File/The Every Breath Counts walk was held on the Ventnor boardwalk, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Residents and visitors will be overjoyed to learn that the city will open its boardwalk Friday, May 22 to foot traffic only. Bicycles will not be allowed on the boardwalk for another week. The beach will be open to sunbathing and swimming Saturday, May 23.
We are relying more and more on the public to keep each other safe and keep their distance, Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Kriebel said Tuesday morning. Access to the beach is tied to the boardwalk so we are allowing pedestrians first.
According to Police Chief Douglas Biagi, the city will allow bicycle riding on the boardwalk starting May 29, but until then, cyclists will have to use the bike lane on Atlantic Avenue. Cyclists must ride in the direction traffic flows. Pedestrians are not permitted in the bike lane. They should use the sidewalks or boardwalk, he said in a Facebook post.
While on the boardwalk, pedestrians must walk on the right side to maintain appropriate distance from other pedestrians.
Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time. Dog walking on a leash is allowed on the beach until Monday, June 1. After that date, dogs can be walked on the beach between 7-9 p.m. but they must be leashed.
Residents and visitors are expected to follow the 6-foot social distancing guideline, staying apart as much as possible, he said. Mask wearing is encouraged.
It is critically important that everyone respects these guidelines and each other so that we can all enjoy Ventnor's boardwalk, Biagi said.
Swimming will be allowed this weekend at lifeguard protected beaches only. Guarded beaches are located at the normal pre-season beaches at Suffolk, Dorset, New Haven and Lafayette avenues. Additional beaches will be added in the weeks following Memorial Day weekend.
Beachgoers are also expected to follow the physical distancing requirements and will notice an increased police presence enforcing the requirement.
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