UPDATE: On Monday, Chatham-Kent council voted 16-0 in favour of taking the first step in the process of potentially adding communities such as Mitchell's Bay and Erieau to the province's Golf Carts pilot project.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will send a letter to the provincial government, asking them to consider expanding the pilot project.
The pilot project only includes Pelee Island and the municipality of Huron-Kinloss.
A unique transportation idea is being floated in Chatham-Kent.
Councillor Trevor Thompson is asking the municipality to send a letter to the province to include communities, like Mitchell’s Bay and Erieau, to be added to the Golf Carts pilot project.
Currently, the golf cart pilot program, introduced in the summer of 2020, only includes Pelee Island and in the municipality of Huron-Kinloss. It allows residents and visitors to use golf carts on roads with a speed limit of up to 50 kilometres per hour. The municipalities of Huron-Kinloss and Pelee Island are required to pass by-laws before golf carts can be used on their roads.
The pilot is intended to examine the ability to safely integrate golf carts with other vehicles until 2030 and determine whether existing rules of the road are adequate.
Drivers must have have a valid A, B, C, D, E, F or G licence to drive a golf cart in the pilot program.
The golf cart can be either electric or gas-powered and it must have two to six seats, a rear-view mirror, a horn, daytime running lights, turn signals, brake lights, and reflectors. Seat belts must be worn by all in the vehicle, if the golf cart is manufactured with seat belts.
The carts can only be operated between April 1 and November 30 each year and must display a slow-moving vehicle sign on the rear of the vehicle.
The carts must not carry passengers under eight years old, must not be capable of going 32 kilometres per hour or faster on a level surface, and it must be operated in the lane furthest to the right, unless preparing to make a left turn.
Car insurance, licence plates, and vehicle registration are not required for golf carts under the pilot program, but all Highway Traffic Act rules of the road apply to golf carts allowed under the pilot, including penalties for impaired driving.
There is no plan by the province right now to grow or expand this pilot project allowing other municipalities to participate. However, officials with the Ministry of Transportation said last year the pilot would support economic development, tourism, and improve quality-of-life in the two communities by providing low-cost mobility alternatives that can help address transportation challenges.