Ocean City Mayor Calls For E-Bike Safety After Close Call

OCEAN CITY, NJ — After experiencing a close call of his own with e-bike riders, Ocean City's mayor is joining the call for stronger e-bike safety and regulations.

In his weekly update shared on Friday, Mayor Jay Gillian said that two days before, two young e-bike riders on the wrong side of the road flew through a red light and into the path of his car.

"Only the grace of God saved their lives," Gillian said. "The near-miss shook me to my core."

Now, Gillian said he has written to the governor calling for "amendments to the laws that govern e-bikes to protect the safety of teenagers and other e-bike riders." Gillian is also working with Cape May County Commission Director Lenny Desiderio, who will raise the issue at his annual mayors’ meeting and see how towns can work together.

Just last month, a teenager over the bridge in Somers Point was killed when he was struck by a car. Shortly after, a 17-year-old Mays Landing e-bike rider was hospitalized after being struck in Hamilton Township, local police said.

This spurred Atlantic County officials to call for stricter regulations as well.

"After some initial research, it was clear that New Jersey does not offer proper safety instruction for these young riders," Sen. Vince Polistina said. "In working with the Office of Legislative Services, we are drafting a bill to create an operator’s safety course for Class I and Class II e-bike operators."

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Students in Ocean City schools will be taught e-bike safety at intermediate school orientation and at assemblies and presentations throughout the year, Gillian said. Officers will patrol during the first week of school to ensure e-bike riders are wearing helmets with a goal of both educating and ensuring law compliance.

"As parents and as a community, we need to understand the potential danger of these motorized vehicles, which are much faster and more powerful than bicycles. And we need to work together to protect the safety of our children," Gillian said.