Golf carts could soon become a common sight on the District of 100 Mile House's roads.
During the June 10 District of 100 Mile House Council meeting, a May 22 report was received by the district, which stated that the district has expressed interest in allowing golf carts in the District of 100 Mile House for several years. According to the Motor Vehicle Act, low-speed vehicles are allowed on municipal roadways as long as the posted speed limit is not above 40 km/h. In 2017, a pilot project was launched where Chase and Qualicum Beach permitted golf cart usage on public roads.
In 100 Mile House, Mayor Maureen Pinkney said that this has been looked at by the District for a "very long time" but had never gained any sort of traction further than background information. Tammy Boulanger, the Chief Administrative Officer of the District of 100 Mile House, said that there is no history of council allowing golf carts on district roads, but that Pinkney "has always had an interest in this idea."
"There's definitely a push in a lot of different communities now looking at very low emission vehicles, but also ones that obviously don't take as much space, when they're looking at how much parking and different things there are," said Pinkney.
Some steps she stated included getting the speed limits reduced to 30 km/h and putting in speed bumps. Under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, regulations allow for neighbourhood zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to be operated within a municipality, as long, as under Section 24.06, section 2, "a person may use or operate a neighbourhood zero-emission vehicle in a municipality on a highway or class of highway that has a speed limit of 40km/hr or less, if authorized by bylaw of the council of the municipality on a highway or class of highway that has a speed limit of over 40 km/h but no more than 50 km/hr, or if the vehicle is being operated in accordance with the provisions applicable to a utility vehicle as provided for in Section 24.03", which the section itself provides the operation of utility vehicles.
Boulanger said this means that, so long as a golf cart or ZEV is properly insured and meets the requirements, these vehicles could be used on district roads today without any additional bylaws passed by council.
"If someone wants to buy one, they can put it on the road tomorrow. We don't need to do anything," Boulanger explained.
Concerns about insurance and safety were brought up by Coun. Marty Norgren, who said there were potential liability issues.
"Our corners and stuff are a bit challenging at first, and Birch is a challenging little intersection, so I just wonder about the safety of those smaller little vehicles in those boxes," Norgren said.
Boulanger said during the meeting there would not be any impact on insurance or liability for the District of 100 Mile House, because it would be up to the driver and owner of the vehicle to ensure they have appropriate licensing and insurance.
However, Pinkney said there needs to be a separate rule for Blackstock Road, because several roads in that subdivision have speed limits above 40 km/h. Coun. Dave Mingo added that the golf carts could not be allowed on Highway 97 up and down the highway.
Boulanger, in an email to the simplymastery, said that the benefits of allowing for golf carts on district roads would be directly related to the owners and operators.
"The only benefit to the district would possibly be some minor reduction on municipal roadway wear and tear and improving overall GHGs (greenhouse gases) in the area with the use of ZEVs," Boulanger said.
Pinkney requested that staff investigate the opportunity to have golf carts on municipal roadways similar to Chase.
Mingo said that they could potentially send a notice out to residents of 100 Mile House to send a quick word about awareness, and that ZEV vehicles fall under provincial regulations, and that they are allowed on 30 km/h street zones in 100 Mile House.
