What's more dangerous, the distracted Atlanta housewife on vacation, who has had 3 martinis and a valium, driving her gazillion tonne Tahoe/Yukon/ Armada/to her Seagrove or Watercolor or Seacrest house, after a juant to Seaside, or Red Bar, or the same lady driving a 750 pound NEV at 25mph top speed, after three martinis and a valium.
??
What's more dangerous, the distracted Atlanta housewife on vacation, who has had 3 martinis and a valium, driving her gazillion tonne Tahoe/Yukon/ Armada/to her Seagrove or Watercolor or Seacrest house, after a juant to Seaside, or Red Bar, or the same lady driving a 750 pound NEV at 25mph top speed, after three martinis and a valium.
??
The issue isn't are LSV's safe or dangerous, are they green or not, etc. etc.
The issue is that people want to change the law so they can drive LSV's where they weren't intended to be driven- because they want to. That's about it. If they are safe and green and fun- super. Enjoy. But...
There is absolutely no need to change the speed limit to accomodate a few golf cart enthusiasts. Same goes for horse and buggies and antique vehicles.
There would be a lot more than a few if it was legal. Everybody would be using them. I've seen this happen here in SD and along my stretch of 98. As gas prices rose, and after they put the Publix in, the use of LSVs exploded.
Same with 30A- A long coastal scenic highway. In populated areas where communities exist the speed limit is low and people drive golf carts. In rural areas in between the speed limit is high. No golf carts. And no need to lower the speed limit in those areas to accomodate golf carts- because they were NOT designed to be driven in those areas.
30A will ultimately be completely developed, and the speed limit will drop regardless. I would rather we put some effort into planning now rather than down the road while the hassles of changing the road way / paths / whatever are fewer.
There would be a lot more than a few if it was legal. Everybody would be using them. I've seen this happen here in SD and along my stretch of 98. As gas prices rose, and after they put the Publix in, the use of LSVs exploded.
30A will ultimately be completely developed, and the speed limit will drop regardless. I would rather we put some effort into planning now rather than down the road while the hassles of changing the road way / paths / whatever are fewer.
You saying that you've seen it happen in SanDestin doesn't really help your argument, it just brings us back to one that those of us against LSV's made a few pages ago: SD is ONE resort community. 30A consists of MULTIPLE resort communities located along a strip of... say it with me kids... BUSY RURAL HIGHWAY.
Also, I sincerely hope that ALL of 30A will not end up being completely developed... Particularly because most of the stretches of highway to which you are referring are largely made up of coastal dune lake frontage. To say that it's all going to be developed in such a cavalier manner makes me awfully sad, and frustrated at your attitude.
I know that we're not gonna make you see reason, and you're not going to make us take leave of our senses and jump on the golf cart bandwagon, but for goodness sake, at least present some new arguments that actually work in your favor...
Skyrocketing gas prices and high inflation will force people into small and slower modes of transportation. I doubt we'll return to cheap energy costs anytime in the next decade.
Skyrocketing gas prices and high inflation will force people into small and slower modes of transportation. I doubt we'll return to cheap energy costs anytime in the next decade.
Absolutely. And skyrocketing gas prices and high inflation tend to make people more conscientious about the way they spend their money.
I expect we'll see lots more small, gas sipping, safety conscious, enclosed cars that can be primary vehicles, driven in rain or shine, regardless of distance needed to travel.
I don't think we'll be seeing more open, fair weather vehicles with no trunk space that are meant for short-term driving in resort locales.
Time will tell. Until then, I'd suggest we hold off on that whole, lower all the speed limits or build special new "cart paths" idea...
There would be a lot more ATV's on 30A if they were legal. There would be a lot more pot smoking if it was legal. There would be a lot more drinking and driving if it was legal. I'm starting to think you're yanking my chain and don't believe your own points.
Everybody would be using them. I've seen this happen here in SD and along my stretch of 98. As gas prices rose, and after they put the Publix in, the use of LSVs exploded.
True about Sandestin but Sandestin is a poor example. You're talking apples and oranges. Sandestin is like a theme park all contained in a little bubble. The planners of that community designed it such that 45MPH would be entirely inappropriate. What's the speed limit there? I think 17MPH. As such- LSV's are legal there and make all the sense in the world.
30A will ultimately be completely developed, and the speed limit will drop regardless. I would rather we put some effort into planning now rather than down the road while the hassles of changing the road way / paths / whatever are fewer.
The reason I believe you are wrong is because the most rural parts of 30A (which have the posted 45MPH speed limit) have state/protected land on one or both sides of the roadway. Correct me if that isn't true. For fun- let's say all that land is privately owned and will be developed. At that time my argument would certainly change and I would see the need to lower the speed limit. And at that time- LSV's would be legal. Until then- .
Skyrocketing gas prices and high inflation will force people into small and slower modes of transportation. I doubt we'll return to cheap energy costs anytime in the next decade.
Smaller and slower? I think you mean- more fuel efficient.
Everyone making the argument that the masses will turn to LSV's because gas is too expensive either hasn't thought things out or is being disingenuous.
Rather than seeing more LSV's down here as a result of high gas prices you are more likely to see the following:
Some families will no longer make the road trip to the area and will instead go to vacation spots closer to home
Families that do visit will go to Publix for groceries and grill out instead of dining out to make up the difference
Sales of cars like the Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu (34MPG) will increase as folks will migrate to these as their primary vehicles
The amount of money you save in gas driving your LSV on 30A one week out of the year doesn't justify the purchase of the LSV as your second vehicle. Face it- folks who drive LSV's down here do so because it is fun. Folks who want to lower the speed limit so they can drive their LSV's the whole stretch of 30A want to do so because they believe it would be fun. The safety, green, fuel efficiency arguments just sound better.
One thing that keeps getting ignored by the pro - LSV and pro-golf cart crowd is that even if we were to lower the speed limit, they still cannot physically go that speed.
15-20 mph is the realistic maximum speed for most LSVs.
