Bicycle-Riding in Ocean City (New Jersey) during the Summer Rental Season 2010
It's always interesting to see the return of visitors to our barrier island during the summer months. Generally, visitors arrive Saturdays for a full Sat-Sat seven night stay ... the typical rental week. Some arrive mid-week and/or for a long weekend staying in local B&Bs or motels.
And what is their favorite thing to do: ride bikes on the boardwalk and through the small community of Ocean City (NJ). And it can be a wonderful experience ... riding the boards is one of my own personal favorite things to do too as well as going up and down some of the interesting neighborhood streets checking out the different housing, what's for sale, etc.
But there is a degree of danger too. Many people only bike once or twice a year ... maybe once once. And that is when they vacation here in Ocean City. So from my vantage point outside of my window at French Real Estate, I see about three accidents every week ... many only minor scrapes, but some much more serious. When you get to the boardwalk, you experience large crowds of bikers and walkers, and one sees many more near misses and accidents.
In particular, one other danger is allowing younger children with very little experience in this type of setting to venture on the boardwalk with so many different age groups: some who are much older and slower, others who ride to fast for conditions, and others simply not able to avoid hitting others. The boardwalk experience is probably the one most seek, but also the most dangerous at the times you are allowed to ride ... if you hit the boards with bikes, do as I do ... and ride around 6AM getting off about the time when many are just getting started.
So any final recommendations: one: do some more bike riding at home before coming down to Ocean City, New Jersey. It will be a safer and much more enjoyable experience for your group and everyone else too. dap
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