Facebook Twitter K1-TEXT Email Print

News

City of Bartlesville

Posted: Aug 05, 2024 8:39 PMUpdated: Aug 05, 2024 9:55 PM

Golf Cart Ordinance Fails

Share on RSS

 

Nathan Thompson
CLICK HERE FOR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THIS STORY
 
An ordinance to legalize driving golf carts on Bartlesville city streets failed 3-2 Monday on a vote by the City Council.
 
The ordinance was brought forward by Ward 2 City Councilor Loren Roszel after first being heard by the council in May. After four months of additional study and two motions to table the ordinance, it finally received a full hearing Monday night.
Roszel said it was brought forward to him by constituents who wished to legally drive golf carts. A lengthy debate occurred between council members Monday. Roszel says there are already golf carts on city streets and it is a matter of safety to establish rules for their use.
 
Ward 4 Councilor Quinn Schipper says he spoke with several people across the city, and not one person was in favor of city-wide golf cart usage.
 
Mayor Dale Copeland, who also serves as Ward 1 councilor, said he spoke with representatives from two other cities that have legalized golf carts, and they warned him that if they had to do it again, they would not have. He says golf carts are designed for golf courses, not city streets.
 
Roszel and Ward 3 Councilor Jim Curd voted in favor of legalizing golf carts on city streets. Copeland, Schipper and Ward 5 Councilor Trevor Dorsey voted against the ordinance.
 
Copeland and Schipper say just because the ordinance failed, does not mean it won't be possible in the future. Schipper says he would like to see a study in the city's future comprehensive plan for multi-modal transportation options, or maybe to limit use of golf carts to specific geographical neighborhoods of Bartlesville. 

« Back to News