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So Why Aren’t More Of Us Driving Golf Carts?

More of them are appearing on some Kentucky streets as residents look for gas-friendlier alternatives. Also, most states already have laws allowing them to share certain roads with regular traffic. Writer Eric Jaffe asks: Why golf carts and not electric cars?

What’s the Latest Development?

As more of their residents turn to golf carts as a gas-saving transportation alternative, officials in several Kentucky cities and towns have passed or are considering passing legislation that will regulate where they can go. Current state policy allows golf carts and other low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on any road with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. Interestingly, Kentucky is far from alone with this policy: All but four states allow LSVs to mix with conventional traffic, and most of them use the 35-miles-per-hour guideline.

What’s the Big Idea?

If residents are trying to save gas, why won’t they buy a considerably sturdier electric vehicle (EV)? Writer Eric Jaffe says saving money still seems to be a primary motivation: Even with recent price cuts, EVs such as the Chevy Volt are still more than twice as expensive as some popular golf cart models. He also suggests that if barriers to EV use are what’s driving the uptick in golf carts on the roads, dealerships and local governments should do more to remove those barriers, such as bundling EVs with conventional cars or creating EV-only parking areas.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Read it at The Atlantic Cities

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