The village of Chase has approved in principle the reintroduction of a pilot program to allow golf carts on city streets.
Mayor Rick Berrigan said council passed a resolution at its most recent meeting to have staff create a draft bylaw that reflects changes from the brief experiment last fall.
The move comes after a survey found more than two-thirds of local residents favour allowing carts as transportation on village streets following a fundamental change to speed limits. The draft bylaw will allow the two-year pilot program to proceed.
Transportation Minister and Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone announced a two-year pilot program last summer to allow properly equipped golf carts on residential streets in Chase and Qualicum. Motor Vehicle Act regulations were amended to allow the program to proceed.
But the Ministry of Transportation soon put a freeze on the program after residents expressed unhappiness due to the reduced 30 km/h speed limit for all motor vehicles that accompanied the new rules for golf carts.
A compromise was found that would restrict vehicles to 30 km/h only when passing a cart.
Once council has passed a bylaw, Berrigan said he expects the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to quickly change its regulations, with carts being on city streets later this spring.
- Kamloops This Week