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Ventnor narrows boardwalk hours, faces sustained debate over ebikes
Summary
Commissioners introduced an ordinance adding evening boardwalk hours (to 10 p.m.) and heard extended public comment about ebike access and enforcement; officials said safety, weight and state classification questions mean ebikes will remain restricted while staff studies signage and policy options.
Mayor convened the Ventnor City Commission on June 12 and introduced ordinance 2025-017 to amend chapter 75 (bicycles, roller skates, skateboards), adding year‑round evening boardwalk hours with a 10 p.m. cutoff.
The measure, introduced by title only for later public hearing and adoption, clarifies seasonal start times (commissioners discussed 5 a.m. versus 6 a.m.) and replaces the vague phrase “daylight hours” with explicit clock times. City Attorney Nicole confirmed the ordinance could be introduced by title and finalized for publication.
Why it matters: The change formalizes permitted hours for wheeled devices on Ventnor’s 1.7‑mile boardwalk and was prompted by resident concerns about shared-use safety during evening hours.
The workshop portion then moved to an extensive public exchange about whether ebikes should be allowed on the boardwalk. Several residents said ebikes are important for seniors and disabled riders who rely on pedal‑assist power. Richard DeMonte (810 North Burley Avenue) told commissioners, “I have an ebike, and I'm 72 years old... the speed that I'm at is at 11 miles an hour,” arguing that some users operate safely and should be accommodated.
City officials and public‑safety leaders replied that their primary concerns are the weight and potential speeds of motorized models and the difficulty of distinguishing ebike classes in enforcement. The Mayor said the police “do not support any type of ebike” on the boardwalk because of the vehicle weight and potential speed, and staff noted officers lack tools such as radar to reliably enforce a boardwalk speed limit.
Several commissioners and members of the public suggested pragmatic steps short of immediate allowance: posting speed signs (for example, 10 mph), clearer directional arrows, and exploring ADA exceptions or identification (an ADA sticker was mentioned as one possible path). City Attorney Nicole and staff agreed to re‑examine state categorization and municipal options and to look into updated signage. Nicole said she would review the matter and confirmed she will follow up with legal guidance.
What’s next: Ordinance 2025‑017 was introduced by title and scheduled for public hearing and adoption on July 10; the commission also asked staff to review ebike policy and signage and return with recommendations. No change to ebike access was adopted at this meeting.
