Resident urges Atlantic City to redesign boardwalk cycling rules, calls current enforcement harmful to tourism and safety

A longtime Atlantic City resident urged the council to change how the city enforces the boardwalk bicycle rules, describing what she called an excessive police presence and proposing painted directional lanes, designated walking zones and ambassadors to direct traffic.

The comment came during the public comment portion of the council meeting from Valerie Theo, who said daily enforcement of the boardwalk’s no‑biking policy has become a deterrent to tourists, harms local businesses and degrades quality of life for residents. "Please do not wait until someone gets killed. Paint the directional lines and a center lane for wheels only," she said, urging the city to map crosswalks and designate areas where cyclists must dismount.

Theo told the council the current approach — which she described as "cop cars with their alarm lights on idling on almost every corner, military like 4 wheelers, and now ... cops riding around on electric bikes" — is unnecessary and damages Atlantic City's image. She said the boardwalk lacks safe alternative routes and asked the city to pilot traffic‑management steps, including more visible lines, walking zones and volunteer ambassadors.

Council members did not announce a formal policy change during the meeting. The comment was entered into the public record and council members asked the administration to consider the resident’s recommendations and to explore solutions that balance pedestrian safety, tourism and enforcement of existing rules.

No ordinance or formal directive was adopted at the meeting; the item remains a public‑comment request for administration follow up.