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Google Earth time-lapse of Westfield between 1984-2020

Google Earth time-lapse of Westfield between 1984-2020

Google Earth, Indianapolis Star

Pedestrians and cyclists could soon be joined by golf carts on trails in Westfield, including on a portion of the Monon Trail, as the city considers a controversial ordinance.  

Councilor Jon Dartt introduced the ordinance to expand golf cart usage in the city May 12 and city councilors could vote on it at their next meeting on May 27.  

“Westfield really is a golf course community with three distinct golf courses and at the end of the day, it’d be fantastic if these three golf courses could connect,” Dartt said.  

He added that there are already about 1,000 golf carts registered in the city, and residents have asked for expanded usage to drive them to places like downtown and Grand Park. City councilors heard from hundreds of residents during a listening tour in January and February and took their feedback into consideration when compiling the ordinance, Dartt said.

There’s no shortage of opposition to the ordinance.

Councilor Victor McCarty, who indicated he is opposed, shared that city councilors have received 57 messages from residents opposing the ordinance and just six messages from residents for it.  

McCarty considers named trails in the city, such as the Monon and Midland Trace trails, linear parks and said they should be protected for pedestrians. Westfield still could expand golf cart usage without involving trails, he said.  

“My preference would be that we utilize our roads instead of trails for motorized vehicles by lowering 30 MPH roads to 25 MPH to fit the current rules, especially since we are essentially treating (golf carts) as cars in the new ordinance,” McCarty said.  

Under the city’s current ordinance, last updated in 2018, golf carts can be operated on roads and streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. Golf carts are also already permitted on a portion of the Midland Trace Trail, near The Bridgewater Club into downtown.  

Nine people spoke during the public comments section of Monday’s meeting, with seven of those people speaking against the golf cart ordinance, citing concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety.  

Bicycle and pedestrian trails were not designed to include golf carts, and we’re particularly concerned for people’s safety on trails,” said Jordan Ballinger, a Westfield resident and board member with the nonprofit Bicycle Indiana.  

Anthony Cherolis, executive director of the Central Indiana Bicycling Association & Bike Indianapolis, noted Westfield’s ordinance doesn’t require golf carts to have a physically limited maximum speed.  

“Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, as defined by the State of Indiana, are electronically limited at 20 mph max assist speed,” Cherolis told IndyStar. “Why would the ordinance not require a speed limiter on golf carts that are heavier and a higher risk to families walking and biking on the trails?” 

Where would golf carts be allowed under the ordinance?  

The ordinance would expand the use of golf carts to the city’s named trails, including to the rest of the Midland Trace Trail and the Asa Bales Trail. Golf carts would be allowed on the Monon Trail from the Chatham Hills neighborhood south to State Road 32.  

“We’re not considering going south of State Road 32 on the bridge, because that’s where the heaviest use of the Monon Trail is,” Dartt said. “That’s where the pedestrians are, that’s where the cyclists are, that’s where the families are.” 

Councilors are still considering what hours to allow golf carts operations but floated until 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, until 10 p.m. Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday.  

In addition to named trails, the ordinance would also allow golf carts on the perimeter trails constructed adjacent to many of Westfield’s roads. They would still be allowed on streets and roads with speed limits of 25 mph or lower.  

The speed limit for golf carts on the perimeter trails would be 25 mph and 15 mph on named trails. They would not be allowed on concrete sidewalks, and the ordinance would not impact neighborhood HOA rules.  

The ordinance would require the following:  

All golf carts would need to be insured and have rearview mirrors, turn signals and headlights Oversized registration decals would be required to make it easier to identify the cart and its owners All golf carts would need to be registered with the city and inspected for a fee of $100. The carts would need to be re-registered every two years for $50. Everyone in the golf cart would be required to wear a seatbelt  Drivers must be at least 16 with a valid driver’s license or at least 16.5 with a valid ID card Any violation of the proposed ordinance could be punishable by a Class C infraction, which is a fine of up to $500.

“This is a big one,” Dartt said of the ordinance. “We need to walk and really consider before we run with this.”  

Councilor Kurt Wanninger, during Monday’s meeting, said golf carts could be used by older residents, who don’t feel comfortable driving regular vehicles, or by residents who can’t afford more expensive vehicles for their commutes to work.  

Mayor Scott Willis acknowledged there’s a lot of passion, with many residents for and against the ordinance. City leaders were supposed to move forward with a vision for wider usage of golf carts in the community when they last updated the ordinance in 2018, he said.  

“They allowed District One to have the freedom of golf carts, while the rest of the city got to watch and admire that but not have that same freedom,” Willis said.  

How Westfield developed the golf cart ordinance

Representatives of the city visited Peachtree City, Georgia, last year while researching the golf cart ordinance update. The community of about 40,000 people, located 40 minutes south of Atlanta, is known for its 100-mile network of multi-use paths for pedestrians, cyclists and golf carts.    

Peachtree City has about 13,000 households and 11,000 golf cart registrations. The goal of visiting the Georgia community was to learn more about the challenges and successes of their golf cart program.  

At Monday’s meeting, Willis said Westfield’s trails are wider and even more equipped to accommodate golf carts than the trails in the Georgia city.  

“I do believe in my heart that this is a safe mode of transportation and is something that our residents want to see, not all, but some want to see,” Willis said.  

The next city council meeting, where councilors may vote on the ordinance will be held on May 27 at 7 p.m. at Westfield City Hall.  

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19.

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