By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY — In an effort to create a positive connection between the city’s youth and its police officers, a local mother coordinated the inaugural OCNJ/OCPD Bike Out to show groups of bike riders and skateboarders are neither “gangs” nor “thugs.”
Sarah Gaddy worked with the Ocean City Police Department, city administration and Community Services Department to organize the event, which featured a bicycle safety demonstration and a skills competition, as well as free food and snacks and a chance to win a $1,000 SE Monster Ripper bicycle.
Gaddy, the mother of five children in the city, said she saw social media posts regarding dangerous and reckless behavior and that many of them were critical of the youngsters.
She attended a recent City Council meeting to voice her concerns. What grew from that first meeting was a community effort to cast the youth in a positive light while presenting an opportunity for them to meet with police officers in a friendly environment.
On Wednesday, May 12, nearly 75 local teens participated in the Bike Out in the Ocean City Civic Center parking lot at Fifth Street and the boardwalk.
Sgt. Jamie Fearnhead said the department wanted the children to be aware of the rules for biking in Ocean City, but at the same time to showcase their talents.
“What we found is these kids are actually kind of talented. It takes time for them to learn all of the tricks and stuff like that,” Fearnhead said. “So, we kind of wanted to focus on the bike safety and also for the community to see these kids are talented and that with some guidance we can get them to be able to do what they love and also be safe.”
Ptl. Jack Davis said a lot of the kids don’t know the traffic laws for bicycles are the same as for cars.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation about what’s going on between the department and the kids, and we just wanted to come together with the kids and teach about bicycle safety and have a fun event,” Davis said.
Gaddy was pleased with the turnout.
“Look at these kids — they’ve been cooped for a year and now we’re out like it’s normal. They’re expressing themselves, they’re relieving stress, they’re just being kids,” Gaddy said.
The event was open to Ocean City youth and included free food and prizes provided by local merchants.
“Look at all of the amazing people from police to councilmen, to people in the community just embracing this happiness and coming together,” Gaddy said. “Everybody’s donating. It’s been amazing to see all walks of life come together for one day and just really support each other.”
Ptl. Jen Elias said as part of the Community Policing Unit, she is often in the schools and knows a lot of the youth. Now that she has seen their talents, she said, she has another way to connect with them on a personal level.
Officers Jack Davis and Ben Bethea opened the event with a bicycle safety Q&A.
Davis told the participants that bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicle drivers and asked whether the chances of getting in an accident where greater on a bicycle or in a car.
Hands went up throughout the crowd, and the first to answer “bicycle” earned a gift card.
Davis said that’s because of low visibility, noting that’s why it’s important to ride on the correct side of the road.
Other questions dealt with the number of fatal accidents (twice as many on bikes) and the No. 1 factor in bicycle accidents becoming fatal — absence of a helmet.
Bethea said the most likely time of the year to get hit by a car is between 6 and 9 p.m. in July. With the size of the population during the summer, that fact is likely more pertinent in Ocean City.
In a random drawing, Jane Heng won the bicycle donated by Tuckahoe Bike Shop. She gave it to her older brother, Joseph Heng.
Skills contest winners were Calvin Gaddy Jr. for the longest wheelie and Travis Bickley for the best swerve.
Mayor Jay Gillian applauded the idea behind the event.
“I think we should do more of this. I hoped to see more parents here but it’s nice to see the kids. They need that trust factor. They need that guidance,” he said.
Gaddy said it was a true community event.
“We’re going to set our bar high for other towns — come together, be positive,” Gaddy said.
Local sponsors included:
— Tuckahoe Bike Shop (grand prize)
— 6th Street Pizza and Grill (pizza and soda for participants)
— 7th Street Surf Shop ($50 gift cards)
— JiLLy’s Stores (arcade play cards)
— City Councilmen Keith Hartzell and Jody Levchuk (T-shirts for participants)
— Fractured Prune (gift cards)
— Ocean City Police Benevolent Association (Wawa gift cards for safety quiz winners)
