Tuesday, May 11-- One of the city's most popular bike paths - a half-mile stretch between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street on the beach -- reopened Monday with six more feet of elbow room.

The new 20-foot-wide concrete path replaces the 14-foot path and adds blue colored concrete bands to mark "landing areas" and pedestrian crossings. A six-foot wide path is marked temporarily so walkers and joggers can safely detour around the construction zone on Ocean Front Walk

Beach access and connections to the path will be provided at the following key points:

· Just south of the pier.
· At the Spokes 'N Stuff bike shop near the Loew's Hotel.
· At Pico Blvd.

Once construction of the Chess Park, Muscle Beach and the Ocean Front Walk improvements is completed later this summer, pedestrians will be directed to the new walking path.