April 06, 2007 11:50 pm
—
City of North Mankato officials are debating whether to allow golf carts on city streets.
At first blush, this comes off as an isolated, quirky issue. But as with anything involving the baby boom generation queuing up for retirements, it’s an issue that figures to flourish in North Mankato and far beyond.
Actually, it already has, especially in Sun Belt states where the motorized carts have become as common as handicapped parking stickers in hospital lots.
In Peachtree City, Ga., these conveyances have even crossed generational lines. The town has miles of golf cart paths, and cart travel is so prevalent that a local high school even has a student lot for cart parking.
Meantime, cities across Florida are looking into adopting ordinances allowing carts on city roadways. One cart-travel backer in the city of Northport said allowing carts on streets would separate the town from the pack.
“It’s one more thing that we can offer in this community that sets us apart from humdrum suburbia,” the guy said.
Hmmm. Geezers putting around on golf carts would seem to be the very definition of humdrum. But we digress.
In-city cart travel for the baby boom set is looming large on the horizon, and what boomers want, boomers usually get.
The North Mankato situation isn’t a boomer scenario — yet — but it does foreshadow it.
Cart-travel requests in North Mankato are coming from elderly types with modest desires. One guy wants to be able to whisk his disabled wife to a nearby park.
Another person living just outside the city limits wants to cart himself into town for groceries.
City officials who are opposed raise the safety issue, saying the slow-moving carts lack the necessary equipment to make travel on roadways viable.
But the precedent already has been set, even in Minnesota, where several cities have approved cart travel, albeit with restrictions (daylight operation only) and provisions (carts must have turn signals, seat belts and the like).
The latter shouldn’t be a problem, because carts are being made for all-weather use with car-like styling details including audio systems and custom wheels.
Here’s a sign of high living (or, if you prefer, the apocalypse): There’s a Hummer golf cart that goes for about $25,000.
A weighty decision awaits North Mankato officials. Let’s hope they are prudent. Wouldn’t want to throw out the baby with the boomer water.
Brian Ojanpa is a Free Press staff writer. Call him at 344-6316 or e-mail bojanpa@mankatofreepress.com.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
