Marysville’s Public Service/Public Safety committee will recommend no changes be made to the city’s low-speed vehicle legislation.
At several recent council and committee meetings, residents and business owners have asked the city to expand access for golf carts an and other low-speed vehicles.
After discussing the matter at consecutive public service/public safety meetings, the committee decided to recommend the city not change its rules.
Marysville City Manager Terry Emery said city administrators “have concerns about safety.”
He said there have been relatively few incidents.
“We are a year and a half into that and it has been a positive thing,” Emery said.
He added, “I just don’t know that now is the time for us to be making a change.”
In January 2020, City Council approved legislation allowing low speed vehicles, including golf carts, in the city of Marysville. Currently, golf carts and other low-speed vehicles are permitted on all city streets with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less except:
– Maple Street from Elwood Avenue to Third Street.
– Delaware Avenue from Cherry Street to Charles Lane.
– Collins Avenue from Milford Avenue to Palm Drive.
– Ninth Street from Milford Avenue to Plum Street.
– Fifth Street from Grove Street to Coleman’s Crossing Boulevard.
– Main Street from First Street to Eighth Street.
The carts are allowed to cross streets with traffic going up to 35 miles per hour.
At the recent meeting, then-police chief Floyd Golden said the rules were “based on what we felt, in our opinion, was the safest roads to be on.”
“It is the police department’s recommendation to stay where we are,” Golden said.
Fire Chief Jay Riley also recommended making no changes.
“I can’t advocate something that would harm someone,” Riley said.
He said he worries “this will just be a recurring ask” with each person wanting something more.
“Where is the goal line on this?” Riley asked.
Committee and council member Deb Groat said the city needs to abide by its own rules. Citizens have asked why city staff can operate a low-speed vehicle in the Uptown to water flowers and set-up for events.
“We should not be doing something businesses and community members cannot do,” Groat said.
Public Service Director Jeremy Hoyt said he will try to curtail the use of the city’s vehicle.
Committee and council member Aaron Carpenter asked if there was a way to compromise to solve the concerns of those who have asked for more flexibility, specifically businesses.
Emery reiterated that he thinks that would lead to more and more businesses finding ways to use the vehicles creating more safety concerns.
“You are going to have a continual domino effect of people who think they need to do it,” Emery said.
City Law Director Tim Aslaner said the rules are based on safety and whether a driver is a business owner or not does not change that.
“How is it more safe for someone who has a commercial business than for someone who doesn’t have a commercial business?” Aslaner asked.
Emery told the committee he is “just not comfortable” with adding streets to the list where low-speed vehicles travel.
Emery said city officials have looked at other communities for continued guidance.
“You don’t see low-speed vehicles permitted in the suburban communities of Columbus,” Emery said.
He said they are generally prohibited because “they just don’t want them for safety reasons.”
Emery said the administration is “open to reconsidering it if anything changes.”
Under state law, only licensed drivers may drive a golf cart or other low-speed vehicle and only on a street for which the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. The vehicle must be inspected and registered and must have certain safety equipment, including properly working brake lights, head lights, tail lights, turn signals and a windshield.