Ohio communities debate how to safely regulate golf carts on streets

CLEVELAND - As golf carts move off of the fairways and onto the roadways, communities in Ohio are debating how to safely regulate them.

Golf carts long have been popular in campgrounds, private residential communities and rural neighborhoods for running errands and visiting friends.

But now they're moving into the mainstream.

In some U.S. cities like Palm Desert, Calif., golf-cart drivers have their own lane on many streets.

In some other places, the carts share the streets with other vehicles.

In Ohio, golf cart operators can ride legally on the public roads of South Bass and Kelleys islands, and a handful of other places where local authorities have agreed to permit them.

Carts allowed on roads must have headlights, turn signals, a horn and seat belts, and must be registered with the state and display a license plate.

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