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Published Wednesday, September 24, 2008 in Opinion

Newnan Council got it right for now on golf cart issue

Editorial

Should golf carts be allowed on city streets in some residential neighborhoods in Newnan?

Newnan's mayor and city council in effect said no Tuesday evening when they decided to take no action on a request to allow golf carts in SummerGrove. It's all about safety, said city staff, Mayor Keith Brady and Councilman Clayton Hicks who spoke out on the issue.

This all came up in April when people in the giant SummerGrove neighborhood approached council with a request to ride golf carts on city streets in their neighborhood and maybe even to nearby schools and shopping areas.

The mayor and council listened and asked city staff -- including the police chief -- to look at the ramifications. When the chief and other staff members reported back to council their recommendation was no -- citing safety reasons and studies that suggest injuries related to golf cart use have increased.

A SummerGrove representative called the safety study distorted during Tuesday night's meeting. Following the no action by council representatives of Yamaha Golf Cart Company and the National Golf Car Manufacturers Association said they were disappointed in the city's lack of action in today's environment of $4 a gallon gasoline.

Use of golf carts in residential neighborhoods does indeed sound attractive as an alternative to driving a gasoline fueled vehicle. Our eastern neighbors in Peachtree City set the precedent by allowing golf carts for decades. More recently Hahira, a small town north of Valdosta, and Roswell have approved use of golf carts in certain areas.

In September, Roswell said yes to golf cart usage in the residential neighborhood streets in four golf communities. Only licensed drivers can drive the carts and only on residential streets within the subdivision.

In Peachtree City the big difference is the community has built miles and miles of golf cart paths. These paths are not used by cars, trucks or other large vehicles. These paths are throughout subdivisions and alongside most streets. The golf carts are driven in some shopping areas, but for the most part they are not everywhere on Peachtree City streets.

While this issue may be raised again in our community, we agree with the Newnan Council's no action decision at this time. indeed, there are safety issues. SummerGrove streets are busy. The residents there complain about speeding traffic. Putting golf carts on the same streets as all the other SummerGrove vehicle would be a recipe for accidents, injuries and potentially deaths.

And if golf carts were allowed in SummerGrove, that would not significantly reduce the amount of vehicle traffic going in and out of the 2,500-plus home neighborhood.

If the issue does arise again, requesting neighborhood should provide a plan to build separate golf cart paths with private money to alleviate safety issues.

We think Newnan City Council got it right for now.