A cool breeze and tightened parking restrictions kept the masses away from Lake Merritt on Saturday, as Oakland city officials worked to limit festive crowds that challenge physical distancing.
Police were instructing people not to park along the lake side of Lakeshore Avenue, but they were not issuing tickets or towing cars — something that would have been tough, because residents had removed many of the signs indicating that parking was not allowed.
“The city doesn’t want any parking along the lake, but when people rip the signs down it’s difficult to enforce,” said Sgt. Erik Kim. “We are trying to work out the kinks.”
Kim said the city still wants residents to enjoy the lake, but not gather in large groups, which he said was a problem last weekend. In addition to cracking down on lakeside parking, the city has temporarily banned the food trucks that normally line the lake on weekends.
Catalina Valencia-Moreno, who lives across the street from the lake, said that she had no problem with strict parking regulations but that residents also need the spots.
“There should be parking permits for residents,” she said. “A lot of people who live in our building park on the street. There isn’t enough parking in our building for tenants.”
Still, plenty of people were relaxing by the lake Saturday — biking, dog-walking, boxing, rollerblading, scooting, picnicking and playing conga drums. “Corona ambassadors” wearing bright orange shirts walked the lake, reminding folks of the public health protocols.
Roommates Sammy Consani and Hannah Suh, who live by the lake, were hanging with their dog, Nutella. They said people congregating by the lake were generally respectful of public health protocols.
“It’s been quieter without the food trucks,” Suh said. “Everybody is doing their social distancing. I keep my mask in my purse for when I’m close to people or at the farmers’ market.”
Suh said she is ready for a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy.
“I’m a social butterfly,” she said. “I haven’t seen my friends for a long time, but I guess there is not much we can do until they come up with a vaccine.”
There were some social-distancing problems in San Francisco Friday night.
Dozens of people standing shoulder to shoulder in front of two Marina district wine bars drew a visit and a warning from police.
Police were called to the 2300 block of Chestnut Street where they found “people not complying with the health ordinance” to maintain social distance and wear face masks, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a department spokesman.
The proprietors of the two bars, Howell’s and Cultivar, were “admonished” by officers, Andraychak said. It was the first time the establishments had been the subject of complaints, he added.
Photographs of dozens of unmasked young people crowded the sidewalk and street circulated on social media, drawing angry comments.
“So much for stay-at-home,” wrote one comment poster. “These thugs can’t be trusted to make the right decision.”
Nick Barker, the general manager of Cultivar, acknowledged his customers and others were violating pandemic rules when officers arrived. The crowd quickly broke up, he said.
“We support the police,” Barker said. “We’re thankful for their help. It’s hard to control a customer’s behavior once they purchase a (takeout) product from us and go back outside.”
Under the state’s temporary coronavirus rules, bars and restaurants are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages for takeout.
The management of Howell’s did not return calls seeking comment.
J.K. Dineen and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen, @SteveRubeSF
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