By MADDY VITALE
E-bikes zip up streets, alleyways and even the Boardwalk in Ocean City. And like other motorized vehicles, there isn’t much motorists or pedestrians can do but be aware that there are many low-speed vehicles utilized by residents and visitors.
In Ocean City, where parking is at a premium, some say the e-bikes are a good and viable green way to get around, and it beats trying to slip into a narrow spot with a car.
Yet, close calls for e-bike riders, pedestrians and motorists who don’t always include the electric vehicles as members of the roadways, have caused residents and officials to look into ways to correct or quell the troubles. Some things are as easy as e-bike riders learning the rules of the road and wearing their helmets, others are in that gray area.
Susan Cracovaner, an Ocean City resident, has spoken out about speeding e-bikes and other electric vehicles.
At an Aug. 24 City Council meeting, she called for city and police officials to work with the community to create a task force for something to be done.
“As a pedestrian, I am constantly surprised by bicycles and e-bikes whizzing past me unannounced while walking, oftentimes with my dog, on sidewalks around town,” Cracovaner told Council.
E-bikes can go more than 25 miles an hour.
Cracovaner continued, “I see youngsters riding motorized scooters on the sidewalk at excessive speeds and losing control as they round corners. I question at those speeds, would they be able to stop for a pedestrian they might not see rounding a corner or a dog walking ahead of its owner?”
Back in April, Cracovaner also came before City Council and said that her husband, John, had been nearly run over by an e-bike on the Boardwalk.
She said in an interview Monday that a task force could bring together all of the stakeholders to try to remedy the situation.
“I think it has to be beyond the people in the police force,” Cracovaner said. “They need to include the stakeholders, the riders of the bikes, and people who have a vested interest.”
In June, Mayor Jay Gillian had proposed banning e-bikes from the Boardwalk after listening to complaints from Ocean City residents about teenagers recklessly riding their e-bikes around town and the possibility of them hitting pedestrians on the Boardwalk.
That same month, City Council tabled an ordinance that would have imposed an e-bike ban on the Boardwalk. Council planned to introduce an ordinance to enact a ban, but decided not to after members of the public, mainly senior citizens, asserted that responsible e-bikes riders would be unfairly punished for the actions of the reckless ones.
“Maybe we can designate some officers on bicycles to be the bike patrol,” Cracovaner said. “They could ride through the city and stop people who are not abiding by the rules.”
Gillian said he would be discussing e-bikes and other electric low-speed vehicles during a senior staff meeting on Wednesday.
Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman said the police department is looking into ways to create an ordinance to ameliorate the situation, but it could take some time.
“Haddonfield created a city ordinance that would allow police to confiscate kids’ bicycles if they were being operated carelessly,” Prettyman said on Monday. “We took a look at the ordinance and we’re waiting to hear how it is working.”
But he is not so certain that a similar ordinance in Ocean City could be the answer.
“I am not convinced an ordinance like that would help, but I am cautiously waiting for feedback to see how that could work in Ocean City,” he said.
Police can give juveniles curbsides warnings or motor vehicle summonses for improperly operating their e-bikes and other electric vehicles.
“Our officers have been making stops for e-bikes and other motorized vehicles, but the sheer volume of them makes it is hard to create one ordinance,” Prettyman explained.
He noted that Cracovaner’s idea for a task force is a good one, but could take some time.
Prettyman said that while the majority of violators are young people, adult e-bike riders have also been seen violating the safety laws. He also noted that it comes down to the rider’s responsibility to operate an e-bike, or any other electric vehicle, safely.
“We have 10, 11 and 12-year-olds who own e-bikes,” he said. “I see kids wearing helmets and operating their e-bikes responsibly, and we see a ton of them who are not.”
