OCEAN CITY HIGHWAY SAFETY

There are bus/bike lanes on both sides of Coastal Highway. Please do not park or drive in these lanes unless you are making a right turn. Be alert for bicyclists when entering or leaving the highway.

Municipal buses travel in the extreme right-hand lane on Coastal Highway. They stop and pick up or discharge passengers only at designated bus stops. When following a bus, please keep this in mind.

Motorists must yield right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the street at a crosswalk, at any controlled intersection when obeying the traffic signals, and at any non-signaled intersection.

BICYCLISTS must obey the same traffic laws as motorists and may receive citations for failure to obey these rules of the road. The most common violations committed by bicyclists are riding against the flow of traffic in the bike lane, and failing to obey traffic signals. At night, a headlight and rear reflector are required on all bicycles being used in Ocean City.

PARKING INFORMATION:

Parking is available in city lots, private lots and on certain public streets unless otherwise noted. Ample free parking is available at the new Park & Ride in West Ocean City. Park your car for the day and take the city bus for $1 into Ocean City. This shuttle service operates from the Park & Ride to the South Division Street Transit Center where passengers can disembark or pick up a northbound bus.

Please do not park in front of any curb painted red, or in front of any public or private driveways. Also, please note: When parking next to the curb, please park with the flow of traffic with your vehicle’s wheels within 12 inches of the curb.

RV PARKING

Parking for RVs may be found at The Kitchen, a restaurant on Wicomico Street, that allows RVs to park in their lot for a fee. 410-289-3319.

RVs and other oversized vehicles may not park in any municipal lot, public street or alley between June 1 and September 15 of each year by Town Ordinance. An oversized vehicle is 21 feet, 2 inches or more in length, and 6 feet, 8 inches in width, needing more than one parking space.

For more information, call the Ocean City Police Department, 410-723-6610.

BOAT TRAILER PARKING

A person may not park a boat trailer on public streets, alleys, or public parking lots from May 1 through October 1. A boat trailer may not be ticketed or towed unless a warning notice has been posted on the boat trailer at least 8 hours prior to ticketing or towing.

PARKING METERS

Parking meters on city parking lots are in effect 24 hours a day. Meters on streets may vary in parking time allowed, so please check the hours posted on the meter prior to leaving your vehicle.

THE BUS SERVICE
IN OCEAN CITY, AVOID THE FUSS - RIDE THE BUS!

Don’t worry about finding parking near the Boardwalk or any favorite spot around Ocean City. For just $2, ride the bus anywhere in Ocean City, from the Inlet to the Delaware State Line. Ride all day, as many times as you wish! The service runs 24 hours daily. Bus stops are located on every other block along Coastal Highway, Philadelphia Avenue and Baltimore Avenue. It’s the way to go!

During summer, buses run approximately every 10 minutes. From October to Memorial Day, buses are operated every half-hour. Exact change ($2.00) is required.

Municipal buses follow a route south along Coastal Highway and Philadelphia Avenue to South Division Street, where they make a stop at the Transit Center. They then travel north on Baltimore Avenue to 15th Street, turning left and continuing north on Coastal Highway to the 144th Street Transit Center.

Parking at the Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 in West Ocean City is free- take the bus into Ocean City for $1!

Senior citizen half-fare discount passes for visitors over 60 years of age are available at City Hall, Convention Center Box Office at 40th Street and at Northside Park, 125th Street.

Senior citizen resident passes are available at City Hall. For more information call 410- 723-1607. Those physically challenged can call Transportation for at-home pick-up service and also request complete information on city buses which are equipped with wheelchair lifts. 410- 723-1607.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Please cross only at marked crosswalks, preferably those with pedestrian signal lights. Maryland law requires pedestrians use the sidewalk where it is available, rather than walking in the street. Please do not walk or jog in the bus/bike area on Coastal Highway. Hitch-hiking inOcean City is prohibited.

CITY ORDINANCES TO NOTE

Drinking alcoholic beverage in public is prohibited. This includes on any street, avenue, alleyway; any sidewalk, beach, parking lot and vehicle in any of these areas. Possessing an open container of any alcoholic beverage in public also is not allowed.

Sleeping in any motor vehicle within the city limits of Ocean City is prohibited. Sleeping on the beach also is not allowed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

BEACH and BOARDWALK INFORMATION

A visit to the Boardwalk is always fun and entertaining. With many amusements, shops and food pavilions, the Boardwalk is one of Ocean City’s most exciting attractions. The 2.9- mile Boardwalk stretches from the Inlet in South Ocean City to 27th Street.

The 10-mile stretch of beautiful beach in Ocean City is free and open to the public from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The remaining hours are used to clean the beach. No private vehicles are permitted on the beach at any time.

When swimming in the ocean, enjoy the refreshing waves, but remember to be careful. Ocean surf can be rough and it is best to swim using the buddy system - someone with you in the water at all times. Beach Patrol members are on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily all summer to ensure your safety. Please obey the Beach Patrol when you are on the beach. They are there to protect you. Always swim near a lifeguard.

Surfers may use either of the two surfing beaches announced daily on local radio stations. These two areas are dedicated to surfing only for the day indicated. For more information on surf beaches and beach conditions, call any of the area surf shops.

Surf fishing is permitted in Ocean City. However, be sure you are not within 50 yards of swimmers or of anyone on the beach between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Frisbees, ball throwing and other sports are not allowed on the beach from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily from May 30 to September 15, by Town Ordinance.

PET PARENTS

Animals are allowed on the beach or boardwalk at any time between October 1 and April 30. Any handler or owner of a dog must remove any waste deposited on public or private property not owned by handler or owner in possession of said dog. Also, dogs must be kept on a leash when being walked in and around Ocean City. Dogs may visit Northside Park Recreation Complex where walking paths and open space may be enjoyed.

A new Dog Playground is available at 94th St. bayside. Contact OC Recreation & Parks at 410-250-0125 for sales pass information. More info here.

SKATEBOARDS, BICYCLES & ROLLER BLADES ON THE BOARDWALK

To ensure the safety of this heavily-traveled walkway, certain regulations are in effect during the summer months. Skateboards are not permitted on the Boardwalk, public streets, alleys, sidewalks and public lots. There is a skateboard park at 3rd Street and St. Louis Avenue. For up-to-date information on hours and regulations, contact the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department Office, 410-250-0125 or 410-289-2695.

Bicycles are allowed on the Boardwalk as follows:

Bicycles

Roller Skates/Blades

NOISE REGULATIONS

Please remember that your neighbors may be here to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet on the beach, as well as their accommodations during evening hours.

It is unlawful for any person to make, cause or continue any loud, unnecessary, unnatural or unusual noise, or any noise which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace and safety of others at any time, day or night.

Ocean City strongly enforces its ordinance that no disruptive noises be made between 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m., in such a manner as to be plainly heard at a distance of 50 feet from the building or structure which it is located.

Maryland Motor Vehicle Law and Ocean City Town Ordinance state that no loud noise from a vehicle may be heard at a distance of 50 feet from the vehicle at any time.