Ocean City officials urge e-bike safety after mayor's close call

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (WPVI) -- Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian says he narrowly avoided hitting two children on e-bikes who ran a red light while riding against traffic, prompting renewed calls for responsible riding and safety education.

"From the grace of God - I didn't see them until the last minute," Gillian said. "I don't know how I didn't hit them. It just - it shook me and I realized how many other people are having those same kind of incidents."

Gillian said he's received emails from residents concerned about reckless e-bike use. While some officials are pushing for tighter regulations, the mayor believes the issue starts with parents.

"We gotta start with the people who are buying the bikes for the kids," he said. "They say when you ride a bike to act like cars. Well, kids don't have driver's licenses."

The Ocean City Police Department plans to introduce e-bike safety programming in local schools. Gillian said the topic will also be discussed at a Cape May County mayors' meeting later this month.

E-bike use has surged across New Jersey in the last few years, according to law enforcement officials. Last month, a 14-year-old boy riding an e-bike was struck and killed by a vehicle in Somers Point.

Steve Cirillo of Williamstown, who rides his e-bike around Ocean City with his wife, said he enjoys the activity but takes precautions.

"It's a fun sport. It's a good time. You can travel a lot further and you still get your exercise," Cirillo said. "They can be dangerous. They're heavy and if you crash you can get messed up from them."

Visitors to the shore say they've noticed the rise in e-bike use both locally and at home.

"I don't know whether they need signs posted that - please be observant of other people, of pedestrians," said Joanne Heyert of Flanders, N.J.

"It's a viable option," said Dalton Master of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. "It's just when you can go so fast and you have kids that have access to it they're going to get hurt."

Officials continue to urge all riders to wear helmets and ride responsibly.

Gillian also said he reached out to Governor Phil Murphy's office about the issue.

Action News received this statement from a spokesperson with the governor's office, which reads in part:

"The Governor recently signed a bill strengthening the State's driver education and testing requirements, to include specific instruction directed towards cyclists, as well as pedestrians, skaters, and riders of motorized and non-motorized vehicles, on proper safety procedures while sharing the roadway.... Despite the progress made by the Administration, one loss from a traffic crash is too many, and there is more work to be done."