NEWS - Neighbourhood Golf Carts

The following letter to the editor appeared in the September 20, 2016 edition of the Parksville Qualicum Beach News:

Re: your August 12 story entitled ‘Golf carts OK’d for Qualicum Beach streets’ that was accompanied with a photo of smiling Premier Christy Clark, MLA Michelle Stilwell and Qualicum Mayor Teunis Westbroek.

The story went on to outline the project, which was also approved for Chase, B.C., that would require golf carts to meet specific conditions, including the driver have a valid licence, the carts be registered, insured and have seat belts, signals, a horn, lights and rear-view mirror.

At the Sept. 13 Qualicum Beach town council meeting, the issue was brought forth and deferred again which made me wonder: why didn’t council refer to any of the dozen or so well-written comments and concerns over the last month, opposing this boondoggle in The NEWS’ letters to the editor section?

The project would currently only benefit a few who own the $15,000-$20,000 street-legal golf carts, but the conversion of regular golf carts isn’t an option according to local dealers, nor will they be insured. Just how many and what roads were to be designated low speed (30 km/h) and how much would that cost taxpayers? How much time would the RCMP spend on complaints and accidents that would invariably ensue?

I’m at a loss to understand what possessed the four powers that be listed above to present such an ill-conceived, ludicrous proposal, having not consulted with the manufacturer, insurer, council or residents.

Can you imagine the disastrous liability the town and province would face, should a family sue because a loved one was severely injured or killed, driving their cart around town or while crossing a high-speed intersection?

If it’s a truly worthwhile initiative they’re after, why not consider something that’ll serve all of Qualicum’s residents, and lease a few small, energy-efficient buses/minivans that operate during the daylight hours seven days/week, with regular routes around town at a nominal charge.

The buses could also serve the waterfront during the summer months which would be a boon for tourism and local businesses.

Deb McKinley

Qualicum Beach

It's definitely interesting to read expressions like this, especially when some of the statements can be followed up on. The town council have not deferred again, according to the minutes of the council meeting:

(4) Protective Services (Councillor Bill Luchtmeijer)

Councillor Luchtmeijer commented on:

Low speed golf carts in Qualicum Beach Councillor Luchtmeijer MOVED and Councillor Horner SECONDED, THAT Council refer the issue of use of golf carts and low speed vehicles within Town boundaries to the Select Committee on Public Safety for comment.

It seems to me that council is proceeding prudently and examining the idea carefully before they carry forward.

Reading further she quotes the newspaper story stating that insurance would be required for these vehicles, then she goes on to say that they won't be insured and what liability will there be if a collision occurs. Well, since ICBC will be insuring them, the liability is exactly the same as it would be with any other collision that occurs on the streets of the town today.

As for public consultation, it's started already, click the select committee on public safety link above to see who is who. The program has been announced, council is exploring it's options, and when I contacted them for this article they said public consultation would follow. General public comment is still on the horizon.

Just for fun, I contacted the retailer of golf carts suitable for use in this project. A new economy model would be $6,699.00, not the $15K to $20K the lady suggests.

I suspect that the real issue here is still going to be the 30 km/h speed limit, not the use of low speed vehicles within town boundaries.

Our streets are public thoroughfares that already contain a mix of users with different top speeds. They are not the sole domain of the motor vehicle and its driver. It's time that we looked more clearly at sharing rather than exclusivity.

The September 13, 2016 council agenda mentions first reading of a new bylaw that is not yet posted on the village's web site.

Public consultation appears to have been ended on September 9, residents were asked to consider 4 different route maps. An information package is available for citizens to review before providing feedback.

It appears that the government is having second thoughts about this program. In a news release dated October 5, 2016 Minister Todd Stone announced that "As a result of this community input, and the responsiveness of both Qualicum Beach and Chase councils, I believe it makes sense for us to take some time over the winter to address the concerns we've heard to make sure that this project is a success in the spring for your communities. This will include a re-think of the 30km/hour maximum speed limit."

Funny, but there has been nothing at all about this in the local newspaper that covers Qualicum Beach, nor is there anything on the Town's web site beyond an announcement of the program. It is not mentioned in the Transportation Priorities 2016 Update either.

I wonder where all this feedback came from and if it included anything negative other than the 30 km/h speed limit requirement.