Ocean City, Maryland is rolling out app-hailed pedicabs along its boardwalk as it moves away from a suspended tram service.
A new ride option is poised to change the look and feel of Ocean City’s boardwalk this Memorial Day weekend, with app-hailed pedicabs set to begin operating along the popular strip.
The town has approved a franchise agreement with Atlantic Pedicabs, LLC, aiming to provide an alternative to its boardwalk tram service, which was suspended from service last year. The change comes as officials look for safer, more flexible transportation for the summer crowds.
Insight: Boardwalk transit decisions can ripple beyond convenience, shaping public trust and expectations for how communities balance tourism with safety.
Under the deal. riders will use a phone app to request pedicabs—large three-wheel vehicles with a driver who pedals and a rear carriage that can seat multiple passengers.. The company’s plan for Ocean City is cashless. with card payments processed electronically. and it will cover the credit and debit processing fee.
Atlantic Pedicabs has described pricing that includes a minimum cost per ride and a per-mile rate. The town will also receive a franchise fee, starting at an amount for the first year and increasing in subsequent years.
Insight: The shift to app-based dispatch and transparent reporting signals a broader push to modernize visitor services while keeping oversight in place.
Council approval followed months of evaluation as Ocean City moved on from its long-running tram. Officials pointed to the suspension of the tram after a fatal incident in 2024, underscoring the stakes of getting public transportation right during peak season.
For the initial launch. service will begin in a limited way. with a portion of the fleet available by Memorial Day weekend and additional vehicles scheduled to be in place as operations ramp up.. Town officials said the company plans to scale up quickly and that its proposal emphasized transparency. including the sharing of operational data so complaints and trip activity can be tracked.
In the end. this summer experiment will be judged in real time by visitors and residents—whether the pedicab rollout can deliver a smoother experience on the boardwalk while meeting the expectations that grew out of last year’s safety concerns.. And if it works. Ocean City may find it has not just changed a mode of transportation. but set a new standard for how it manages public movement along one of the region’s most famous tourist corridors.