Last June, Bellevue passed an ordinance permitting the use of golf carts in the city with the exclusion of Fairfield Avenue and Memorial Parkway.
At the June 14 city council meeting, Bellevue City Administrator Frank Warnock and council members showed interest in legislation allowing the carts on Fairfield Avenue. However, Warnock said the police and fire chief did not recommend it.
Warnock said he had heard sentiment about allowing them on the avenue and said neighboring Dayton enables the carts to be on their main street. He said he asked city staff for their recommendations.
“The police chief said no, don’t do it. The fire chief said no, don’t do it,” Warnock said. “Their interest is public safety, and they don’t want to see people get hurt on Fairfield Avenue. I voted for it, so I wanted to throw it out there to see what you guys think. What do you want to do?”
Currently, carts can cross Fairfield Avenue at a light in an intersection but can’t drive up and down the street.
All city council members expressed interest in legislation allowing the carts on the avenue, adding that if it did not work, they could “roll it back.” Warnock said he would draft something for the following meeting, which takes place on July 12.
City Attorney Dave Fessler said the state reserves the right to preempt if they decide they do not want golf carts on Route 8 because it is a state-owned route.
Per the existing ordinance by the city, if you are operating a golf cart on a public road, you are subject to traffic regulations. The golf cart driver must drive in the right-hand lane unless making a left-hand turn. If the golf cart slows the traffic flow, the driver must yield to vehicles when possible.
Golf carts are exempt from having a title or registration such as a car would have.
Regarding parking the cart, they may only be parked on hard surface pavement parking spaces and in parking spaces designated by the city in its parks. They may not be parked on city sidewalks.
Further information on the rules and regulations of the golf carts can be found here.
