WALTERS BICYCLES & PEDEGO LBI – A NEW GENERATION
By Diane Stulga
For more than sixty years Walters Bicycles & Pedego LBI in Ship Bottom has been a cornerstone of the business community. In January of 2025, Jason Walters and his wife, Avery, became the third generation to own and manage the family’s legacy business, representing three generations of hard work, quality, and tradition.
“Most of my childhood memories are centered around my dad’s bike shop,” says Jason Walters. “I grew up working alongside of my dad. I always knew I would be involved.” Now a Marine Corp veteran, Jason credits his time in the military for changing his outlook on life and for teaching him the value of dedication and service.
Customer service and serving the community have long been a tradition for the Walters family. Walters Bicycles in conjunction with local police departments sponsors the Annual Bike Rodeo held at the Long Beach Island Elementary School on 20th Street in Ship Bottom. Bikes are checked for safety issues and when needed, repairs are made. Participating children receive helmets, horns, and other equipment donated by the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach Island. There is also an obstacle course where the children learn to operate their bikes safely.
Jason’s grandparents, Bob and Margaret Walters, were originally from Cranford, New Jersey. “My grandfather always wanted to own a bike shop. In 1957, he purchased a garage on Long Beach Boulevard and 5th Street in Ship Bottom and converted it into a retail shop with living quarters upstairs.” Originally named Walters Equipment for the Beach, in 1965 the business was renamed Walters Bicycles when Bob and Margaret became full-time residents of Ship Bottom. Jason’s father, Tom, took over the bike shop in the early 1990s and operated it for more than thirty years before retiring recently. During his tenue it became Walters Bicycles & Pedego LBI.
Each generation of Walters has brought something new and exciting to the business. Tom introduced Pedego Electric Bikes. Under Jason and Avery’s ownership, Walters Bicycles continues the tradition of offering innovative and market-changing bikes with the introduction of SE Bikes — a BMX brand with a long history and significant presence in BMX cycling. “It’s an exciting time,” says Jason.
Jason and Avery were married in 2018 at Brant Beach Yacht Club. In a style much befitting a family with a long history of bicycles, the bride and groom rode a bicycle built for two. As an expression of gratitude to their bridesmaids and groomsmen, each member of the wedding party was presented with a bike.
Today, as Jason and Avery raise the fourth generation of Walters they are honored to keep the wheels turning for the next generation.
Walters Bicycles & Pedego LBI is a full-service shop offering maintenance and repairs. The shop carries a wide variety of bikes and cycling gear.
