A 2007 study by the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom suggested that golf cart trails could help reduce transportation costs and alleviate the social isolation prevalent in car-centric suburban life. The study concluded: “The combination of efficient spatial structure of the vehicle-road network and the relatively low cost and inherent flexibility of golf carts can reduce transport-related social exclusion.” Today, in some countries and regions, teenagers and seniors alike rely on electric vehicles – golf carts - to get around suburban areas. This is a potential option for a more sustainable suburban mobility model.
Golf carts have become an integral part of people’s lives. In countless high schools in some of the car-dominated suburbs of Europe and the United States, one might encounter such a scene. After school, a gaggle of teenagers swarmed the parking lot with keys. But instead of cars, they drive golf carts, small electric vehicles that they ride home.And some older residents who may not be able to drive can still operate golf carts. “I recently had a series of surgeries that limited my ability to bend my legs,” said 80-year-old Denny Danylchak. “But with the golf cart, I can go to the store. It’s what I need.”In short, golf carts not only facilitate travel and enrich people’s lives, but also contribute greatly to the social life of community residents. “When you pass people on the road, you wave and smile. You may not know who those people are, but you do it anyway,” Nancy Pelletier said.
As laws, regulations and infrastructure for golf carts have improved, they have gradually become a symbol of the city. Through legislation, some states not only exempt golf carts from motor vehicle laws but also empower local jurisdictions to set their own rules, such as requiring residents to register their golf carts and recommending (but not requiring) them to purchase insurance. Anyone 16 or older can legally drive a car, regardless of whether they have a license, as can a 15-year-old with a learner’s permit. Once a child turns 12, they can drive with an adult in the front seat. On infrastructure, such as level crossings to reduce car traffic, the government built tunnels that sunk under major roads and bridges that rose above them. There are also many shopping malls and public buildings that offer dedicated parking for golf carts. In addition, the town’s library, local supermarket, and other retailers provide public charging stations for car owners to recharge their vehicles at any time.
The advent of golf carts has provided a sustainable alternative for people in suburban areas. It reduces transportation costs, alleviates social isolation in suburbia, and has become an indispensable means of transportation as urban infrastructure continues to improve.
Post time: Sep-21-2023