Golf carts: answer to high gas?

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Greencastle residents hoping to reduce their gasoline purchases by trading in the family van for a golf cart will need to wait.

City officials have kept a plan to allow the use of such vehicles on city streets in the slow lane for now as they continue to think about the issue.

At the council's Tuesday meeting, city attorney Laurie Hardwick explained what the state law says about the use of alternative forms of transportation on public streets.

First and foremost, four-wheelers are out.

Hardwick said ATV's are not allowed on city streets unless the governing body rules to allow them. County officials paved the way for ATV's on county roads earlier this year, but those rules apparently do not apply to the city.

Golf carts may be allowed, according to Hardwick, if they are registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and meet a list of requirement, such as they must display a slow-moving vehicle sign in the back, have headlights and taillights and various other pieces of safety equipment.

"Generally speaking, ATV's and golf carts are not allowed unless the council allows them," Hardwick said.

The issue of allowing these types of vehicles came up several months ago when the city received inquiries from the public. It's an issue that other municipalities in the state are dealing with as citizens look for alternative sources of transportation.

The council did not take any action Tuesday night.

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  • Neighboring towns such as Brazil have allowed Golf Carts and I don't know how many accidents if any they have caused but I do know they don't have turn signals and stop lights in most cases and they sort of bottle up traffic at times. Also if you think 4 wheels are not allowed on the streets just go out to Albin Pond Road and Sherwood areas and you'll see 4 wheels and Dirt Bikes running on the streets all the time.

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Wed, Aug 13, 2008, at 6:27 AM
  • you know darn good and well that they will not allow this. The reason being is that the city would lose so much money on tax that is on gas.

    -- Posted by tbone46135 on Wed, Aug 13, 2008, at 6:57 AM
  • Brazil may "allow" golf carts on the city streets, but I believe it is only because they haven't made an ordinance yet "dis-allowing" them.

    -- Posted by Dagnabbit on Wed, Aug 13, 2008, at 11:00 AM
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