Bike OCNJ Gives Free Lights to Students Ocean City Students

Ocean City, NJ -- Volunteers from Bike OCNJ surprised Ocean City students who rode their bicycles to school on Monday.

While the students were at school, Bike OCNJ volunteers installed free bicycle lights for safe riding after dark, city officials said on Monday.

Bike OCNJ added the small lights on elastic bands to all bicycles parked outside Ocean City’s three schools, and will return on Tuesday.

White lights were out at the front of the bikes, and red lights were placed in the back.

Bike OCNJ is a group committed to bicycle safety and enhancing bicycle routes and amenities in town. People riding unlit bikes at night in Ocean City is one of the biggest complaints heard by the group and by Ocean City police, officials said.

Bike OCNJ Co-chair Tom Heist worked with police, firefighters and local businesses to raise money for a couple thousand sets of bicycle lights that will be made available to the public, for free.

Interested bikers can pick the lights up at the City Hall Welcome Center (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue), the Route 52 Welcome Center, the Ocean City Police Department (Eighth Street and Central Avenue) and the Ocean City Free Public Library (17th Street and Simpson Avenue).

The lights are small, easy to attach or take off (just an elastic band), and include no logos or commercial insignia.

Sponsors include the Ocean City Firefighters Association, Ocean City Police Benevolent Association Local 61, Ocean City Home Bank, Monihan Realty, Thomas H. Heist Insurance Agency, the Ocean City Education Foundation and Schools Superintendent Kathleen Taylor (personal donation).

The attached images were provided by Ocean CIty officials:
Photo # 1: Ocean City Police Ptl. Pat Walsh, Bike OCNJ Co-Chair Drew Fasy, Bike OCNJ volunteer Rachel Heist, Bike OCNJ volunteer Jennifer Heist, Bike OCNJ Co-Chair Tom Heist and Ocean City Police Sgt. Brian Hopely work outside Ocean City High School installing free bike lights on Monday, June 13.
Photo # 2: Clockwise from top left: Rachel Heist, Sgt. Brian Hopely, Tom Heist, Jennifer Heist, Drew Fasy.
Photo # 3: Bike OCNJ Co-Chair Tom Heist works outside Ocean City High School installing free bike lights on Monday, June 13.
Photo # 4: The free bike lights include three modes: on, flashing and off.