Brian,<P>The stairs are still barracaded off. In fact, they put these huge pieces of wood to try and stop people from using them - then people actually cut doors in the wood and painted pictures over them so you couldn't see the doors - then they got wise and replaced the wood. What a joke! It's amazing that they waste all this effort instead of just fixing them in the first place. I've been parking at Goleta Beach and walking out to the stairs. It takes me about 8 minutes to walk - not too bad and usually the current is moving the right direction to carry you right back to your car (of course you have to get out at Goleta Beach instead of near the stairs which usually has a larger surf).<P>Pete