Beaufort County Council says ‘no’ to driving golf carts on multi-use paths in Bluffton

The Beaufort County Council on Monday defeated a proposal to allow golf carts on multi-use paths on Buckwalter Parkway and Bluffton Parkway.

The proposed ordinance failed on first reading by a 5-5 vote.

In Beaufort County, golf carts can only be used on roads with a 35 mph or less speed limit and can travel no more than 3 miles. Councilman Logan Cunningham brought the proposed ordinance forward, hoping to give people who live in communities on Buckwalter and Bluffton parkways the opportunity to use golf carts, since the two roads have higher posted speed limits of 45 mph.

Cunningham represents District 7, which includes Buckwalter Parkway and Bluffton Parkway east of Buck Island road. This is one of the fastest-growing areas in Beaufort County.

“It gives us the connectivity and the access to enjoy the same type of benefits that other parts of Beaufort County have,” said Cunningham. “We don’t have access to those same 35 mph roads.”

Members of the Sun City Cyclers, a 250-member cycling group in the age-restricted planned community in Okatie, came out to voice their concerns about the proposed ordinance.

“The purpose of multi-use paths and trails is to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users: pedestrians, walkers, joggers, cyclists, etc., by physically separating them from motor vehicles,” said Ray Cipollini, the group’s advocacy director. “This ordinance does the exact opposite of protecting vulnerable road users by adding motor vehicles, as defined by South Carolina code, to the very same space that keeps these users safe.”

The proposed ordinance, in essence, was defeated because it did not get a majority of the votes.

“When you think about the weight and speed of a golf cart, it’s hard to overcome the safety argument,” Councilman Stu Rodman said, who represents District 11 on Hilton Head Island. “It’s just a matter of time until some serious accidents or perhaps fatalities” occur. So, for that reason, I would find it difficult to vote for this.”

Of the four councilmen besides Cunningham who voted in favor of the ordinance — Chris Hervochon, Mark Lawson, Larry McElynn and Joe Passiment — all voiced verbal opposition but said they were voting “yes” to allow for a second reading and public comment at the next county council meeting on Sept. 26.

The Beaufort County Planning and Zoning Department cited Fayette County, Georgia, as the “most local and best example of best practices on this matter.” The Fayette County Path System Design Guidelines, recommends 14 feet for any multi-use path that accommodates golf carts, cyclists and pedestrians, two-foot shoulders on either side of the path and an extra five feet in areas of high pedestrian traffic.

The pathways on Buckwalter and Bluffton Parkways are generally only eight feet wide, with some sections as narrow as four and as wide as nine, according to the county Planning and Zoning Department.

The county staff recommend adopting the ordinance.