Do golf carts need to be able to travel the streets of Streetsboro?
The city council will discuss the matter further at the meeting on Monday after the matter was first raised by Councilor Justin Ring last month. Some residents contacted him about the legality of using the trolley inside the city, which caused some confusion about the permit. After consulting with legal director Frank Beni, Ring found that the state claims that municipalities have the option of deciding whether to allow “slow speed vehicles”.
Ring said he was in favor of allowing golf carts on the roadway as long as the right requirements were present. In addition to supporting the vehicle’s safety features such as direction indicators and seat belts, he suggested limiting the use of the truck to roads with speed limits not exceeding 25 mph. He also asked if it was possible to add a language that would limit them to subdivisions. Page Road, for example, is very popular and has a speed limit of 25 mph.
“I can drive in my neighborhood, it almost seems like every other family has one,” said Ring. “To be honest with you, on the weekends, I see people outside of themselves and, in my opinion, it almost gives a sense of community.”
According to a list of approved golf cart jurisdictions on the Ohio BMV website, no community in the counties of Portage, Summit or Cuyahoga had any communities listed.
Streetsboro police chief Darin Powers said he was aware that people are using them on the street, even if it is not currently legal. The agents have previously addressed the issue, but were unaware of quotes. He added that he hesitated to say that golf carts should be allowed on the city streets. The streets of Streetsboro are very different from places like Put-in-Bay where golf carts are common. One of his biggest concerns was that they didn’t have the same safety features as cars; even a car hitting a truck at 25 mph would cause injury.
Mayor Glenn Broska agreed, saying that golf carts are not designed for road use, citing that the bodies are often made of hard plastic and fiberglass. He said he sees no need to legally allow golf carts on the roads and sees the situation ripe for abuse. You may be required to have features like seat belts, but you don’t know many people who will use them. He also expressed concern about the children who run them.
“People say,” Well, they use them to carry items on the street for a barbecue, “said Broska.” Well, put the stuff in your car and take it down the street or walk. I don’t see them as a necessity. I don’t even see them as a luxury. I don’t see the need for the city of Streetsboro to have a golf cart license to drive on our roads. ”
Chuck Cooley, a golf cart owner who lives in Meadow View, spoke before the board. His golf cart has four seat belts and doesn’t move unless every cyclist has one, he said. He perceived the children driving the carts as a parental problem and not a problem with the vehicles themselves.
“Everyone in our neighborhood lives with the adults driving,” he said. “The kids are in the back.”
Powers said that if golf carts were allowed, this would not only be in place for the developing ones, it would apply to all residents of the city and not everyone could be responsible for it. Again, he said, his biggest concern was people getting hurt.
People kept noticing things that could happen because others are breaking the law by speeding up and stopping, Ring said. Although he was concerned about the associated risks, he said that he had always been of the idea that many should not be punished for the sins of a few.
City councilor Jon Hannan said people are already taking golf carts on the road and will continue regardless of what is done in the council. He said he would prefer to see something implemented so that people have to follow some guidelines.
Counselor Chuck Kocisko said he considered the issue primarily related to security. Ring replied that he does not like to sacrifice rights in the name of security. He sees golf carts with more safety features than bicycles that are legal on the road. Councilor Julie Field also acknowledged the risks taken when she, a frequent jogger, uses the main roads.
Broska, a motorcyclist, acknowledged that he takes risks when riding his bike. However, he said, that is something already permitted by law. He viewed this situation as the city trying to implement something that no one in the three counties area has considered. However, Ring retorted, he is able to drive despite the inherent risks.
The council voted to continue the conversation at the service committee meeting Monday.
Reporter Kaitlyn McGarvey can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @kaitlynmcg_rc
