SANTA MONICA — Special motorized beach wheelchairs are now available at Santa Monica State Beach, as of Monday, October 21.
In a press release from the city of Santa Monica, these motorized wheelchairs give users the ability to cover their own ground at a much faster clip. Like the manual version that has been available for years, the larger-than-usual wheels keep the device from sinking in the sand and allows it to move with relative ease.
The motorized beach wheelchair was designed and built by Hank Weseman, Jr., who suffered severe trauma from a brain-stem injury after a speedboat accident.
“I designed the Beach Cruzr for all of us, taking independence and ability one step further,” said Weseman.
On his website, where he sells a whole line of similar products, he states that the Beach Cruzr was “designed by the disabled for the disabled.”
Both manual and motorized wheelchairs are available to use at no charge, but they are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents can find them at two Perry’s Cafe locations during its business hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter. They are also reminded to leave a personal ID and credit card when borrowing the wheelchairs.
For additional questions regarding the wheelchairs, the Perry’s Cafe located at 1200 Ocean Front Walk can be reached at 310-458-3974. To contact the location at 2400 Ocean Front Walk call 310-452-2399.
