By Ian Holmes

Golf carts won’t be roaming the roads of Qualicum Beach for a while

Aug 15, 2016 | 12:31 PM

QUALICUM BEACH — Golf carts won’t be taking to the roads of Qualicum Beach just yet.

That cautionary message from mayor Teunis Westbroek following word that the B.C. Government has chosen Qualicum Beach as a two-year pilot project site for the use of golf carts.

Westbroek hopes the experiment gets going next spring, and believes this is a long-term solution for creating more freedom for seniors.

“For a lot of people to reduce greenhouse gas is important, but even perhaps in some ways more important is to allow mobility,” says Westbroek.

Provincial government safety requirements include restricting golf cart use to local roads with a 30 km/h speed limit, must be registered and insured, and have lights, seat belts and rear-view mirrors.

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Westbroek says the town will need to adjust the speed limit of some roads to help create useful transportation routes for golf cart drivers. 

He says a detailed public awareness campaign will be critical.

“We’re going to rely on the radio, television, newspapers and publications from the town, to draw people’s attention to this. But we’re not going to allow any golf carts on the road unless we’ve completely exhausted all options in terms of making it as safe as possible.”