Ventnor City ordinance is clear. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on it’s pedestrian boardwalk. If it has wheels and a motor, it’s not allowed on the Ventnor Boardwalk.
Dogs are also a growing problem on the Ventnor Beach and Boardwalk. It’s getting worse, too.
The poll: Should Ventnor Commissioner of Public Safety, Tim Kriebel, enforce city ordinance?
Most not concerned with motorized wheel chairs or ‘pedal assist’ bikes for those who need some pedaling help. Rather, it’s those heavy and fast ‘e-bikes’. These motorized bikes are gaining massive popularity along the shore. Boardwalk pedestrians beware.
E-bikes are typically 2x as heavy as a traditional bicycles. Some can reach speeds of 30+mph.
Getting hit by a speeding ebike can cause serious injury, especially for seniors, young children and small dogs.
Fido is also prohibited from using the boardwalk. Doggy doo is certainly a problem, but occasional dog fights do break out. Someone might get bit. Someone’s pet could sustain critical bite wounds.
For what earthly reason would these regs not be enforced?
A child has gotten bitten. Is Ventnor waiting till someone gets hit by a Motorized vehicle before they enforce the law. I was told just call the police. I have lived here many years, and walk the boardwalk. It was never like that people just do what they want because nobody is held accounted for Their actions.
Electric bikes offer a valuable advantage for elderly people who require assistance with riding. Using e bikes for exercise is appealing, but with the challenges of inclines and exhaustion, a motor assist is appreciated. Furthermore, the idea of powerful e bikes cruising along boardwalks is concerning due to safety hazards.
Motorized bikes are menacing. They move way too fast in and around walkers. They should operate only on the streets and maintaining a controllable speed. Dogs on the boards? Off season, fine, but from April thru October, no.
Definitely, this should be a no brainer. Just too dangerous for the walkers, joggers, children, and real (non-motorized) bicyclists to have to contend with lax enforcement of the boardwalk rules. The rules were created to keep everyone as safe as possible, and hopefully minimize injuries. It shouldn’t be about people who just care about their own self interests doing what they want regardless of other peoples health .and well being. Let’s keep the boardwalk safe for everyone!
Yes … I agree …. Motorized bikes and dog laws
should be enforced. A very slight accident by
a motorized bike rider can do very serious injury,
especially to elderly people.
What is the sense of having these laws, if they are not going to be enforced? I think it’s ridiculous that a poll needs to be taken. Laws without enforcement are not laws, they are a joke!
Even without the motor engaged, or at the same speed as a conventional bike, the fact that an e-bike is 2-3x heavier means that it will strike 2-3 times more force causing more injury and damage.
ALL the rules need to be enforced. ALL the time. No e-bikes, no dogs, no cannabis, no smoking, period!
The island is FLAT why do you need an e-bike anyway? No doubt you would benefit from some exercise.
This is a luxury resort town not some slum (unlike our neighbor to the North). Enforce the LAWS. Keep Ventnor RESPECTABLE.
CITY HALL – ARE YOU LISTENING?
I just wonder if City administrators are actually looking at these results and comments. Do they really care? And while I’m at it, why haven’t all the rotting boards on the boardwalk been replaced?
No dogs, no bikes! Enforce the laws!
An exception needs to be made for motorized wheelchairs …
has wheels and a motor
ENFORCE!!! I almost was hit by an E-bike and it wouldn’t have injured me—IT WOULD HAVE KILLED ME! Needless to say, the experience was traumatic!
Would love to know who those who vote no to enforcing the rules are, and why they think they are flat out entitled to ignore basic safety rules in place to protect us all.
P.S. Ventnor seems seedy and unsafe. It has a long way to go to improve. Fewer liquor licenses, not more, and strictly enforced limits on party houses; enforcement of bans of E-bikes and dogs on the boardwalk is a start. I never go there at night. Even so, it may take years to up its image as a respectable community.
Ventnor is not seedy. it has pulled itself up over the last 15 years and is a great place to live and vacation. Sorry you were almost hit by a miscreant and his e-bike, but don’t smear the whole town for that.
During the pandemic the police enforced Killer Murphy’s “not allowed on the boardwalk or beach policy” like it was 1930s Germany. But now you can go as fast as you want on an electric bike and the pets treat it like its there own personal fire hydrant. Enforce the laws with consequences for violators.
Every time I go up the Ventnor Boardwalk, which isn’t that often, I see an E-Bike speeding by me at a much higher rate of speed than regular bikes. And I always see dogs as well.
Why do we have the signs up SAYING NOT PERMITTED IF NOT ENFORCED?
Public Safety Commissioner should give guidence & strong encouragement to the Chief of Police to enforce this probiations. IF a new ordiance is requirred to confiscate E Bikes or Pets ? Than PASS the requirred new ordiance or else change the boardwalk signage that says they are prohibited. IF IT NOT INTENDED TO BE ENFORCED ELIMINATE THE SIGN THAT PROHIBITES THEIR BEING ON THE BOARDWALK.
Seems like a no brainer. You have rules, you have signs. If they are not going to be enforced, whats the use?
How completely entitled must one think they are that rules in place for safety from e-bikes (and their additional risk) and dogs on the Boardwalk shouldn’t be enforced. I’m sure these entitled among us would be the first in line to sue someone if they were injured as a result of these rules not being enforced.
No motorized bikes anytime. Dogs ok during offseason.
SPEED is the issue! E-bikes are not the issue. It’s the people who speed!
My husband and I have e-bikes, live here year round, and leisurely ride our bikes.
Speed is the issue. Enforce 10 mph speed limit on all bikes!
And no dogs on boardwalk has been a long time rule. Enforce it (especially from April through October!)
SPEED of bike is the problem- regardless if there is an assist or not. It’s true, e-bikes are heavier than a regular bike, but for many it’s made riding possible again.
Enforce the speed limit of ALL bikers. Don’t allow motorized (class 2&3 bikes with throttles) on boardwalk and everyone will benefit.
As for dogs – I like the rules as they are (on beach in off-season, not on boards except to access beach) and enforce them. I would love a designated dog beach area in Ventnor too.
Ventnor is turning into Wildhood. Time to take my business to neighboring cities. Very sad
I have been riding my electric bike for 20 years n more on Ventnor n Atlantic City boardwalk. Half pedaling n half electric.
I don’t go fast but yes, there are many young kids riding fast with and without motors. They ruin it for most of us who abide by rules.
I’m 78 years old now and I live to ride on the boardwalk seeing people n beautiful views n exercise.
Please don’t ruin it for the majority because of a few.
For the hundredth time, it’s not JUST the speed. It’s the 2-3 times higher weight of the e-bike and higher force and injuries they will cause in an accident. You can’t or don’t seem to want to acknowledge that.
E-Bikes at low speed are SAFE. I can barely ride a non electric bike with any enjoyment. Are you telling me I can’t enjoy my E Bike in the boardwalk????
A bike speeding and hitting someone is more likely to cause damage regardless of the bike. I agree, do not ruin it for those that leisurely enjoy a bike ride.
We were told to get off the boards last fall while riding our e-bikes leisurely (I don’t always turn my bike on), and a biker riding a regular bike, sped by…no one said anything… this needs to be more thought through for sure!
A faster, conventional bike causes LESS impact and force than a 2-3 times heavier e-bike even at a slower speed. It’s simple math and physics. Using your “logic” a slow moving motorcycle would be fine.
Force = mass (weight) x acceleration.
Ditto.
Mr kriebell needs to have people stand at Jackson ave and the fishing pier on the boardwalk and hand out warnings. ‘Pedal assist’ for seniors is NOT the problem. The real problem is perfectly healthy people, wearing headphones, going 30mph on a heavy electric bike. Just wait will someone gets really hurt and tries to sue the city. Krioebell and langraf will yawn.
This is like the gun arguments. It’s not the heavy e bikes that cause more damage it’s the light speeding bikes that do. It’s not the guns it’s the people that shoot people.. I’m law abiding so my guns ok. I’m an easy driver so my e bike is ok.
If you hit me on your heavy e bike, whatever the circumstances, you’re going to do more damage to me than my regular bike. Unintentionally or not.
No e bikes, no e scooters should be allowed. The overwhelming majority should not be at risk, for the pleasure of a very few “ responsible “ elderly riders. I’m 75 myself.
I’ll still have my dog on the boardwalk this summer, doesn’t bother anyone. I come down every summer. If I want my dog with me on the boardwalk it’s my right!
I think it will be interesting to see what the outcome of this will be.
Will Denise continue to bring her dog onto the Ventnor Boardwalk since it is her right? Or will she be fined so much that it will change her attitude & or behavior?
Or is she correct IF her dog has all the necessary documentation to prove her dog is a “SERVICE DOG” she then has that right? Stay tuned for the drama – outcome.
No Denise, it’s not your right to break established rules, no matter how entitled you think you are. I hope you get fined for your violations
What do you think, walking your dog anywhere you want is enshrined in the Constitution?
I’m looking forward to your entitled challenge to the rules that affect everyone else but you, apparently.
Police, you are now challenged by entitled Denise to do your jobs.
The regs do not apply to her or anyone apparently if she is correct.
Denise is the problem. Hopefully she will get ticketed by the police this summer. Ventnor police, please teach people like Denise a lesson.
Instant Solution: allow e-bikes up to a certain speed… you know, like a bike speed limit, if that makes any bit of sense.
Also, I love how the image is clearly photoshopped to make light on the subject.
This is a real, dangerous problem. Enforcing speed limit is impractical and costly. Of course wheelchairs and similar vehicles with handicap permits should be exempt.
Citations should be issued. Bike batteries should be seized by police if rider does not produce identification, to be released when rider goes to police station with identification.
Unenforced rules cause disregard generally.