Ocean City officials say new rules brewing on e-bikes as Gillian laments lack of responsibility

Bill Barlow

OCEAN CITY — New state rules may be in the works related to e-bikes, city officials said Thursday, but Mayor Jay Gillian expressed frustration that people don’t follow the rules already in place.

“We can put all the laws in the world, but why can’t I get adults to follow the rules?” Gillian said during the Thursday City Council meeting, in comments that touched on dogs on the beach, the use of cabanas outpacing beach umbrellas and the operation of e-bikes.

Gillian and Council member Tony Polcini mentioned plans to meet with Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, to discuss potential statewide changes in rules governing e-bikes.

There are differing categories for electric bikes, in some ways dependent on the top speeds and whether the rider can accel