55 °F Ocean City, US
March 17, 2025

City Council may ban e-bikes from boardwalk

OCEAN CITY – An ordinance up for a vote before Ocean City Council Thursday would ban low-speed electric bicycles from the boardwalk.

“No person shall operate or use a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle or low-speed scooter on the boardwalk or boardwalk ramps at any time,” reads ordinance 23-19. 

Citizens have appeared before council during the public comment section in recent months asking the city to ban the electric bikes because they pose a hazard when they speed along the busy boardwalk. That complaint has been aired before.

All bicycles are allowed on the boardwalk until noon, but are prohibited after that because of how busy the boardwalk gets with foot traffic, especially during the tourist season.

The ordinance notes that “Ocean City prides itself on being a bicycle-friendly community, a leader in the State of New Jersey ‘Know the Rules of the Road!’ Bike Safety Law and a proponent of safe bike paths designed and maintained for the use and enjoyment of bikers of all ages and abilities.”

It goes on to read that the boardwalk, West Avenue route and north-south bike path “are among the most important and frequently utilized bike paths enjoyed by bicyclists in the city;” but this change is for safety.

“The recent increase in the number of low-speed electric bicycles on the city’s crowded bike paths, including the Boardwalk, have raised concerns about public safety,” according to the ordinance. It notes with the other bike routes, riders will still have “ample safe spaces” to ride other than the boardwalk.

This will be the first reading and introduction of the ordinance. If council approves it, it would come back for a second reading and public hearing at a subsequent meeting.

By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff

Related articles

Atlantic City mayor, wife charged with endangering welfare of daughter

ATLANTIC CITY – On Monday, April 15, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr., 50, and his wife, La’Quetta Small, 47, of Atlantic City, were both charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Marty Small, Sr. was additionally charged with third-degree terroristic threats, third-degree aggravated assault, and disorderly persons simple assault.  La’Quetta Small was […]

Mercantile licenses allowed for prohibited kennel uses in Ocean City

Change comes after discussion of puppy mills; any use would require unlikely variance OCEAN CITY — City Council approved an ordinance Jan. 23 that would allow the city to issue mercantile licenses for various kennel uses on the island, however unlikely that is because all of the uses are prohibited. After a discussion, council voted […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *