A measure by the Fayetteville City Council to align the use of motorized carts in Fayetteville with the county’s other jurisdictions was tabled at the Aug.7 meeting to give city staff time to obtain clarification on the use of golf carts on sidewalks adjacent to state roadways.
The agenda item had been tabled July 17 to give city staff time to review a request that would allow golf carts on city sidewalks.
The main thrust of the motorized cart ordinance, that of synchronizing Fayetteville with other Fayette County jurisdictions by honoring cart permits issued by other government entities and allowing holders of a valid learner’s permit to operate a cart as well as individuals at least 12 years of age if accompanied in the front seat by a licensed driver age 18 or older, was met with favor by the council.
Responding to an earlier request, city staff proposed that golf carts be allowed on city sidewalks, with the exception of sidewalks of five feet in width that run along state highways, such as Ga. highways 54 and 85, because Ga. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) standards pertaining to those sidewalks cannot be met. DOT standards require a 10-foot sidewalk along state roads. City sidewalks along those roadways are often five feet in width.
In the end, the council voted to table the item again to give staff time to address the issue with state legislators to determine if there might be some alternative to the DOT requirement.
