Town of Coaldale to Participate in Province’s New Golf Cart Pilot Project

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The five-year project allows interested municipalities to pilot the use of golf carts on select public roads.

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On October 24, 2024, MLA Grant Hunter, Parliamentary Secretary for Agrifood Development, travelled to Coaldale to officially announce the creation of a five-year pilot project that will allow interested municipalities to pilot the use of golf carts on select public roads.

“The creation of this pilot project comes as welcome news the to the Town of Coaldale”, said Town of Coaldale Mayor, Jack Van Rijn. “Just over 2 years ago, our Council found itself in the position of having to rescind the Town’s longstanding golf cart bylaw because it was in non-compliance with Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act. Thanks in large part to MLA Hunter and Minister Dreeshen, however, we’ll now be able to pass a new golf cart bylaw that once again gives residents living near our local golf course the ability to drive their carts to and from the course – without having to fear being ticketed by local law enforcement. It’s a win for everyone involved – Coaldale residents, municipal enforcement officers, our local golf course, Coaldale Town Council, and the Government of Alberta.

“Transportation does not stand still, and Alberta must be ready with forward thinking ideas on how to test new transportation-related solutions or activities”, said Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. “Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and e-bikes have been popular with Albertans for years, and pilot projects like this one hold the key to unlocking new modes of transportation for everyone.”

“This is a commonsense approach to dealing with the use of golf carts in our communities”, said MLA Hunter. “Many jurisdictions have been allowing golf carts to travel on roads without any concerns.”

To participate in the pilot project, municipalities must first draft a bylaw that:

1. designates specific roads where golf carts can be operated;
2. includes provisions specified by the province’s Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services (Registrar); and
3. establishes a permit system for golf cart operators.

Once drafted, the bylaw must be submitted to the Registrar for approval, along with documentation explaining why the designated roads were chosen and supporting data on traffic, collision statistics, and the nature of the traffic on those roads. The Registrar will then review the bylaw and its supporting documentation. Approval will depend on whether the bylaw complies with regulations, whether the information is satisfactory, and if it is deemed in the public interest.

To learn more about the province’s new golf cart pilot project, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/golf-carts-on-public-roads.