Marble Falls considers golf cart use on city streets
Marble Falls is weighing the pros and cons of letting golf carts cruise around its residential and downtown districts.
While the proposal is only being considered at this point, the City Council heard a thorough presentation from city staff Tuesday, Sept. 2, on the potential benefits and risks of allowing the carts on city streets in certain parts of town.
“It’s already happening in Marble Falls,” Downtown and Marketing Manager Erin Burks told the council during the presentation. “People are already using them. They’re coming downtown, they’re parking in regular parking spots, they’re using them at events.”
Burks explained that golf carts already can technically drive on city streets under specific conditions.
By Texas law, carts can legally be on the road if:
- the street has a speed limit of 35 mph or less;
- the cart has a state license plate;
- the driver is on their way to or from a golf course within 5 miles of their home;
- and there is no city ordinance prohibiting golf carts on streets.
“There have been several requests by residents to allow golf carts in the (downtown) area, and some of our businesses have made that request,” Burks added.
She went on to say that golf cart use could stimulate downtown economic growth and tourism and improve recreational aspects for residents and visitors. Part of her presentation to the council cited current trends, like the growth of the golf cart industry, which is projected to nearly double in size from $1.7 billion to $3.4 billion by 2034. Burks noted that other tourism-heavy communities see some benefits from golf cart use, like improved parking availability, reduced traffic, and increased visitor satisfaction.
“By creating a golf cart-friendly zone, Marble Falls can enhance its tourism experience, encourage local spending downtown, and strengthen its identity as a walkable, visitor-friendly community,” she said.
Under Burks’ proposal, golf carts would be allowed to travel along city streets south of RR 1431 and west of U.S. 281 on roadways with a speed limit lower than 35 mph. They would not be permitted north of RR 1431. Crossing U.S. 281 would be allowed if a special route were made beneath the bridge on the north bank of Lake Marble Falls.
Residents also likely would be required to have a city-issued permit and registration as well as ample safety and visibility attachments on their carts. Normal rules of the road would apply to golf cart drivers, who would also need a driver’s license to operate on city streets.
Special golf cart parking could be created downtown along with other multi-use driving paths throughout the city, allowing for easy travel in general.
CONCERNS
“If this is already happening, are we going to shut it down even harder or try to come up with some rules?” Burks posed to the Marble Falls City Council at the close of her presentation.
While the council seemed favorable toward the proposal, there were some questions about safety, the ability to enforce regulations, and how to prevent swarms of rental carts from flooding the city.
“We can certainly do it, but we have to do it safely,” Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson told the council.
Hanson noted that having golf carts on the streets would inevitably lead to accidents with larger vehicles, his officers might not always be able to respond to regulation violations, and strict enforcement would be needed to keep everyone safe and in line.
“You’re mixing a lightweight vehicle with two-ton vehicles on the streets. It is not a matter of if (accidents) will happen, it is when it will happen,” he said. “And (enforcement) could add a workload to my officers (who) really already don’t have enough time.”
If the council moved forward on the golf cart proposal, Hanson said it should include bans on driving along thoroughfares used by first responders during emergencies, like Avenue N, Industrial Boulevard, and Second Street.
Place 1 Councilor Griff Morris said the city should note the chief’s safety concerns before taking action.
“I need to know a lot more about this,” he said. “More data, more statistics, more fatalities, EMS calls. How many people is it going to take (to adequately regulate)?”
Mayor John Packer, who was backed by Place 5 Councilor Richard Westerman, showed his support for the plan but had reservations about rental companies flooding the city with golf carts.
“I’m all for it, but I’m not for 500 golf carts on every corner for rent,” he said.
Ultimately, the council directed Burks and Hanson to do more research regarding the proposal and for City Attorney Josh Brockman-Weber to look into the legality of limiting golf cart rentals within the city.
Light vehicles argument is a smokescreen hiding behind public safety. For years government at all levels has been pressing for smaller, lighter, more efficient vehicles. Governments and groups pushing for walking, bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, Segways, etc to decrease congestion and increase human flow. Not to mention some of these golf carts/utvs are heavier and built stronger than some of the vehicles on our streets and highways.
This town loves to talk about how it is a destination city. How we run this city off of visitors. So get past yourselves and get on board with properly coordinating this additional ‘infrastructure’ planning before it coordinates for you.
To readers, residents & prior commentors, having golf carts downtown will not increase walkability, improve business nor support increased parking as professed by E. Burks.
Parking downtown is NOT an issue in a real sense. One can park during any busy time of day/week and still park within one block of main street. Anyone saying otherwise simply is complaining about walking more than one block when visiting downtown.
A cart will be parked in a car spot, without a doubt & not improve ‘parking’ for others.
A cart being struck by a full size truck WILL impart severe injury upon occupants at ANY speed below 35 mph.
Other than misguided notions of parking, foot traffic and safety, it makes no difference to not allow mobility in any new form.
I feel if the golf cart is street legal, has a drivers license, the cart is insured and has the Texas license plate it should be allowed. Regarding potential accidents let’s not forget these carts are limited to 30 mph roadways. And I don’t understand how it matters if a cart is taking up the parking space or a car. Regarding rentals that is a whole other issue. But for those of us who already own carts it would be wonderful to be able to legally run up to the library, to the parks or to one of the shops/restaurants downtown. If it’s passed for just privately owned carts and forget the rental angle it might not be the big issue they are trying to make it.
Do golf carts have turn signals?
Are golf carts required to carry insurance like an automobile?
Is there a driverless uber golf cart?
I totally disagree with this idea. Parking downtown is already a hassle–not enough parking. Any golf cart rental companies should be banned. Even though there may be rules and regulations, too many people today think they are the exception. Why are any businesses downtown worried about people getting around on golf carts? Golf carts should be restricted to the golf course and the community in which the course is located.
I disagree with the statement about mixing a lightweight vehicle with a two ton vehicle and having potentially more accidents. You have small vehicles sharing the roads with larger vehicles every day in this city. It is not the size of the vehicles that cause more accidents. It is ultimately the drivers who cause accidents. If they are worried about people setting up rentals just make it against an ordinance.