After having an opportunity to meet with Town staff regarding the announced pilot test for golf cart use in Qualicum Beach, the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association has developed an opinion. This opinion is based upon the information provided to us by the Town and information gathered in background research on the subject.
The QBRA Board does not support the concept of golf carts being used within Qualicum Beach to commute from community –to- community within Qualicum Beach. We have many reasons for taking this position. We do not believe the current infrastructure of roads and trails is appropriate to consider the mingling of a low speed vehicle such as a golf cart (top speed 19km/h) with automobiles. We realize an attempt is made to improve this problem by proposing to reduce the designated road speed limit to 30km/h. That may make sense within a designated community, but it is not practical for roads used in community-to-community travel.
In our opinion, it is not logical to inconvenience all residents and tourists to a 30km/h speed limit to accommodate the possible road use of a small number of privately owned golf carts. We also believe the other conditions announced by the Province are too onerous and impractical for private golf cart owners to seriously consider. There is some question if all of the conditions could be satisfied.
The QBRA board does recognize that there may be a potential application for golf carts within a specific community such as Eaglecrest. In that community, there are some unique attributes. Residential housing is woven around an 18-hole golf course. The community was designed in a manner that discourages through traffic. There are only 4 means of entry/exit. Lastly, the highest concentration of privately owned golf carts is in Eaglecrest.
The QBRA board also understands that in 2011 the Province removed the requirement that golf club owned golf carts must display a restricted license plate and be insured by ICBC. The Province made no change with respect to privately owned carts. As things stand today, licensing and insurance requirements for golf carts differ based on golf cart ownership, not on the vehicle itself.
Given the unique characteristics of the Eaglecrest community, the number of privately owned golf carts in Eaglecrest, and the current difference in licensing requirements between golf carts owned by a golf club versus those privately owned,
the QBRA board suggests there may be an opportunity to utilize some aspects of the announced golf cart pilot specifically within the community of Eaglecrest. The QBRA board also suggests that the upcoming OCP/Quality of Life Survey could give the Town a broader sense of the concept of golf carts as an alternative form of commuting from one community to another within Qualicum Beach.
The QBRA Board does not support the concept of golf carts being used within Qualicum Beach to commute from community –to- community within Qualicum Beach. We have many reasons for taking this position. We do not believe the current infrastructure of roads and trails is appropriate to consider the mingling of a low speed vehicle such as a golf cart (top speed 19km/h) with automobiles. We realize an attempt is made to improve this problem by proposing to reduce the designated road speed limit to 30km/h. That may make sense within a designated community, but it is not practical for roads used in community-to-community travel.
In our opinion, it is not logical to inconvenience all residents and tourists to a 30km/h speed limit to accommodate the possible road use of a small number of privately owned golf carts. We also believe the other conditions announced by the Province are too onerous and impractical for private golf cart owners to seriously consider. There is some question if all of the conditions could be satisfied.
The QBRA board does recognize that there may be a potential application for golf carts within a specific community such as Eaglecrest. In that community, there are some unique attributes. Residential housing is woven around an 18-hole golf course. The community was designed in a manner that discourages through traffic. There are only 4 means of entry/exit. Lastly, the highest concentration of privately owned golf carts is in Eaglecrest.
The QBRA board also understands that in 2011 the Province removed the requirement that golf club owned golf carts must display a restricted license plate and be insured by ICBC. The Province made no change with respect to privately owned carts. As things stand today, licensing and insurance requirements for golf carts differ based on golf cart ownership, not on the vehicle itself.
Given the unique characteristics of the Eaglecrest community, the number of privately owned golf carts in Eaglecrest, and the current difference in licensing requirements between golf carts owned by a golf club versus those privately owned,
the QBRA board suggests there may be an opportunity to utilize some aspects of the announced golf cart pilot specifically within the community of Eaglecrest. The QBRA board also suggests that the upcoming OCP/Quality of Life Survey could give the Town a broader sense of the concept of golf carts as an alternative form of commuting from one community to another within Qualicum Beach.
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