Select Bike Parking In Neptune
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Bicyclists can no longer chain their bicycles to decorative stanchions in the township, including some lamp posts in Ocean Grove.
On Monday the Neptune Township Committee voted to restrict bike chaining, sighting damage to decorative lamp posts in Ocean Grove from bicycle chains as the reason for creating the law.
Were trying to save some of our investment, Mayor Thomas Catley said regarding the million dollar plus Streetscape Project the township undertook in its Ocean Grove section last year.
The law applies to the chaining of not only bicycles, but mopeds and scooters as well.
Township Attorney Donald Beekman stressed that the ordinance applies only to decorative stanchions, such as certain lamp-posts in Ocean Grove, and that residents may chain their bicycles to non-decorative signposts, lightposts, as well as trees.
Bicyclists can no longer chain their bicycles to decorative lamp posts, like this one in Ocean Grove.
During the public hearing for the ordinance, a number of residents raised a concerns about the effects of the new mandate, including the installation of bicycle racks and where residents could legally chain their bikes.
Catley said that while the ordinance does not require the township to install bicycle racks, the committee plans to provide additional bike racks.
One Ocean Avenue resident said the township should not make it illegal to secure ones property on certain fixtures, without first providing an alternative, such as bicycle racks.
He asked the committee if it was aware of the epidemic of bicycle theft in the township.
Committeewoman Janet Kortenhaus, who is the committees police liaison, said she does know how often bikes are stolen, but has seen the more than 100 recovered bicycles stored in the police departments basement.
She suggested that residents register their bicycles with the police in order to speed the recovery process of a missing bike.
Kerri Martin, an Embury Avenue resident, said she is a cyclist and worked for bike advocacy in New York city – and said the township should do more to encourage alternate transportation methods in its Ocean Grove section.
One resident wondered what police will do to enforce the new law.
Catley said police will likely issue warnings for first offenses and may give citations for repeat offenders.
Lt. Drew LaFrance of the Neptune Police Department echoed the mayors remarks, as he said police will try to educate the public about the ordinance first and give out warnings. He said if residents refuse to heed the warnings ordinance violations will be given.
Vicki LaBella, a cyclist and business owner in Ocean Grove, offered the space in front of her store as a location where the township could install a new bike rack.
In order to register a bicycle or for information regarding a lost or stolen bicycle, contact the Neptune Township Police Department.
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