SOMERS POINT — Following extensive debate, City Council voted Nov. 13 to amend its proposed ban on E-bikes to prohibit only the fastest of the popular vehicles from the bike path and other city-owned property.
There are three classes of the vehicles. Class 1 are pedal-assisted and can reach a maximum speed of 20 mph. Class 2 have both pedal-assist and a throttle with a maximum speed of 20 mph. Class 3 have pedal-assist up to 28 mph and throttle up to 20 mph but are legally treated like motorized bicycles. Riders must be at least 15 years old, wear a helmet and have a license, registration and insurance.
Hoping to boost the safety of people using the bike path, which stretches along former railroad tracks from Somers Point north through the neighboring communities, City Council voted unanimously Sept. 25 to introduce rules restricting use of electric vehicles.
On Oct. 9, Councilwoman Janice Johnston said she felt more research needed to be done before imposing the restrictions and council voted to table the ordinance.
Councilman Sean McGuigan made a motion Nov. 13 to move forward and council voted 4-3 to do so, with Johnston, Councilman Rick DePamphilis and Councilman Kirk Gerety voting no.
During public comment, city resident and E-bike owner Jim Oswald again spoke out against the ban, suggesting instead the city needs to educate youth on proper operation and enforce rules, particularly regarding the use of helmets and riding double.
“If you really are concerned about safety, you need to address enforcement with real consequences,” he said. “Without enforcement, this seems like hope instead of reality.”
Oswald said helmet laws have been on the books for years but questioned whether they ever have been enforced.
“It seems like lip service without clear consequences,” he said. “You need to have something in place to take a real bite to those who will not comply.”
He said the ordinance may not be perfect but the city has to start somewhere.
“I personally commend you for addressing the issue that has been building and realize this is the first step. You cannot solve a problem without trying — we all know that. You’ve got to try. No action is not an option,” he said.
City resident Wendy Vacca, who also owns an E-bike, said she has seven grandchildren who ride regular bicycles and that she uses her E-bike “to keep up with them.”
“I think E-bikes give certain people an opportunity to go further and do things, but I do understand that safety is a main concern,” she said.
Vacca said forcing youth riders off the bike path and onto city streets is not safe.
“I think it’s better trying to make rules for them to ride than to push them off onto the street,” she said.
Johnston said she is against forcing riders off the bike path, noting it runs through the city, Linwood and Northfield to the north.
“I think it’s unsafe to make children ride on the streets,” Johnston added. “That’s not safety to me.”
Linwood passed regulations allowing only Class 1 and Class 2 types on its portion of the bike path, setting a speed limit of 10 mph.
Johnston said she has received a lot of telephone calls from senior citizens who said the bike path is a safe place for them to ride their E-bikes.
“I agree there has to be some rules and there has to be some enforcement for people that are breaking the rules, but I think you are punishing law-abiding citizens that want to ride their bikes with their grandchildren on the bike path,” Johnston said. “This ordinance as written does not make any sense to me.”
McGuigan said he did a lot of research and had received numerous calls from senior citizens as well as younger residents who want to keep all E-bikes off the bike path.
“It’s really designed for regular bikes and pedestrians,” he said, noting the city is adding exercise stations along its length.
“To me, it’s not the right mix. We are asking people, pedestrians and so forth, to get out there, get exercise and then we’re putting these rather souped-up E-bikes — and we’ve all seen how they are being driven. I just think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Councilman Mike Owen said it would not be easy to differentiate among the three types while they pass by at 20 mph.
“We have senior citizens that walk the bike path, new couples with baby strollers on the bike path. We are talking about public safety in a town with 11,000 residents, and I want everybody to be safe at the end of the day when they go home and not get smacked by somebody,” he said.
Gerety said he would like to impose the same rules as Linwood so that riders returning from Mainland Regional High School would not have to leave the path when they reach the border.
He said that would force them onto Shore Road or New Road, noting by law they are prohibited from riding on the sidewalks.
Gerety said state statute requires the vehicles to have a sticker indicating their class and that the city is supposed to get E-bikes, train police officers to ride them and have an outreach program with youth.
“We’ve got to move forward with that,” he said.
DePamphilis said enforcement is the key.
“Rules without any teeth aren’t worth the paper they are written on, and this may be one of those cases,” he said, noting he is in favor of doing something.
“We cannot just sit here and wait for something to happen,” he said.
City Council President Charlie Haberkorn argued that prohibiting only one class would make it more difficult to enforce.
“When we start splitting hairs — we are putting enough pressure on police. They are never going to be able to do it,” he said.
Johnston made a motion to amend the ordinance to prohibit only Class 3 E-bikes and council voted 5-2 to do so.
Solicitor Tom Smith said City Council had to introduce the amended version, which it did, then hold a second reading and public hearing during one of the two meetings in December. Second reading now is set for Dec. 11.
Holiday events
Mayor Dennis Tapp said the city has a bunch of holiday-themed events coming up next month.
On Dec. 5, the Somers Point Unique Experience Club will present its zany take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” starting at 6 p.m. at 37 Somers Ave.
The performance plays out on the porches of three homes and ends at Gregory’s on Shore Road and Delaware Avenue.
The following day, the Patriots for Somers Mansion will hold its Christmas Mart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the mansion. The city’s Christmas Parade is slated for 6 p.m. the same day, starting at Dawes Avenue and ending at City Hall.
Fire Company #2 will host Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. Dec. 7.
Councilman Howard Dill noted the city’s Pearl Harbor Day ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at the monument at William Morrow Beach.
Walking for months
Haberkorn said We Walk Somers Point is celebrating its 18th month of getting together for some exercise.
“It’s been a very gratifying experience,” he said. “So many people have come out, gotten to know each other really well and we’ve got some really good friendships going.”
He said a lot of caregivers take part, providing them with some camaraderie and support.
The group meets at 9 a.m. Mondays on the Bike Path at New Jersey Avenue, Wednesdays at Bud Kern Field in The Pit and Fridays at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
