Portion of Rodeo Drive may be closed to cars

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Would “Rodeo Promenade” have the same ring?

The Beverly Hills City Council could in the next month consider whether it’s time to take the “drive” out of world-famous Rodeo Drive – at least on the block between Wilshire Boulevard and Dayton Way – and turn it into a pedestrian-only zone.

Beverly Hills Vice Mayor Jimmy Delshad wants the city to study the feasibility of banning Mercedes-Benzes, Ferraris, Rolls-Royces and Porsches (and lesser vehicles) from the 200 block. They would still have the run, or the roar, of the 300 and 400 blocks of the elite, petite street.

Delshad said he planned to study foot-traffic zones in cities such as Paris and Cannes “with high-class areas” and discuss the idea with many people before proceeding.

But would Rodeo lose some of its luster if the fancy cars disappeared?

Fred Hayman, who has spent decades promoting Rodeo, thinks so.

“I don’t think the street should be closed,” he said. “Exotic cars are part of the attraction of California.”

Others had their own concerns.

“It’d be a nightmare,” said Gillian Cohen, a Rodeo regular shopping at Ralph Lauren on Thursday afternoon. “I think it will have benches and bring homeless people around. They’ll sit, and people will start playing music.”

The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce has yet to take a position.