Eight golf cart crossings have sprung up recently around Gainesville and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) which installed them at the request of the city has, along with the police department, begun a campaign to draw them to the attention of the motoring public.
“GDOT actually does not allow (such vehicles) on state routes,” spokeswoman Elizabeth Johnson said Friday. “State law dictates that restriction for state routes.”
In this case, Johnson added, the crossings were permitted in a few areas and GDOT has put up the signs, but the city of Gainesville has to maintain them.
“Carts also are not allowed on multiuse paths, there must be a dedicated PTV (Personal Transportation Vehicle) path,” Johnson said. “They are allowed on local roads with certain speed limits, and specific items must be met in order to have a crossing at a state route.”
The crossing paths are on Ridgewood Avenue at Greet Street, Main Street at West Academy, Bradford at W. Academy, Washington Street at E.E. Butler Parkway, Spring at Butler, Prior at Jesse Jewell Parkway, Main at Jewell, and College Avenue at Butler.
Now that the crossing are marked and the signs in place noting their presence, Gainesville Police, through the department’s Facebook page, has begun a campaign aimed at educating the public about the rules governing the use of golf carts in the city based on action taken in 2022 by the city council.
“DOT just put up the signs, so we felt it was the right time,” spokesman Kevin Holbrook said. “We have not had any issues (with the use of the carts on city streets) or produced any violations.” Lt. Holbrook added that golf cart drivers wanting to get downtown from outlining areas “must cross state routes at designated crossings.”
As for the “rules of the road” when it comes to golf carts on public streets and roads, the police department shared theses “highlights” from the city’s golf cart ordinance:
Who can operate them? Anyone 16+ with a valid driver’s license.
What’s required of the vehicle itself? It must be “street legal” and be equipped with headlights, taillights, horn, rearview mirror, and safety restraints.
Where can they be operated? City streets marked 35 mph or less. No state routes unless marked as a designated crossing.
All the rules regulating them can be found here: https://library.municode.com/…/code_of_ordinances…