Ocean City Police Teach Teenagers About Bike Safety

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City officials invited local teenagers to showcase their bike riding skills and learn about bike safety on Wednesday afternoon.

After rowdy groups of teenage bike riders rode through the city’s streets and Boardwalk in recent weeks, city officials partnered with local parents to plan an event that would promote bike safety.

Mayor Jay Gillian, Police Chief Jay Prettyman and the Ocean City Community Services Department helped plan the event in the Ocean City Civic Center parking lot at Fifth Street and Boardwalk.

About 75 teenagers participated in the competition and learned about bike safety during a presentation from the Community Policing Unit.

Calvin Gaddy won the skills contest for the longest wheelie and Travis Bickley was awarded for the best swerve.

While teenagers showcased their skills, local businesses also showed their support for the community event.

Tuckahoe Bike Shop donated a bike to be raffled off and 6th Street Pizza and Grill offered refreshments. Jilly’s Arcade, 7th Street Surf Shop, Fractured Prune and the Ocean City Police Benevolent Association donated gift cards as prizes for the event.

Jane Heng won a $1,000 SE Monster Ripper 29” bicycle in the random drawing. She donated the prize to her older brother, Joseph Heng.

Ocean City councilmen Keith Hartzell and Jody Levchuk also provided t-shirts for participants.

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