The Jersey Shore possesses some of the most scenic bicycling terrain in the state. From Sandy Hook to Seaside Heights, Long Beach Island to Atlantic City, and as far south as Cape May, there are boardwalks, bicycle lanes, and bicycle parking to be found. This article provides guidance regarding the rules for bicycling on a selection of beach town boardwalks and links to bicycle rental shops. This information was accurate as of May 1st, 2025, but is subject to change at any time. As electric bicycles grow in popularity, new ordinances that affect their use may come into effect.   

  • Asbury Park: The city of Asbury Park has seen explosive growth in the past decade. The thriving downtown and boardwalk area make for an attractive place to bike. Additionally, there are a multitude of activities to do, such as seeing live music at the Stone Pony or checking out an old-fashioned arcade. The Asbury Park boardwalk stretches connects from Ocean Grove to Bradley Beach. A painted bicycle lane runs through the artery of town on Grand Avenue from Deal Lake to Cookman Avenue. Bicycles are available to rent from multiple shops in town. 
    • Year-round, bicycles are permitted on the Asbury Park boardwalk from 12 A.M. to 10 A.M.  
    • Bicycles are never permitted on the portion of the boardwalk north of Sixth Avenue. 
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  • Atlantic City: The city formerly known as the “Nation’s Playground” is still full of hotels and casinos, with millions of visitors each year. AC’s 5-mile boardwalk was the first to be built in the United States. There are various affordable boardwalk bicycle rental spots as well as roadway bicycle lanes. Atlantic Avenue has a painted bike lane for its entirety, running from O’Donnell Memorial Park to the end of the island. The city has also been working to protect pedestrians, recently starting a road diet project on one of the city’s most dangerous streets. As of July 2024, the City Council has been considering extending the hours bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk.
    • In-Season: From May 15th through September 15th, bicycles are permitted on the Atlantic City boardwalk from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
      • 24-hour riding is permitted on the boardwalk from Connecticut Avenue to Gardner’s Basin.
      • From July 1st through Labor Day, bicycles are only permitted on the stretch of the boardwalk between Jackson Avenue to Albany Avenue from 6:00 AM to 12:00 P.M on weekends, and 24 hours at all other times.
    • Off-Season: Bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk at all times from September 16th to May 14th.
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  • Belmar:  Belmar is a great shore town to explore on a bike, with many residents owning one. Unfortunately, there are no bike rental shops within town. However, one can find bicycle rentals in the neighboring town of Spring Lake or further out in Asbury Park. There are currently no ordinances regarding e-bikes.
    • In-Season: From May 1st to September 30th, riding a bicycle on the Belmar boardwalk is permitted between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM
    • Off-Season: Starting October 1st and ending April 30th, riding a bicycle on the Belmar boardwalk is permitted any time of day.
  • Cape May: Bicycles are a common sight in the city at the state’s southern edge, but there are various rules to be aware of. One important rule is that bicycles are banned from entering the Washington Street Mall, the large pedestrian walkway lined with small businesses. In Cape May, the rental of motorized bicycles (Class 3 e-bikes) is prohibited, although the rental of low-speed (Class 1 and 2) e-bikes is not. There are a multitude of businesses where one can rent bikes in Cape May, and many of them are included in this guide.
    • In-Season: From May 16th to September 14th, riding and/or parking a bike on the boardwalk, promenade and surrounding areas is only allowed between 4:00 AM and 10:00 AM
    • Off-Season: Starting September 15th through May 15th, the in-season limitations are not in effect.
  • Long Beach Island: Bicycling around LBI mainly consists of roadside biking within the area, and there are various bike and e-bike rental businesses across the island. From nearby Beach Haven to Beach Haven Inlet there are about 4 miles of bike lanes. Additionally, you can ride the 4.2 mile Beach Haven Loop, accessible for all levels of bicyclists. There are plenty of bicycle rental shops along CR 607, the main road on Long Beach Island and bicycle parking is readily available throughout town. Depending on whether or not you decide to book a room on the island, motels like Lorry’s Island End Motel offer free loaner bicycles to their guests. There is currently no boardwalk on LBI, and this, along with the county road’s wide shoulder, is why road biking is so popular. As a result, road safety is a concern on the island. In the beginning of this summer, the LBI town of Harvey Cedars introduced a Street Smart campaign to curb pedestrian injuries.
    • There are no time restrictions on bicycles on Long Beach Island.
  • Long Branch: There are plenty of great opportunities for cyclists to enjoy the area  despite the restriction of bikes on the boardwalk. The surrounding streets and bikeways make it easy for riders to explore the area. The bikeway on Ocean Avenue runs along the boardwalk, providing scenic beach views. From West End Avenue to Howland Avenue, there is a protected bike lane; however, most of the bikeway is a shared road until McLoone’s Pier House. At this point, the rest of the route consists of painted bike lanes until the boardwalk’s end. Long Branch also has a few rental stores with different types of bikes to cater to beach cruisers. These rental shops make it effortless for tourists and residents to go for a ride and savor the day.
  • Ocean City: There are over a dozen rental and sales stores located throughout Ocean City, with Sunday being the busiest day of the week for rentals. Ocean City is a great example of a benchmark shore town that has implemented NJDOT’s Complete Streets policies. The “Gardens” neighborhood features separated bicycle lanes which continue into Longport Bridge, there are painted bike lanes on the widely used West Avenue from 11th Street all the way to 33rd Street, as well as buffered bicycle lanes from 34th Street to 55th Street in the south end of town, and Haven Avenue is home to a beautiful bike boulevard. Not all streets have bike lanes, and the city has made it clear in municipal code that riding a bicycle on the sidewalk on the North side of 8th Street and both sides of Asbury Avenue is strictly prohibited. On the pedestrian side, Simpson Avenue and 2nd Street have corner bump outs and a midblock crosswalk can be found on the 800 block of Asbury Avenue. Ocean City also has a strict abandonment policy. Bicycles left for three or more days are impounded and discarded.
    • In-Season: From May 15th through Labor Day, bicycles are permitted on the Ocean City boardwalk between 5:00 AM and 12:00 PM These rules do not apply on weekdays from May 15th to the graduation day of Ocean City High School. Bicycles can be completely prohibited during certain event days throughout the summer.
    • Off-Season: Starting the day after Labor Day and ending May 14th, riding a bicycle on the Ocean City boardwalk is permitted any time of day.
  • Point Pleasant Beach: Point Pleasant Beach is a charming beach town with scenic ocean views and fun activities. Though the boardwalk does not allow cycling, there is an opportunity for cyclists to discover attractions like Jenkinson’s Boardwalk on Ocean Ave. At Jenkinson’s, you can find the aquarium, arcades, miniature golf, and rides, which makes this area a great place for families to have a good time. Point Pleasant Beach adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2013, meaning they are actively working to improve the safety of their streets for all road user, cyclists included! If you are in town visiting, there are a few rental stores supplying beach cruisers to those looking to ride.
    • In-Season: From May 1st to September 30th, bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk only between the hours of 5:00 AM and 9:00 AM daily.
    • Off-Season: From October 1st to April 30th, bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk between the hours of 5:00 AM and 9:00 AM, on Saturdays and Sundays, and between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, on Mondays through Fridays, excluding State holidays.
  • Sandy Hook: With beautiful scenery and historic landmarks, Sandy Hook provides an excellent year-round cycling opportunity. There are a few routes to take, but a popular one is the seven-mile-long multi-use Path, which takes you from the beginning of the peninsula to its northern tip. The paved path guides you along the beaches, historic military buildings, and the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States. When open, you have a chance to visit the lighthouse’s museum and explore the history of Sandy Hook. This path is a great opportunity for families and groups to ride on, as vehicles are strictly prohibited. There are limited bicycle rentals on Sandy Hook; the only rental on the peninsula, SAHO Bike Rentals, is located at the northern end, so it may be ideal to bring your own bike. However, there is vehicle parking if you would like to make the trip to the tip of Sandy Hook and start your cycling journey there. If you choose to cycle on the road, it is important to remember that bicycles and electric bicycles must follow the posted speed limit and the signs for where bicycles are allowed.
    • There are no restrictions for biking on Sandy Hook other than opening and closing times.
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  • Seaside Heights:  Bicycle rentals are readily available year-round at one of the many establishments between Lafayette and Trenton avenues. There are plenty of attractions to bicycle to, with Jenkinson’s boardwalk in nearby Point Pleasant, Casino Pier and water parks at Seaside Heights, and the white sands of Island Beach State Park. Bike parking is readily accessible along the route, with waterfront areas getting full early in the day during the summertime. Recently, Seaside Heights has begun looking into a Complete Streets policy. In 2023, the town participated in NJTPA’s Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program which resulted in a report for Central Avenue. On the pedestrian front, the city plans to add a second HAWK (High-intensity Active crossWalK) to Route 35. E-bikes are completely prohibited on the boardwalk.
    • In-Season: From April 1st to October 31st, bicycles are permitted on the Seaside Heights boardwalk between 6 AM and 12 PM on weekends.
      • From June 15th to Labor Day, bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk from 6 AM to 1 PM on weekdays.
    • Off-Season: Bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk at all times from November 1st through March 31st.
  • Ventnor City: Located just south of Atlantic City, Ventnor offers a great opportunity to cycle between neighboring cities while enjoying the Jersey Shore. The boardwalk is open year-round with some seasonal restrictions, providing cyclists a chance to explore the city during the off-season. A highlight of the ride is the Ventnor Pier, which gives bicyclists an area to rest and even try their hand at fishing. Cycling north to Atlantic City lets you experience the magic of the city’s boardwalk. Heading south into Margate City, the boardwalk ends so cyclists will need to bike on the road. However, when in Margate, you won’t want to miss seeing Lucy the Elephant, a six-story structure that has been a fixture in the city since 1970. Although Ventnor does not have any bicycle rental stores, Atlantic City and Margate City each offer one, which makes the area easy to explore.
    • In-Season: From July 1st to Labor Day, bicycles are permitted 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and during daylight hours on Monday through Friday. Motorized vehicles (bicycles, scooter, skateboards) are prohibited year-round.
    • Off-Season: Bicycles are permitted in the daylight hours during the week.
  • The Wildwoods: Bicycle rental shops are located throughout the island with well over a dozen locations for both servicing and renting. The City of Wildwood has a digital resource for riders with routes and tips, the MyCityBikes app. A “bikes only” lane is dedicated throughout the length of North Wildwood, from 1st Avenue to 26th Avenue along Surf Avenue. Additionally, there are bike paths running along the beachside in Wildwood Crest from Rambler Road to Cresse Avenue, eventually meeting the boardwalk. The city also permits the parking of bicycles underneath the boardwalk. Wildwood has received a number of local aid grants from NJDOT’s Division of Local Aid and Economic Development over the years to assist with road conditions and walkability in and around town.
    • In-Season: From May 15th through September 30th, bicycles are permitted on the Wildwood boardwalk from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM
    • Off-Season: These rules do not apply October 1st through May 14th.