In an effort to mitigate groups of kids congregating on the beaches and streets at night, and with regard to the safety of the public and municipal employees during the pandemic, Long Beach Township has decided to run the LBI Shuttle service until only 9 p.m.

“The majority of those riding the buses this year, because of COVID, are young people,” township Mayor Joseph Mancini said Friday. “And we’re trying to keep these flash mobs, so to speak, from appearing. We aren’t able to control it.”

On June 23, the township enacted a municipality-wide curfew for those 17 years of age and under.