Golf carts on Cape roadways looks to be a non-starter
The Cape Coral City Council would just as soon ban golf carts from all city streets than designate certain areas of the city to allow them.
That was the consensus during Wednesday’s workshop, with one council member asking an ordinance be drafted to repeal the current ordinance that allows the city to designate certain areas as appropriate for golf cart usage, as well as “non-grandfathering” of an area in the city where the arts are permitted by ordinance.
In December, resident Robert Denis submitted a petition for golf cart use on roads bound by Southeast 10th Street, Southeast 11th Terrace, Southeast 17th Terrace and Southeast 20th Avenue, east of Del Prado Boulevard.
The city council postponed the decision to conduct a review and discussion on the feasibility of golf carts on city streets.
The Cape Coral Police Department and Public Works do not recommend golf carts be used on any public roadway.
Currently, only one area, located east of Santa Barbara near Saratoga Park, has that designation, which was approved in 2001. The person who submitted that petition is now deceased.
The city council was asked to either make no change, repeal the existing ordinance and grandfather the Saratoga Lakes neighborhood approval, or enact a new ordinance and allow for use city-wide on appropriate city streets.
Councilmember Robert Welsh wasn’t interested in any of those options. He said he wanted to get rid of golf carts on city streets entirely.
“There was a fatal golf cart crash on the same night this was on the agenda. I don’t want a 14-year-old on our roadways in a cart,” Welsh said. “There needs to be safety requirements and no grandfathering.”
Most on council would not argue with him. Councilmember Tom Hayden said allowing golf carts would only be asking for trouble.
“Too much trouble for not much gain. We spent a lot to create bike paths and Florida is the leader in cycling fatalities. Now, you want to throw more vehicles with as many as four people?” Hayden said.
However, Councilmember Dan Sheppard said if it’s fair for bikes to use the roadways, then so should golf carts.
“I say they should be allowed on all city roads except the parkways. To say bikes can use the roads but not golf carts is not right,” Sheppard said. “Certain demographics use golf carts (older people). We can create an ordinance to allow it.”
Golf carts are different than low-speed vehicles, which are similar to golf carts but have more safety features. Top speed for a low-speed vehicle is about 25 mph, and 20 mph for a golf cart.
Golf carts aren’t required to be titled or have insurance, unlike low-speed vehicles and can be operated be anyone 14 and older.
Polls done by local organizations and the city manager’s office showed the majority of residents do not want golf carts on city roads over 35 mph, which low-speed vehicles are permitted to use unless deemed unsafe.
Cape Coral Parkway downtown has a 35-mph speed limit, as does Del Prado and Coronado.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com