Throwing A Fit Over Getting Fit

(CBS)  "I don't think this is right," said Jim Birch, a music executive, while getting arrested in Santa Monica.

The cops have finally caught up with Birch. He's been on the "run" for years.

That is, running and exercising, in one of the most popular fitness destinations in the United States. CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy has the story.

You see, Birch is the push-up bandit.

"Do you have ID?" asked the police officer.

"I do," said Birch. "This is ridiculous."

Perhaps. But in Santa Monica they did ask nicely, that Birch and hundreds of others stop using this multimillion-dollar neighborhood as their outdoor gym.

One annoyed neighbor documented the recent crowds - complete with a massage table set up on the boulevard median.

And the problem there is growing, one step at a time.

"In about an hour there will be about 100 people here," complained one resident.

They come from miles away for 172 reasons. One exercising offender said there's a particular site that attracts him to the area, "Steps in Santa Monica. Can't beat that."

It's a set of stairs, considered to be one of the best workouts in one of the best settings in the country.

"Yeah, I'm dying right now," said someone who had just completed a rigorous stair workout.

"Sensational," and "It's a blessing, man," said two others.

But this stairway to heart-rate heaven has become hell for neighbors such as Tom Baker.

His driveway passes over a landing on the stairway. But he can't always exercise his right of way.

"I am in my own driveway and people are pounding on the hood of my car," said Baker.

"Saying get out of our way?" asked Tracy.

Baker simply replied, "Yes."

The stairs were installed in the 1920's so the kids who lived up top could get to the school down below. But about 15 years ago it became an exercise destination, and now on any given weekend 1,500 people come here to work out.

"That is a safety issue not an elitism issue," said another resident.

Elaine Culotti wants to muscle out the growing number of personal trainers who use the stairs to make money while making her neighborhood more crowded.

"It is a bit like Disneyland," said Culotti. "Seriously, it is like that."

Most of the neighbors don't want the stairs shut down. They do want the city to limit access to certain hours of the day and ban the trainers.

The fitness fanatics are addicted. "It's like a drug out here," one said.

So it could come down to the survival of the fittest.

[harbinger09]

Wow- i can see the inconvenience for the people who live here but come on- with the number of morbidly obese people who live in the US we should be TRYING to get people to exercise MORE not less.
I''m not saying it''s right to overrun a residential neighborhood at all, but maybe we could, oh I dunno, work together to come up with a better solution instead of bashing people for wanting to be fit!

Posted by ka_ree4 at 08:58 AM : Feb 20, 2009


No one is knocking the exercisers. I exercise almost daily myself (rest on Sundays) but I take my azz to a public park or trails for my running/biking/walking and for aerobics at home or to a gym and when I want to climb, I go to a rock climbing studio.

The key is consideration: you can do your own thing BUT no one's "thing" is so sacred that it gives them the right to disregard and run over others.

All the stair climbers and runners should get together--pool resources and put up a pair of exercise bleachers or climbing platforms--why ANYONE would think they have the right to convert another persons neighborhood into their gym is the height of self centeredness and ignorance.

Exercise all they want--but stop doing it in other people's neighborhood --esp if they don't want you there!!!

[ka_ree4]

Wow- i can see the inconvenience for the people who live here but come on- with the number of morbidly obese people who live in the US we should be TRYING to get people to exercise MORE not less.
I'm not saying it's right to overrun a residential neighborhood at all, but maybe we could, oh I dunno, work together to come up with a better solution instead of bashing people for wanting to be fit!

[lila356]

Why don't they build a set of stairs to nowhere, just for runners, away from the residential areas? It could be cool. They also need to separate the walkers/runners/skaters from the bikers on the bike path. It's way too dangerous for everyone one the same path, especially on the weekends.

[harbinger09]

Elaine Culotti wants to muscle out the growing number of personal trainers who use the stairs to make money while making her neighborhood more crowded.
It is a bit like Disneyland,%u201D said Culotti. %u201CSeriously, it is like that."

Most of the neighbors don't want the stairs shut down. They do want the city to limit access to certain hours of the day and ban the trainers.

The fitness fanatics are addicted. "It%u2019s like a drug out here," one said."

Who pays for repair of the treated lumber, etc due to wear and tear? Do the exercisers pay anything?

Here's an idea from the states to the east: incorporate those stairs into the buildings. That's right--put a roof over them and a wall on the outside part of them. then make the buildings secure/buzz in only with a lock and key. Keep it lighted, so the kids in the building can still use it--but the only way exercisers will be able to get in, is if someone with a key let's them in or someone buzzes them in--since SM is a ritzy area, you can also have security at the door, confirming who is being let in and who is letting them in--this cuts out most sympathizers and gate crashers. When unknowns are let in, call the police--also, rewrite all HOA rules and state that infractions by owners to let people in that they are not personally with--is a violation, make them pay fines and ultimately have to move if they don't stop.

Problem solved.

[harbinger09]

The neighbors who have issues are the ones that have moved here in the last 15 years. They knew it was a workout haven when they bought their property. It comes with the territory.

Posted by smyoungstr at 01:19 PM : Feb 19, 2009


Do all the exercisers have an easement or adverse possession judgment in their favor? If not--just because something is used a certain way, does not mean it has to continue. If those exercisers do not pay the property taxes for that land, nor in anyway contribute to the upkeep of stairs, boardwalks, lawns or other property, they should stay the fvck away and keep off. Arrest them all, charge 1000.00 fines then give the money to the local HOA so they can put it in a fund for upkeep of those "public" areas.

[harbinger09]

How incredibly selfish. They should send all of the muggers, thieves, drug addicts, and homeless people to their neighborhood. Maybe they''d like that better.

Posted by mswolfestock at 10:03 AM : Feb 19, 2009


You fvcking, self serving stupid AZZ!!! How do you know that some of those supposed exercisers in other people's neighborhoods are not already muggers, thieves, drug addicts, murderers, etc? That little 'practice' is a nightmare and a tragedy waiting to happen. Stop being so self serving that you think what is yours is yours and what belongs to everyone else--should be yours. That is a looter mentality.

[harbinger09]

Ban them all. At first I was on the side of the exercisers, but I know from experience that when allowed access, people soon lose perspective and think it is a 'right'. Here's the deal, if most of us would not like 1500 people running through our yards, or down our streets or over our own stairs, then we have no right to impose that on others--perhaps it is time to make a central courtyard, w/ keys and locks and keep the unwanted/uninvited visitors out.

And the locals are lying by trying not to appear elitist--they probably ALL DO want the strangers off their property and out of their neighborhood--honestly, wouldn't most of us want the same?

With so many strangers always on site, it is only a matter of time, before a serial murder or molestation occurs--the locals can't tell the people who should be there from those who just "pop in to exercise" and then pop out. Keep them all out---let them exercise on all of those public beaches--running in the sand is a great exerciser--even better when you have to zigzag around about a million bodies. (obstacle course)

[smyoungstr]

The neighbors who have issues are the ones that have moved here in the last 15 years. They knew it was a workout haven when they bought their property. It comes with the territory.

[youngstaa]

Selfish?!? You can't be serious... if that's how you feel mswolf, feel free to invite people into your yard or home.

[boarderdiver]

Just goes to show how few people have any consideration for anyone but themselves. Let them use their own streets. I bet a couple jars of marbles from the top of the steps would make their "workout " more intersesting.