Ocean City Parent Rolls Out Idea of Bike Park

By MADDY VITALE Ocean City parent, Sarah Gaddy, was pleased with the response to a rally she organized that joined local young bicyclists with their friends and family and members of the city’s police department for a communitywide event. It was a night about the community and also a place to showcase the talents of teens on bikes. The event in May of 2021 was in stark contrast to some of the disruptive behavior of rowdy teens on the city’s beaches, Boardwalk and downtown last spring. Gaddy wants to start this summer off right, she said. “What if we came together and found more positive ways to promote this town so that we can set up a better summer?” she remarked Tuesday. “Why not start with some outlets for kids?” She wants the idea brought back of a bike park for young people to enjoy, a place to go to do their bike tricks and just be together. Responding to Gaddy’s thoughts about the bike park, Mayor Jay Gillian said he welcomes ideas for creating more avenues for young people to enjoy. “We have great kids in town, and we have not seen any of the issues involving bicycles that we saw last spring,” Gillian said. “Our bicycle safety rally last year was a great success, and it’s clear that there are a lot of people in town invested in helping our youth in any way they can. Ocean City offers all kinds of activities for kids, and we’re always open to new ideas.” The Boardwalk is a popular spot for bicyclists but when the boards are crowded, bike tricks aren't a safe possibility. The bike rally Gaddy organized was held in the parking lot adjacent to the Sports & Civic Center at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk on May 12, 2021. It was created by Gaddy and other concerned parents, with the support of the police department, in response to rowdy behavior by youths that spring. Rowdy bicyclists were riding through town and on the Boardwalk, prompting police to issue warnings that the actions would not be tolerated. The bike event put the law-abiding kids in the spotlight for their bike tricks and clean fun. Gaddy, a married mother of five, who has twin 14-year-old girls, and boys 16, 17 and 19, hoped for a bike park. She said it would give Ocean City teens a safe place to just be together and enjoy their bikes. Gaddy wants a bike park made a top priority of city leaders and the community. “I think when we did the bike event, it was a huge breakthrough. It made a lot of changes, and it brought a light that really did benefit these kids and the town,” she said. “And then it kind of died down.” Bicyclists can use the Boardwalk throughout the year with limited hours on the weekends beginning in May. But the bicyclists can’t do bike tricks there, especially during the height of the season, when thousands of people stroll along the boards. Gaddy said there haven’t been any bike-related incidents involving rowdy behavior recently. She, along with some of her friends and fellow parents, believe this would be a great time to consider a bike park or an area to give the young people room to spread out. Giving the teens a place to go, like the city’s skate park, could be enjoyed by a lot of the bicyclists, she said. “Summer is a few months away,” Gaddy said. “I think we could really change the outcome for summer, if we start now.” Sarah Gaddy hopes a bike park will be created for teens to use in Ocean City. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gaddy)