The City of Clarkesville voted to approve an ordinance that would allow citizens to drive registered golf carts on city roads with a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour.
Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock says that members of the community had asked the council for years to consider letting citizens navigate downtown Clarkesville in their golf carts. Councilman Franklin Brown, the owner of a golf cart himself, says he was also in favor of an ordinance that would let citizens use their golf carts downtown.
The council discussed bringing the subject to the citizens for a public hearing at their February meeting after discussing the ordinance off-and-on since 2020. The city held a called meeting and hearing on March 16 that Now Habersham was not made aware of.
During that meeting, according to the minutes, the council heard concerns from two citizens who approved of the ordinance and one who did not. Brown also expressed his approval for the ordinance at that meeting, according to the minutes, saying that he believed golf carts would make it easier for the elderly to attend Clarkesville’s events and patronize businesses. He went on to say he didn’t expect more than 20 carts to be in the city.
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According to the ordinance approved at their Monday meeting, the areas golf carts would be allowed to travel in the city will be limited to city streets with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or lower, as well as streets that will be designated by signage. Those signs will come at a later date.
The city plans to also put “slow down” signs in place, which they believe will be better for pedestrian traffic as well as golf cart traffic.
“Personal Transportation Vehicles,” as the golf carts are referred to in the ordinance, must have a maximum of four wheels, weigh less than 1,375 pounds, have an operating speed of less than 20 miles per hour and transport a maximum of eight people to drive in Clarkesville.
For an individual to drive their golf cart in Clarkesville, they will have to register their cart at city hall and receive a decal for the cart that signifies its registration for $15. To register, a cart must have a braking system, reverse warning, main power switch, headlights, tail lights, reflectors, a horn, a rearview mirror, safety/warning labels, seatbelts and/or handholds.
The council, which at this time only has three members, voted 2-1 to approve the ordinance. Councilman Terry Gladden was in opposition.
