To the Editor:
I agree with the rules of not allowing skateboards and bikes on our boardwalks. I wish all towns at the shore would enforce this rule. One they are dangerous and some of the people riding them act like they on a racing track. Boardwalks are for people to walk and enjoy and relax on a bench. The scenery at the shore is just so beautiful, I mean how can you stop and admire it with bikes almost running you over. I was almost hurt by a biker when all I did was turn around on the boardwalk to tie my sneaker.
So. yes . keep it…with no bikes or skateboards on boardwalks. The towns could hire auxiliary guards to help keep our boardwalks safe. Thank you.
MICHELLE GUILLAUME
Ocean Grove, N.J. Sept. 10, 2015
Editor’s note: Here is a link to a pre-Sandy 2012 letter on this subject. There were many comments. —PG
@Wisher – Well said.
Everyone on the boardwalk has responsibility for acting with due care. I have seen families hog the entire width of the boardwalk for their strolling. That’s not very considerate of the bicyclists, bicyclist safety, or their own safety. Often people let their children run around, unsupervised, impulsive while the parent themselves are distracted.
I think if people acted more consistently with road rules it would be a safer.
Respect other boardwalk users, and boardwalk uses.
Stay right, let faster people and bikes pass you on the left.
Don’t walk directly into oncoming traffic, even if people usually yield to you.
From what I can tell from the typically confusing NJ statutes, bicycles are considered vehicles, but not *motor* vehicles and are excluded in the DUI statute. New Jersey does not prohibit riding bicycles on sidewalks, unless specifically prohibited, as is the case in OG during certain dates and times. Bicyclists are otherwise supposed to follow traffic laws, but it’s my impression that they often do not.
N.J.S. 39:4-14.1: “Every person riding a bicycle… shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle… except to those provisions thereof which by their nature can have no application.”
N.J.S. 39:1-1:”Motor vehicle includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, excepting such vehicles as run upon rails or tracks and motorized bicycles.”
I don’t believe that gov’t has any legal obligation to protect its citizens (see Warren v. District of Columbia) from bad guys or from speeding bicyclists, so liability for any bicycle-pedestrian accident would seem to lie with the bicyclist, rather than Neptune Township. I’d guess that OGCMA could be named in any lawsuit too, since it’s their boardwalk. (As I’ve said before, I’m no expert and I don’t need to stay in Holiday Inns any more, so take anything I might say with several pounds of salt.)
Full disclosure: I have been hit from behind by a bicyclist, on the OG boardwalk, during the summer, and after 10AM, and without even a “Sorry!”
There really no question that bike riding on the boardwalk, especially the all to frequent fast bike riding, is a real menace to the safety of pedestrians. The rule is clear and anyone who violates it deserves a ticket or having their bike confiscated (or whatever the penalty is).
Nota bene OGCMA and Neptune Township: If anyone gets hit and hurt by a bike rider, you should expect a lawsuit. You have been negligent in not enforcing this import safety rule– especially considering that this significant/risk-filled safety issue has been widely publicised. Do you really want to pay out for a lawsuit? Have a cop walk the boards between 5 and 9 pm and write lots of tickets. How hard is that?
I agree they shouldn’t restrict bikes on the boardwalk, especially after Sandy and the way funding was secured to rebuild. Part of that argument was that the boardwalk was recognized as a public highway.
http://blogfinger.net/2013/02/06/fema-rejects-og-funds-request/
It’s only dangerous for pedestrians if they don’t walk in a straight line, bicyclists aren’t looking to get into collisions, but when pedestrians cut across the boards without looking, or meander back and forth that’s how accidents happen.
Long Time Lady:
The commenter is correct that bike riding in season, when many walkers are on the boards, is dangerous for bikers and walkers. Those bikers who want the best experience in season should ride the boards before 9:00 am. But in October, they can ride without restriction
Appleation: I like to ride my bike on the boardwalk, but it really is too dangerous in season when so many people are walking the boards. However, it really is beautiful to get up early and ride before 9 am. Off-season you can ride your bike at any time and it is not dangerous, except perhaps on a gorgeous weekend day during an Indian summer.
As you say, regarding enforcement,that is a separate issue. I have been complaining for years about the inconsistent or even totally absent enforcement of certain ordinances such as leash laws, bike riding, posting signs, etc.
Justice prevails only when laws are consistently enforced. Otherwise, the Committee should reconsider those ordinances.—Paul @Blogfinger
LONG TIME OG LADY: Your comment resulted in the addition of a song. Consider it a soundtrack for your statement. Find in at the bottom of the post.—–PG
Biking has always been a pleasurable aspect of summer, all along the shore, since time.
Quit your whining and just live with it. The only drawback is the ridiculous hours posted for riding. Who would ride at 3am?
Rules are rules, but it seems that the bikers have some sort of problem with following them. The fact that there is no enforcement, i.e. someone to remind the bikers about rules, is another issue.
Speed is another thing.
So I guess we just have wait until someone is hurt. No jail time for not adhering to these rules!
A big problem is the pre-10 a.m. pedestrians, as they often seem oblivious to their responsibility to accommodate bikers. They march wherever they want, when they should be conscious of right-of-way rules while walking to allow everyone safety: walk on the right, let bikers pass left; just as is safe on the street.
Bikers also don’t slow down when it gets near ten. Wake up at 5 a.m., bikers, and have at it. But at 9 a.m. there too many pedestrians to accommodate your athleticism, and they are inattentive.
I had thought the 3AM time was related to the New Jersey 3AM bar closing law (municipalities may require earlier times) and a desire to discourage intoxicated motor vehicle drivers.
From the internet (so I have no idea if it’s accurate or not): “How NJ Handles DWI and Bicycles; bicycleCyclist Laws in New Jersey”; “If a person riding a bicycle is impaired because of alcohol intoxication, they will not receive a DUI charge, but it is possible that they will face other violations, such as disorderly conduct.”
I’m no expert and I don’t even drink, but this seems to make some sense.
Asbury Park, Bradley Beach and Avon have rules regarding bike riding on their boardwalks and those rules, from what I have seen, are strictly enforced making it enjoyable to walk on their boardwalks. No one seems to be put off by having to follow their rules. I have also noticed that when Ocean Grove puts up their standing signs saying “no bike riding on the boardwalk” the bikers follow the rules and that makes for safe walking for others. When the signs aren’t put up, then watch out, it is so dangerous to walk because, as Michelle wrote, it’s like a race track. Isn’t it called a “boardWALK” for a reason? (Not to be confused with Parkway,lol). Anyway, why not be considerate of others, bikers, and just ride in the street?
Adding my two cents into the mix. Who has the right of way? Pedestrians or bikers? Isn’t this supposed to be a pedestrian friendly town? What about the bottleneck areas at the beach office, pavilion and that narrow blacktop strip? Are pedestrians supposed to scatter because someone has built up momentum?
Thank you Enjoyable. I totally agree! Who said boardwalks are just for walking?
This month the summer rule still holds: bikes allowed from 3 am -10 am. Will somebody please sent Blogfinger a photo of someone riding a bike on the OG boards at 3: 00 am. There must be a reason for choosing 3 am. Anybody know why?—PG @Blogfinger
My little daughter is going to ride her bike on the boardwalk. So you better buy yourself a rear view mirror for those glasses!
Let everyone enjoy the boardwalk no matter how you have to get around.