OCEAN CITY — Students riding their bikes to Ocean City Intermediate School on Thursday got a police escort, along with plenty of bike safety reminders from the officers.
The “Bike with a Cop” ride was part of an effort to reinforce bike safety and awareness of bike rules for students and family members this year, after residents, city officials and people with the school district raised concerns.
The bike riders could meet the officers in two locations, at the Transportation Center at Ninth Street and the Wawa at 34th Street, allowing the riders to take Haven Avenue to the school at 18th Street. The school is on Bay Avenue, but the back of the school is along the bike path.
“The students really enjoyed the ‘Bike with a Cop’ event, and it was wonderful to see our community come together to raise awareness of bicycle safety,” said Matthew Engle, the Intermediate School principal. “We are working to incorporate this message into a yearlong discussion with our students and families — especially since our community relies heavily on walking and biking throughout the seasons in Ocean City.”
Engle said students will soon hear more about how to stay safe on their way to and from school.
A statement from the school describes the ride as the first of many ways the district will reinforce bike safety, but this is far from the first such effort by the school or by city police, who have hosted bike rodeos and engagement efforts to encourage young riders to follow traffic rules, wear helmets and use caution.
In 2024, officers stopped students on the bike path after classes to talk bike safety, and to offer coupons for free pizza from local shops to those who were following the rules, including wearing helmets, required in New Jersey for bike riders under 17.
On Oct. 3, Michele Geiger, education and community outreach coordinator at Cross County Connection Transportation Management Association, will hold a presentation for Intermediate School students on pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Students will get another safety-themed visit from Geiger and the Ocean City Police Department on National Walk to School Day on Oct. 8. Geiger also will return to the school in the spring to reinforce bicycle safety practices.
Community members are also getting involved in promoting safe rides. Resident George Bauer recently donated 50 bicycle lights to the school. Students who demonstrate safe cycling practices in the coming weeks will be eligible to win one of the lights, district officials said.
Contact Bill Barlow:
609-272-7290
bbarlow@pressofac.com
X @jerseynews_bill
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Bill Barlow
Reporter
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today