Ocean City Police Chief Addresses Plan To Monitor Teenage Bikers

OCEAN CITY, NJ — More police officers will be stationed throughout Ocean City beginning this weekend to monitor traffic safety violations committed by teenage bike riders.

The increase in police presence comes after large crowds were reported riding their bicycles Saturday evening in a "reckless, dangerous and threatening fashion,” according to a joint statement from Mayor Jay Gillian and Police Chief Jay Prettyman on Monday.

According to Prettyman, bikers shouted profane words at motorists and hit cars with their hands while veering into traffic.

“We had a large group in town Saturday that—torment is probably a strong word, but I think it’s an appropriate word,” said Prettyman during a council meeting Thursday. “From at least two videos that were sent to me Saturday afternoon and then talking to our supervisors, and seeing all the comments on social media by Saturday night, I knew that enough was enough.”

The police department has assigned more officers throughout Ocean City and deployed seasonal officers who recently graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy. Police will issue summonses for any reckless bicycle riding that violates traffic safety laws.

“Our presence will be increased. In our shoulder seasons, you know our staffing starts to grow and over the next couple weeks—especially over the next couple days, you will see a greater presence throughout town, on the Boardwalk.”

Prettyman emphasized the issues that were reported do not pertain to the majority of bike riders in Ocean City. Officials believe most of the teenagers committing these acts reside in other towns.

“There’s a lot of other kids involved in these groups who are not violating any rules. They’re just riding their bikes along with the traffic," he said. "They’re permitted to do it and we should encourage them to enjoy our town, and we’re not going to treat everyone with one broad brush as if everyone is violating these rules.”

Prettyman also suggested revising the city’s biking ordinance during weekends from April 1 to May 15. He said ending bike riding at noon may prevent teenage bikers from gathering in large groups later in the day and at night.

“We had a significant problem on weekends in our shoulder season with bikes on the Boardwalk in the afternoon and into the evening hours. We had it on Saturday night. We had no ability to remove the bicyclists from the Boardwalk because the city ordinance allows them to be there," Prettyman said.

As the shoulder season becomes more popular, Prettyman said these issues could continue as bikers weave through large crowds of pedestrians.

Council officials questioned whether the Boardwalk's bike hours should be adjusted. Councilman Jody Levchuk, the owner of Jilly’s stores on the Boardwalk, said limiting the bike hours could draw less people into businesses and discourage families from riding their bikes.

“I just don’t think removing bikes earlier, in my honest opinion, is the solution. I see how that could help with the solution, but I think it would upset a whole lot of people,” he said.

Officials also suggested holding a community meeting with teenagers and their parents to further discuss the issue.

While social media was inundated with complaints about the crowds on Saturday, Prettyman said the police department only received three calls from people requesting police assistance.

“We need people to call us when things are happening," Prettyman said. "A comment on social media does me no good. An email three days later about what happened does me no good. A phone call when something’s happening gets a police officer immediately re-dispatched to that location."

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