Community Corner

City Adds Downtown Parking ... for Bikes

The city is testing on-street bike racks outside the Varsity Inn.

Ocean City added some free parking for the downtown last week.

The city installed an on-street bicycle rack outside the . The new equipment has room for at least 20 bicycles in the space of a former loading zone.

The on-street bicycle rack is believed to be the first in New Jersey, according to Tom Heist, a former member of the Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

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Heist said the council began advocating for the equipment two years ago as part of its efforts to promote safe bicycling in Ocean City. He said the racks are common in cities such as Portland, OR.

The racks are placed as a visual reminder that cyclists should stay off pedestrian sidewalks when riding. They also keep cyclists from locking their bikes to railings, benches and parking meters. 

Find out what's happening in Ocean Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Heist said the on-street racks also send a message: "Hey, we want you to bicycle."

Keith Symonds, owner of the Varsity Inn, said the new bicycle racks can only bring good things.

He said he gave up a loading zone that he didn't use, and he stands to gain customers from the bicycle traffic. Even if the loading zone were used as a parking spot, he said, at most he might see five people pile out of a car.

Symonds said a day like today (Spring Block Party) will prove the worth of the new racks.

Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said the new on-street racks are a test. If they prove effective, the city will add more.


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