USA: This city's residents use golf carts as main mode of transport

Golf carts in Peachtree City retail for about $13,000 for a 4-seater and $16,000 for a 6-seater - a third of the cost of a new car.

Peachtree City in Georgia, USA is said to be the most golf cart-friendly municipality in the country.

The rather small 25-square-mile town has over 100 miles of car-free multi-use paths crisscrossing all over. The city also has dedicated golf cart parking at many of its shopping centres and other public buildings. Reports state that 9,300 golf cars are registered among its 13,000 households.

There are many villages and towns across the USA where golf carts are used for transportation. However, Peachtree City is the only all-ages suburb where golf carts are said to be intrinsic to local life.

As per reports, the unique mobility solution dates back to the town's founding in the 1950s. Joel Cowan, the city's first mayor, along with his colleagues, served as both private developers and master planners of the suburb. They invested in amenities like preserved woodlands, artificial lakes and multi-use paths.

The golf carts started arriving in the mid-1960s after a golf course opened nearby. The golf-playing residents realised the ease of using the golf carts on the town's multi-use paths, which soon became popular. As Peachtree City expanded, the town built tunnels and bridges to reduce grade crossing with car traffic.

Georgia, in the 1970s, passed legislation exempting golf carts from state motor vehicle laws, allowing the rules to be set by local jurisdictions. As per the rules in Peachtree City, residents are required to register their golf carts and recommend getting insurance (although not mandatory). Also, anyone 16 or older can legally drive a golf cart, irrespective of whether they have a driver's licence and 15-year-olds with a learner's permit are also allowed to drive. In addition to this, Children over 12 can also drive with an adult in the front seat.

Golf carts in Peachtree City retail for about $13,000 for a 4-seater and $16,000 for a 6-seater - a third of the cost of a new car. The golf carts are all electric, with owners able to charge them either at their house or at public charging stations.

As per realtors, a golf cart path "adds to the lifestyle" and pushes up real-estate value in the town. Peachtree City is also said to offer strong public schools, which combined with low crimes and vibrant social life, makes it one of the best places to live in the US - as per a recent report.

The city is still, in many ways, said to be a typical affluent suburb. However, public transport is non-existent, with no bus stops and the nearest park-&-ride station being miles away. The multi-use paths are covered in trees and foliage with minimal signage - which seems to make it intended solely for the use of residents. People living in Peachtree City pay just $15 to register a golf cart for 3 years, however, an outsider needs to pay $250 annually to make use of the paths.

Source: Bloomberg