Monica that rent beach wheelchairs by the hour so everyone can enjoy the sand and waves.
What is a beach wheelchair?
A beach wheelchair is similar to a regular wheelchair, but equipped with large, wide wheels that can roll across sand without sinking. Most are manual and require users to be accompanied by someone pushing them, although several California locations offer motorized chairs that can be self-propelled.
How much does it cost to rent a beach wheelchair?
Most beaches and businesses offer beach wheelchair rentals free of charge. You may be asked to leave a form of identification, such as a drivers license, for the rental. Most places rent beach wheelchairs in hourly increments.
Can I reserve a beach wheelchair?
Depending on the beach you’re visiting, you may be able to reserve a beach wheelchair ahead of time. Others are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is recommended you call the beach or business directly to check on availability before visiting. You can find a list of the state beaches that have beach wheelchair rentals available on the California Coastal Commission’s website.
Where can I rent a beach wheelchair in Santa Monica?
There are several places on or around the Santa Monica State Beach which offer beach wheelchair rental. It may be helpful to decide which section of the 3.5-mile long beach you’d like to visit before deciding where to rent a chair from. Closest to the Santa Monica Pier, Heal the Bay Aquarium offers a complimentary 2-hour beach wheelchair rental on Saturday and Sunday. Chairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9:30AM-2:30PM.
If you’re spending time north of the Pier, you can rent a beach wheelchair from the Annenberg Community Beach House. Several of the Perry’s Cafe locations that are both north and south of the Pier also offer beach wheelchairs. If you’re visiting solo, check for availability at Perry’s first since they have an electric wheelchair on site. If you continue further south, rentals are available at both the Venice Beach and Marina Beach Wheelchair Locker. For a more extensive list of available beach wheelchair rentals in Southern California, check out the City of Santa Monica’s website.
For more information about visiting Pacific Park with a mobility device, please visit https://pacpark.com/visit/guide-for-guests-with-disabilities/.
Feature image courtesy of Heal the Bay.