Ocean City Nixes Plan For Lights On Haven Avenue Bike Path

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Mayor Jay Gillian canceled a plan Thursday to install lights on the Haven Avenue Bike Path. Several residents who live near the area expressed concerns about the project at Thursday's City Council meeting.

City Council unanimously passed a resolution in Sept. 10's meeting to install lighting on the bike path from 25th to 29th Street. The city was set to advertise bids for the project.

But nearby residents expressed concerns about the plan at Thursday's meeting. Criticisms included how it would impact the environment, lighting into nearby homes and nighttime activity.

"It makes no sense to encourage bike riding at night," said one Haven Avenue resident. "This is inherently dangerous, lights or not. Furthermore there are already street lights along Haven Avenue that illuminate the bike path very well."

Neighbors pointed out that the bike path runs along the Stainton Wildlife Refuge. The refuge includes 16 acres of protected dune and marsh, and residents expressed concerns about how the lighting could impact the wildlife.

After hearing concerns from three residents, Gillian canceled the plan to install lighting.

City officials would normally meet with residents about proposals that could affect lighting around their homes, according to Council President Bobby Barr.

"With this, it just fell through the cracks," Barr said. "I didn’t think it would upset any folks, so that’s my fault. Lesson learned, but thanks to the mayor, we don’t have to do anything."

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