Following Alderperson’s and resident’s requests, Monmouth City staff has compiled sample ordinances from surrounding communities regarding the use of golf carts on city streets. The use of non-highway vehicles has become popular in smaller communities around Monmouth and has led to inquiries regarding a possible use within Monmouth’s city limits. Communications Director Ken Helms states the pros and cons City Council discussed:
“Golf carts are a slower moving vehicle. They also sit a little bit lower to the ground so there are concerns about driver safety, that kind of thing. They would be in all regards restricted from operating down Main Street and Broadway simply because those are very heavy traffic and truck routes. Nobody feels that would be safe to operate on. What they have done in other cities is they have allowed them to cross the road, but they just cannot operate on the road for an extended period of time. It is mostly a side street kind of thing. So safety concerns would definitely be one of them and they would require a license so it would only be licensed people operating these. We would not have underage people driving around.”
The Monmouth City Attorney will next prepare a draft ordinance and the item will return to City Council at a later time for continued discussion.
