Life Far From Tranquil On Ocean Shores' Beach

BECAUSE THE BEACH is a state thoroughfare, vehicles of all shapes and sizes are allowed, making strolling along the sands a perilous adventure. And we haven't mentioned the ocean - with its heavy surf and unpredictable undercurrents.

OCEAN SHORES, Grays Harbor County - For those in search of adventure, Washington offers plenty of options: Climbing Mount Rainier, rafting down the Skykomish River, or dodging the grain barges while windsurfing the Columbia River.

But for a truly harrowing experience, try lying on the beach in Ocean Shores, where motor homes, sport-utility vehicles, the occasional truck driven by guys cruising for girls, low-slung beach bikes, mopeds, horses, joggers, kite fliers and the rare sunbather all share a patch of sand state law defines as a public thoroughfare.

And we haven't even mentioned the Pacific Ocean, with its bone-chilling temperatures and heavy surf that creates troughs and unpredictable undercurrents.

"We don't suggest children swim in the ocean," says Paul Malmberg, who manages the southwest region of the state Parks and Recreation Commission. "We don't suggest that anyone swim in the ocean. It is not a friendly place."

To be sure, Ocean Shores can be a ton of fun on warm, sunny days that live up to Chamber of Commerce hype. Blasting down the beach on a dune buggy or moped at 50 mph is an absolute hoot, and when the beach gets hot, the ocean beckons.

But the July 9th weekend's injury toll was all too typical,

according to local officials. The rugged waters claimed the life of 40-year-old Mike Miller, who drowned while attempting to rescue his three sons.

By the time the Coast Guard search was called off for Miller late that Sunday, the weekend toll included three near-drownings, one hamstring tear suffered by a man struck while making a U-turn on his moped, and five other injuries that required a response from fire department aid crews.

"This year has been very busy, and (that) weekend was pretty typical," says Ocean Shores police Detective David McManus. "Drownings aren't normal, but surf search and rescues are. Since the beginning of last month, we've had at least one search and rescue each weekend."

Grays Harbor County Prosecutor Steward Menefee says: "On a beautiful day, pedestrians are in danger. Every summer, we have an accident or two out there where someone is killed or seriously injured."

Indeed, traffic hazards are a unique feature of the major ocean beaches managed by the Parks and Recreation Commission - North Beach near Ocean Shores, South Beach near Westport and Long Beach near the town of Long Beach.

Since the state was settled, people have driven on its ocean beaches. Because the forests were so impenetrable, ocean communities and resorts were once served by suppliers who could only get there by driving on the shore. That established a tradition of beach driving that continued, unabated, until 1988, when the state Legislature required that at least 40 percent of each of the ocean beaches be closed to vehicular traffic.

Under protest, local communities complied with the law. Since 1966, the beaches have been state property managed by the parks commission and patrolled by law-enforcement officials.

The state's rules of the road apply, and the speed limit is 25 mph.

To be sure, there are places on all three of the beaches where drivers and pedestrians don't compete for turf, and where beach driving doesn't present a threat.

Parks officials estimate the three ocean beaches attracted 23 million visitors last year.

Ocean Shores, in particular, has been undergoing a renaissance. Two big convention hotels have opened in recent years, two other hotels have been enlarged and modernized, and two hotels are on the drawing boards. State Department of Transportation records indicate the number of vehicles entering Ocean Shores has increased steadily, rising to about 3 million in 1998.

And what is there for all those visitors to do? Not much that doesn't involve the beach.

Given the amount of activity, which includes underage tots driving motorbikes, some officials are amazed more people aren't hurt. According to police, there has never been an accident involving the so-called "Fun Cycles" - low-slung, four-wheel beach bikes that sit a couple of feet off the ground and are visible only by a bright orange pennant.

"You'd think they'd get run over a lot, and when they first came here we thought, uh-oh," said McManus. "But we've never had an accident with one yet."

"The rules of the road apply out there, as much as they can," said McManus. "Of course, there's no lanes. You kinda make it up out there as you go."

In an effort to keep things in check, Ocean Shores police patrol the beach, mostly in search of drunks and underage drivers whose parents have rented mopeds and then handed them the keys. Get caught doing that and the penalties can be steep.

"It's a traffic crime for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle," said McManus. "It's both an infraction and a criminal charge. And if an underage driver gets cited, it could be that they can't get a license until they're 18."

Robert T. Nelson's phone message number is 206-464-2996. His e-mail address is rnelson@seattletimes.com