Golf carts will have access to more neighborhood streets in Palm Beach Gardens after the City Council unanimously voted for new regulations governing their use and those of other low-speed vehicles on roadways.
Council members voted 5-0 on July 9 to approve an ordinance that allows golf carts on streets where the maximum speed limit is 25 mph. The ordinance prohibits the use of golf carts on major roadways such as PGA and Northlake boulevards, Military Trail, U.S. 1, Prosperity Farms Road and the Beeline Highway.
The city recently posted a link to its website about the new regulations. Golf carts were identified as an alternate means of transportation in Pam Beach Gardens’ Mobility Plan, an effort to reduce the cars on city roads.
What Palm Beach Gardens’ golf-cart ordinance says
During a first reading of the proposed changes in June, City Attorney R. Max Lohman told council members the ordinance was intended to address confusion from residents regarding where golf carts can and cannot be used.
“There were a lot of people operating golf carts in the city, on the streets and there were becoming enforcement issues,” he said. “People thought they could and didn’t know they couldn’t. Our police officers were out there doing their jobs, enforcing our traffic regulations and giving people a lot of warnings.”
The ordinance defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle with a maximum speed of 20 mph. It requires that golf carts driven on approved roadways meet certain safety standards, including having efficient brakes, a rearview mirror, a reliable steering apparatus and safe tires.
It also requires that golf carts operated before sunrise and after sunset have headlights, brake lights, turn signals and windshields.
Golf carts can cross over over a county right-of-way at marked intersections regulated by either a traffic light or stop sign.
“We don’t want people trying to cross Military Trail in the middle of the block in their golf cart,” Lohman said.
The city’s ordinance for low-speed vehicles, motor vehicles similar to a golf cart but slightly faster, will mirror a state law that allows such vehicles to be used on streets where the maximum speed is 35 mph. Low-speed vehicles have a maximum speed of 25 mph and require registration and insurance.
Can you use golf carts on sidewalks in Palm Beach Gardens?
Golf carts may be operated within the city on streets, alleys and parking areas open to the public designated by the city. The ordinance allows for golf carts to be used on multimodal paths — sidewalks 8 feet or greater in width — in Alton and Avenir, which have designated paths for golf carts.
The speed limit on designated sidewalks will be 15 mph.
Are private communities affected?
Golf carts operated in private communities will be subject to the rules established by that community, Lohman said.
The ordinance states that each private community that permits the use of golf carts “shall provide adequate traffic control devices advising that it is a ‘golf cart community’ regulating the use of golf carts and designating the areas where golf carts may be operated and parked.”
How will the ordinance be enforced?
City police officers can issue a traffic citation for violations involving a golf cart or low-speed vehicle. However, city leaders said the focus in the coming months will educating the public about the new guidelines.
Drivers using golf carts on public streets must have either a valid driver’s license or a learner’s permit.
Julius Whigham II covers northern Palm Beach County and public safety for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Gardens clarifies where golf carts can ride in city. What to know
Reporting by Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
