Golf carts to be allowed on roads in 2 B.C. towns

The provincial government announced Friday that golf carts will be allowed on the streets of Qualicum Beach and Chase, B.C., provided they are properly regulated and are on roads with a maximum speed limit of 30 kilometres an hour.

"This project will improve the daily lives of British Columbians," said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone in a statement announcing the pilot project.

"This is not for everyone and not for every community but for communities like Qualicum Beach and Chase, it makes good sense for their citizens.

Qualicum Beach has the highest proportion of senior citizens in the country, with 47.2 per cent of residents over 65 in the 2011 census.

But the town's mayor was emphatic that cart-driving could be an attractive transportation option for people of all ages.

"I think for many people, cars are expensive, they want to reduce greenhouse gas, and [golf carts] are a better way of mobility when it rains or gets a bit colder," said Teunis Westbroek.

"It's a lot cheaperand a lot less expensive to maintain than a car."

Westbroek said residents have been requesting the option to drive their golf carts on local roads "for the last 10years," but that it won't be legal until sometime next spring.

"We want to make sure we've crossed all the T's and dotted all the I's as far as safetyis concerned. We have to raise awareness," he said, adding the city would study how jurisdictions in the United States have regulated cart driving.

The provincial government says ifsuccessful in QualicumBeach and Chase, the program could be expanded to other communities in British Columbia.

All golf carts must be registered and insuredand must also have seatbelts, a horn, lights, signalsand a rear-view mirror.

With files from Brenna Rose