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Columbia City, South Whitley could open roads to golf carts |
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Wednesday, July 01 2009 |
Starting today, cities and towns in Indiana will be able to decide for themselves if golf carts will be allowed on public roads.
By Chris Meyers
Staff writer
Starting today, cities and towns in Indiana will be able to decide for themselves if golf carts will be allowed on public roads.
Some residents in Whitley County may soon find that their hometown will allow carts on the roads, but not every government is keen on the idea.
Churubusco officials have said they have no plans to allow carts on the town’s roads.
Town council president Frank Kessler said in a recent interview he hasn’t heard sentiments either way from residents about golf carts on the road, and that the council doesn’t plan to address the issue.
Fellow council member and former town marshal John Hart feels if carts are allowed on the road, they could cause more harm than good.
Among his concerns is that residents who own ATVs, snowmobiles and other similar vehicles would then want permission to use roads as well.
“If we open it up to golf carts, what about all the others,” he said.
Columbia City and South Whitley, however, are drafting ordinances allowing carts on public roads.
The ordinances have not yet come before the respective council for passage.
For both governments, safety of those in the carts and other drivers is the highest priority.
Slow-moving signs, headlights, taillights and passenger restrictions are all some conditions that could be placed on golf cart operators.
Columbia City police chief Mike Petersen, who is helping with the ordinance, said he does not fully object to carts being on the road, but he does have some concerns about another kind of vehicle on city streets.
“Adding another component … to the roadway, I have some reservations about that,” he said.
For city residents Chuck and Phyllis Stewart, being able to use a golf cart on a city street would be a great opportunity.
The couple recently appealed to the city council to allow carts on the roads.
Chuck Stewart said he and his wife live in Countryside Mobile Home Park and because of his partial physical disability he would like to be able to use his golf cart to go to the grocery.
As it is now, he can only use the cart on his own property.
“I can sit in my driveway and that’s it,” he said.
As with the ordinance in the works for Columbia City, the one for South Whitley also aims at safety for those in the golf carts and on the road.
Town attorney Greg Hockemeyer is working with town police chief Dave Wilkinson on the best ordinance for South Whitley.
Hockemeyer said the town would likely not require all the features of a street legal car, but could consider restrictions such as when carts could be on the road and the placement of slow moving vehicle signs.
“They’re all safety concerns that we’re trying to address,” he said.
E-mail staff writer Chris Meyers at
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Last Updated ( Thursday, July 02 2009 )
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