Will Ventnor take a cue from Ocean City and enforce electric bike laws?
The Ocean City Police Chief is warning about the increase of juveniles recklessly riding heavy and fast, electric bikes.
Many e–Bikes are more like electric motorcycles with pedals that requires no license, helmet, registration, or insurance.
Here’s excerpts of letter from OC PD to parents:
Parents and Guardians, Members of the Ocean City Police Department have observed several juveniles operating electric bicycles (E-bikes) recklessly throughout town. The riders have been ignoring traffic signals and violating many New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Statutes. I myself have witnessed a couple extremely dangerous situations which have caused me to become increasingly concerned about the rider’s safely.
This week, a juvenile was struck by a car while operating an E-bike after failing to stop for a traffic signal. The juvenile was injured and transported to Shore Medical Center for treatment.
Another juvenile lost control of their E-bike and crashed into a group of parked cars. The juvenile suffered injuries as a result of the crash.
Due to the speeds in which these bicycles are capable and the manner in which they are being operated, officers have been unable to identify the riders individually.
Many juveniles have been observed riding E-bikes/ bicycles throughout town as they disregard traffic laws and causing an unsafe condition for themselves and other motorists.
New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Statutes pertaining to E-bikes/ bicycles: anyone under age of 17 must wear helmet, and riders must follow speed limitations.
E-Bikes required to observe motor vehicle laws: no riding on sidewalks.
It is the responsibility of parents to govern their children’s actions which is outlined in the city ordinance.
This notification will serve as your warning. If your child/ dependent is observed violating any New Jersey Motor Vehicle Statute and/ or operating an E-bike/ bicycle recklessly, summonses will be issued to you and/ or your child.
I hate to send a letter that is so forceful, but I believe this situation is dire und I am extremely worried about the safety of these operators….
Ocean City Police will hand out tickets to those who speed on their bikes or violate traffic laws. Depending on age of children, parents may be responsible for tickets, property damage or injuries that occur in bike crashes.
OC police are serious about handing out traffic tickets to bikers. ‘We will be aggressive in enforcing the law’
According to Ocean City ordinance, it’s the responsibility of parents to govern their children’s actions when they’re 15 years old and younger.
Electric, motorized bikes are common in the streets, pedestrian walkways and boardwalk.
Many e-bikes are capable of travelling 30 mph or more.
E-bikes have a battery-powered motor to propel them to higher speeds.
While E-bikes are an environmentally friendly mode of transport, they can cause much harm if mishandled. Especially on crowded boardwalks.
Last year, Ventnor considered a bike ban during certain hours of the day. While well meaning, those who stroll the boards say the City of Ventnor should simply enforce current ordinance (law). No motorized vehicles on the Boardwalk.
Fast moving motorized bikes are heavy. A wheeled projectile capable of causing bodily injury, property damage, or worse.
For questions and comment, contact Ventnor Public Safety Commissioner, Tim Kriebel or Ventnor Mayor, Beth Holtzman.
this is ridiculous, will still continue to ride my ebike on the boardwalk, if no one is around I open er up!
Ah, entitlement culture at its finest. Rules don’t apply to you, huh David? I sincerely hope you get the ticket/fines you so richly deserve.
It is crazy that the police don’t seem to enforce any laws in margate or ventnor, I live on ventnor ave and see disregard for the law’s continuously. U turns in front of stores, parking in no park zones/ loading zones . Bikes ,e bikes scooters , single wheels. You name it, it’s the law doesn’t pertain to me attitude. Police, start issuing summons! It’s time. Start doing it.
Parents should be fined for their children’s’ violations up to age 18. Hefty fines that will bite starting at $1,000 plus legal fees and court appearances. Enforcement is the only way to curtail dangerous behavior since the parents already abdicated their responsibility. ABSOLUTELY NO E BIKES ON THE BOARDWALK, PERIOD!
If I’am not allowed to ride my Harley on the boardwalk why are they allowed to ride the e bikes on the boardwalk?
Because Harleys are LOUD, Obnoxious and Leak Oil, that’s why you cannot ride it on the boardwalk.
You totally missed Pat’s point, he wasn’t advocating Harley’s on the boardwalk. He was saying if you all e-bikes what’s to stop them from allowing anyone else heavier and motorized.
Ventnor Mayor Beth Holtzman knows the danger of e-bikes on boardwalk, but does nothing.
Yes more government control and fines that’s the answer. Some people just need to stay in their house or maybe move off island to a nice cul-de-sac where everything is nice and quiet.
Ebikes can be ridden responsibly. My wife has a knee injury that makes it uncomfortable to pedal continuously. Yet she needs the exercise.
Many she tends to stay at a cruising speed of 10mph. While on my regular bike, I’m consistently pedaling 15-20mph and sometimes more.
Ebikes are meant to assist but the bad batch of people ruin it for others.
It’s not just the riding them responsibly. It’s the fact that they weight TWO TIMES as much (or more) than a regular bike and therefore strike with TWO TIMES the force (and therefore damage) at the same speed.
The issue in Ocean city is not the few people that use the electricity to assist their riding. The problem are the minority of riders that are reckless ( and sometime this will include pedal power.bikes of.the inexperienced and phone yappers). A few are delivering food for uber eats and using the boardwalk as a way to avoid traffic on the street. The attitude of the rider is watch out I have a job to do
No, the issue is that whether using the electric or not, these bikes way twice as much as a conventional bike and therefore can cause twice the damage at the same speed. The attitude and rudeness is real, but the driver is the risk of greater damage.