The Growing Trend of Golf Cart Communities

With the price of gasoline skyrocketing, electric golf carts have become a green and convenient alternative mode of transportation, particularly for local community travel. In recent years, whole communities have been built around golf cart transportation. Vehicles designed specifically for these types of communities are also known as "neighborhood vehicles" or "NEV."

Peachtree City, Georgia is one of the first of these golf cart communities.

Peachtree City, Georgia

When most people think of golf course communities, they think of seniors in retirement. Peachtree City, however, is a city geared mostly toward Atlanta, Georgia suburban families with young children and teenagers. In Peachtree City, teenagers think golf carts are cool, and most drive them to and from school and social activities.

Chosen as "one of the best places to live" by The U.S. World and News Report, Peachtree City is a complete community comprised of five villages with a total population of 34,000. The city includes an upscale shopping center, a police force, a fire department, five libraries, two museums, two movie theaters, three golf courses, two lakes, a radio station, one high school, one middle school, several elementary schools, and even a small airport.

As of 2007, there are 12,000 registered golf carts running along on nearly 100 miles of golf cart tar paths in Peachtree City. These golf carts aren't your pokey leisurely senior citizen golf course carts. Some of the more expensive carts can go up to 35 mph.

Peachtree City teenagers and golf carts

Go to the local Peachtree City high school, and the parking lot is jammed with golf carts, as are local movie theaters and other teenager hang-outs. In fact, one of the few gripes about living in Peachtree City involves the golf cart traffic and parking congestion, mostly stemming from teenagers.

Another local gripe is the criminal incidents of golf cart theft. This is a much smaller gripe only because 90% of stolen carts are recovered only because they were usually stolen by joyriding and bored suburban teenagers.

Peachtree City golf cart rules and regulations

To combat what little crime Peachtree City has, the local police ride souped-up golf carts and ATVs on the tar paths to catch speeders and other offenders.

The major rules are as follows: Golf cart speed limits in Peachtree City can't exceed 25 mph. Pedestrians have the right of way on the city's tar paths. Golf cart drivers must be 16 years or older. 15 year olds with learner's permits can drive a golf cart with supervisory adults or guardians riding along.

Trouble in Peachtree City

Delta Airlines has been a major employer of Peachtree City residents, but has recently suffered financial disasters that have pushed the company toward bankruptcy. As a result, large numbers of lay-offs have created foreclosures and other problems for the seemingly idyllic community.

SOURCES:

"A city where golf carts are a teen status symbol", Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor

"Empty arms of Mother Delta", Business Week