NORTH WILDWOOD – A recently proposed North Wildwood ordinance would limit the times that cyclists can use their bicycles on the city’s guarded beaches.
The ordinance states that “bicycles may be permitted on the beaches of the City of North Wildwood from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.”
There were no previous limitations on beach-related bike usage before this ordinance, which passed first reading at a July 19 City Council meeting.
Nic Long, city administrator, said after the meeting that the ordinance is meant to target e-bikes with sand-ready tires that “fly” down the beaches at high speeds and weave between crowded pedestrians.
He said that bikes have not historically been a problem at the beach, but that these new, high-speed bikes are cause for concern.
E-bikes have been a hot-button issue this summer. The topic has come up in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, and Wildwood Crest. This new North Wildwood ordinance must come up for a second reading and public hearing before it’s passed.
