Another Big Reason to Hate Golf Carts in SoWal

Beach Fanatic

Nov 26, '20 · 7:20 AM20,873

This makes me so mad. :pissed:

We already have a problem with sign pollution. The Walton County Sheriff's Office will be placing signs up and down Scenic 30A and connecting roads for golf carts (LSV) - a whole list of laws like no texting while driving, seatbelts required, stay off bike path, etc. (Rental carts are already required to have stickers on them with this info.)

Why make us all pay for golf cart driver ignorance? Why not make renters read the laws and pass a quizz before they can rent? I had to do such before renting a small sailboat one time while on vacation. Why not just make it clear to people they have to follow the same laws as car drivers. We have penalties in place to enforce driving laws. THE LAWS APPLY TO GOLF CARTS IS THIS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND!

Scenic 30A is getting less and less scenic. Will things like this make us lose our scenic highway designation?

Replies

Beach FanaticAuthor

May 5, '23 · 10:44 AM#52

What I mean is that motorists will feel that LSVs are required to use them. So when they don't it'll lead to issues.

And what I meant was that they will be used as parking spaces.

Let's be real. South of 98 is going to go to a parking permit situation at some point. Rentals will have to pay for renters placard. Owners will have to pay. Golf carts will have to pay.

It will be a huge revenue maker for the county and maybe limit some congestion along the roadsides.

Parking lots and shuttles will become popular.

If we don't limit or eliminate golf carts on the roads, carnage will result.

Beach Lover

May 8, '23 · 9:47 AM#53

And what I meant was that they will be used as parking spaces.

Let's be real. South of 98 is going to go to a parking permit situation at some point. Rentals will have to pay for renters placard. Owners will have to pay. Golf carts will have to pay.

It will be a huge revenue maker for the county and maybe limit some congestion along the roadsides.

Parking lots and shuttles will become popular.

If we don't limit or eliminate golf carts on the roads, carnage will result.

Seems that the last (3) County "transportation studies" propose limiting CARS in favor of other forms of micro-mobility...?!?

The Mobility Plan also seeks to facilitate development of park-once environments along 30A and Scenic 98 to encourage visitors to the County’s beach communities to park their car when they arrive and use other forms of transportation to explore their destinations.

2018 CR 30A Corridor Intermodal Strategic Mobility and Transportation Feasibility Study

2020 CNU The Future of Mobility: Reimagining Walton County's Route 30A

2021 Walton County Mobility Plan & Mobility Fee Technical Report

Not sure how many more studies will be conducted before some final decisions and/or actions are made. But oddly, none of these studies mention golf cart pull-over lanes :dunno:

Beach FanaticAuthor

Jun 3, '23 · 12:36 PM#541

SoWal Insider

Jun 12, '23 · 8:01 AM#55

Had to go to PCB Friday and stop back by a location on 30A. We got behind a golf cart traveling at a blistering 8 mph for some distance until I could go around.
Damn the double yellow.

Beach Fanatic

Jun 12, '23 · 8:48 AM#561

If you have a golf cart, you're entitled to park it anywhere you can fit it.

Beach Fanatic

Jun 12, '23 · 2:31 PM#57

If you have a golf cart, you're entitled to park it anywhere you can fit it.
View attachment 100680

Do these crapmobiles have air in the tires? Can they run with flat tires?

SWGB

Jun 12, '23 · 3:16 PM#58

Do these crapmobiles have air in the tires? Can they run with flat tires?

So that is vandalism....

Beach Fanatic

Jun 13, '23 · 8:36 AM#59

We live in a golf cart community in Louisville. Slow speed isn't a problem because some of our roads are 15 mph. But we do have problems with entitled drivers who park & drive wherever they want to. Plus the ones who sit their toddler on their laps while the adult drives. Also, the underage drivers. We do have one trumpy who has a cart with a presidential seal on his with trump on it also. In most cases, a few ruin it for the rest of us. Ellen

Beach Lover

Aug 30, '23 · 11:44 AM#60

Maybe this will help...(?)

New Golf Cart Law

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in May that sets strict rules on who can drive golf carts. The new law goes into effect Oct. 1 of this year. It bumps the age requirement to 15.

15-year-olds must have a driver’s permit. People 16 and older need a driver’s license, and people 18 and older need a valid government issued I.D.

Florida law currently allows anyone 14 and older to drive a golf cart.

Panama City Beach Police officials also said [sic] accidents can happen when people use golf carts for fun instead of their intended purpose.

Unfortunately, "golf carting" has become an activity in SoWal instead of alternate transportation.

SWGB

Aug 30, '23 · 11:51 AM#61

Have you ever seen a tourist when they first see a golf cart? The only other expression is a child on Xmas morning. I don't get it, I don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will

Beach Fanatic

Aug 30, '23 · 12:01 PM#62

Have you ever seen a tourist when they first see a golf cart? The only other expression is a child on Xmas morning. I don't get it, I don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will

Children love toys.

Beach Crab

Aug 30, '23 · 3:10 PM#631

Have you ever seen a tourist wh they first see a golf cart? The only other expression is a child on Xmas morning. I don't get it, I don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will

We visit Grayton Beach nearly every summer for 20 years now. This past summer was the first time we rented a golf cart. We've always done bikes but decided not to bring them this time. I drive a Ford F350, long bed. Being able to maneuver around on something small was so nice and convenient. We have a golf cart at home but we're in the country so no proper streets. It actually saved our sanity by providing a new activity that all could participate in since it rained nearly every day. We ate out way more and bar hopped like college kids simply because of that dang cart! We followed all the rules and never really went down 30A at all. It was about $1000 for the week but with all that rain it really was a nice alternative, just scooted around Grayton sightseeing.

SWGB

Aug 30, '23 · 3:13 PM#64

We visit Grayton Beach nearly every summer for 20 years now. This past summer was the first time we rented a golf cart. We've always done bikes but decided not to bring them this time. I drive a Ford F350, long bed. Being able to maneuver around on something small was so nice and convenient. We have a golf cart at home but we're in the country so no proper streets. It actually saved our sanity by providing a new activity that all could participate in since it rained nearly every day. We ate out way more and bar hopped like college kids simply because of that dang cart! We followed all the rules and never really went down 30A at all. It was about $1000 for the week but with all that rain it really was a nice alternative, just scooted around Grayton sightseeing.

This we don't mind, but you'd be surprised how many people will stay in Grayton, rent a cart and then feel that Rosemary and Topsail State Park are appropriate destinations on a golf cart. Neighborhood and small area use makes sense, but trying to see all of 30A with it is obnoxious and dangerous.

I totally get using them in the country, both of our farms in Missouri utilize old golf carts to get around the property.

Beach FanaticAuthor

Aug 30, '23 · 3:18 PM#65

Haha who is worse? The golf cart driver or the tourist in front of you in the SUV who waves them in to turn in front of them on 30A?

SWGB

Aug 30, '23 · 6:44 PM#66

Haha who is worse? The golf cart driver or the tourist in front of you in the SUV who waves them in to turn in front of them on 30A?

The golf cart, unless the SUV lets them out then immediately turns.

SoWal Insider

Nov 8, '23 · 4:10 PM#67

Matthew Blvd and 98 in Destin
Just now

View attachment 103332
View attachment 103333

SWGB

Nov 9, '23 · 7:00 AM#68

I wonder if the golf cart was trying to make it or if the jeep ran a light? Either way this is a reminder that while considered vehicles, a golf cart doesn't fare well in an accident.

SoWal Insider

Nov 9, '23 · 7:20 AM#69

I wonder if the golf cart was trying to make it or if the jeep ran a light? Either way this is a reminder that while considered vehicles, a golf cart doesn't fare well in an accident.

Never designed for road use. I once favored them even owning one myself that I never licensed because of fear my visiting relatives would want to take it to the beach.
I lived north of 98 at the time used it to go to the nearby park and Ace hardware I could access off of N Geronimo.
I cringe every time I see kids in the rear seat of a cart just waiting for a preoccupied driver to rear end them.

Beach Fanatic

Nov 9, '23 · 9:11 AM#70

There's a guy who circles my quiet, residential neighborhood most evenings in an old, loud, gas-powered model that smells worse than chili farts - the whole roadway gets filled with gas and lingers for 30 minutes if no breeze. Sure does ruin an evening stroll or bike ride. I don't even think he's going anywhere just out for a joy ride by his Ahole self.

Beach Fanatic

Nov 9, '23 · 12:43 PM#71

There's a guy who circles my quiet, residential neighborhood most evenings in an old, loud, gas-powered model that smells worse than chili farts - the whole roadway gets filled with gas and lingers for 30 minutes if no breeze. Sure does ruin an evening stroll or bike ride. I don't even think he's going anywhere just out for a joy ride by his Ahole self.

We have a electric golf cart in our Louisville, ky neighborhood. Most of the speed limits are 15. We like the quiet ride for sunsets & visiting our local shops. Otherwise we walk or ride our bikes. And we stay in our neighborhood & pullover when a car is behind us AND we do not rent one when we visit 30A! Wish they had banned the gas powered ones. It's so bad to see kids drive golf carts but worse to see the adults driving one with a baby in their lap. Our golf cart problem is minor compared to yours. See you in May. Ellen

Beach Lover

Nov 9, '23 · 12:57 PM#72

There's a guy who circles my quiet, residential neighborhood most evenings in an old, loud, gas-powered model that smells worse than chili farts - the whole roadway gets filled with gas and lingers for 30 minutes if no breeze. Sure does ruin an evening stroll or bike ride. I don't even think he's going anywhere just out for a joy ride by his Ahole self.

Proly a two-stroke!

SoWal Insider

Nov 9, '23 · 6:45 PM#73

There's a guy who circles my quiet, residential neighborhood most evenings in an old, loud, gas-powered model that smells worse than chili farts - the whole roadway gets filled with gas and lingers for 30 minutes if no breeze. Sure does ruin an evening stroll or bike ride. I don't even think he's going anywhere just out for a joy ride by his Ahole self.

“Worse than chili farts” :lol:

SWGB

Nov 10, '23 · 7:01 AM#74

There's a guy who circles my quiet, residential neighborhood most evenings in an old, loud, gas-powered model that smells worse than chili farts - the whole roadway gets filled with gas and lingers for 30 minutes if no breeze. Sure does ruin an evening stroll or bike ride. I don't even think he's going anywhere just out for a joy ride by his Ahole self.

If it's unlicensed call WCSO.