More Golf Carts Could be Coming to Rochester Streets

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- There are likely to be golf carts joining the traffic on some of Rochester’s streets. 

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Rochester City Councilmember Shaun Palmer formally introduced a council initiated action Monday night to revise the city ordinance regarding golf cart traffic. Palmer’s proposal, which he says was brought to him by a citizen, expands a current ordinance allowing the use of golf carts to travel to and from the city's golf courses to allow their use on any city street with a 25 mph speed limit. 

The council approved the action on a 5-2 vote. The revised ordinance allows for golf cart use on the vast majority of city streets but would keep the golf carts off the main traffic arteries that carry speed limits of 30 mph or higher as well as county and state highways. 

As is the case with the travel to and from the golf courses, the operators of golf carts would be allowed to cross those higher traffic roadways but would be prohibited from traveling on them. The ordinance requires anyone wishing to operate a golf car on city streets to have a valid driver's license, and insurance. 

Golf Carts on city streets are also required to be cart to be equipped with a rearview mirror and a slow moving vehicle sign.