With his first season nearing an end, the operator of a new pedicab franchise in Ocean City says he hopes to increase his company’s presence on the Boardwalk next summer.
In April, the Ocean City Council selected Atlantic Pedicabs to operate a new pedicab franchise on the Boardwalk. The service replaces the Boardwalk trams, which were pulled from operation in 2024 after a police investigation into a tram fatality revealed a series of motor vehicle violations.
By July, the company’s app went live, allowing customers to request rides and pay using a mobile account. As of Monday, owner Omar Akel said his company has recorded nearly 4,000 app downloads and just under 2,300 trips.
“That’s been a warm welcome for me,” he told the OC Today-Dispatch this week, “seeing the people using the service and enjoying it.”
In 2016, Akel founded Atlantic Pedicabs, a “pedal-powered” transportation service offering rides to families and visitors along the Jersey Shore. Over the last decade, his business has grown to include a fleet of pedicabs, operating in the communities across Monmouth County.
This year, however, the company expanded its operations to Ocean City, entering into a franchise agreement with the Town of Ocean City for Boardwalk pedicab service. Atlantic Pedicabs was one of three companies to submit bids.
“We saw that there was a request for proposals sent out by the municipality …,” Akel said. “It seemed like a great opportunity to try something new.”