Fairhope, Alabama
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| June bike and pedestrian committee. |
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| Low speed vehicle problems. |
BIKE/PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE WORRIED
During its June meeting, city Bike and Pedestrian committee members discussed observing lack of adherence to traffic laws by bicyclists, skateboarders in the central business district, ... and low speed electric vehicles (aka golf carts) generally throughout town.
Member Katie Bolton said she was almost hit recently by a cyclist "zooming by" on the Fairhope Avenue sidewalk (at Bancroft) ... even though bikes are not permitted on sidewalks there. Skateboarders downtown are doing the same thing according to another member. No signs regulating such activities are currently posted, member Chris Riley said.
Other members said they had observed "golf carts" not signaling turns, driving up from the pier with "drinks" in their hands, running stop signs, often driven by children, ... and even being driven on sidewalks. Bolton said that happens frequently in front of her store on Fairhope Avenue (across from the post office) ... and on designated bike trails throughout town.
Bolton: "Pedestrians always have the right of way" (on sidewalks/trails).
No member of the committee had ever seen a golf cart being "pulled over" by police but Bolton, an avid cyclist, said her cycling groups had been.
FRUIT N' NUT TOO?
A citizen who lives in the Fruit and Nut neighborhood contacted the Times independently about the same issue. "Golf carts" sometimes driven by children speeding, running stop signs (Pecan at Satsuma) and generally not obeying the rules of the road.
POLICE CHIEF INVITED TO NEXT MEETING
Committee members resolved to ask police chief Hollinghead to attend their next meeting to discuss possible solutions, such as tighter enforcement, signs, etc.
Planning director Hunter Simmons who is a member of the committee as well observed that other towns decided to adopt stricter ordinances to better-regulate the carts (Orange Beach).
Simmons said there are currently two "golf cart stores" in town but a third is on the way.
The committee's next meeting is July 5 at 4 PM at the library (Gidens Room). All meetings are open to the public per state open meeting law.
Other current committee member: Katie Bolton, Jack Graves, John Kavanagh, Chris Knight, Rosalie Stromme, Michelle Melton, Chris Riley, Bill Hall, Gary Gover.
Comments
We should ban drinking as well as that can lead to undesired outcomes.
Also should consider banning children from going outside if the area is not fenced in.
And where were they on December 7, 1941, September 11, 2001, and January 6, 2021?