Give Street-Level Golf Carts in Fresno the Green Light!

I was thrilled to see the recent article in the Fresno Bee that Fresno businessman Bruce Lackey hopes to bring an all-electric vehicle, similar to a golf cart on major steroids, to the San Joaquin Valley. The plug-in electric Tomberlin E-Merge will have hydraulic four-wheel brakes, independent suspension, seat belts, a roll bar and signals. Mr. Lackey plans for the E-Merge to be a street-legal, nonpolluting alternative for low-speed, short distance commuting. He is now awaiting approval from the state Department of Motor Vehicles and hopes to open the dealership soon.

Eight years ago, soon after I took office on the Fresno City Council, another local businessman came to me with the idea of licensing standard golf carts for limited use on Fresno streets. I knew--as I imagine some of you readers do--that some enterprising citizens had for some time illegally used golf carts to putter around running errands between their homes and nearby stores. While I had some doubts about whether golf carts and automobiles/trucks would mix well on our streets, I embraced the unique idea and convinced the council to send the idea to city staff for further study.

Staff eventually reported back that the concept of licensing golf carts for use on city streets was possible, but delineated the myriad limitations as to "where and when", explained the requirement for expensive safety add-ons to the golf carts, and outlined the significant restrictions placed on such vehicles by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

I was bummed after hearing the staff report, but realized that fighting state and local transportation bureaucrats was a lose-lose proposition. I reluctantly brought the bad news forward during a council meeting. The businessman that brought forth the idea left dejected.

But as we have just learned, eight years and a number of technological improvements have increased the environmental appeal of a souped-up all-electric vehicle in the pollution-chocked San Joaquin Valley. Also, a federal tax credit of between $4,200 and $5,000 should help increase the customer appeal and make the vehicle a profitable niche vehicle market.

I'm hoping that the eight year red light for these inexpensive, environmentally-friendly vehicles has ended, the yellow light is changing, and here comes the green light....beep! beep!

Coming Soon. . .

1. Why not buy a house; the taxpayers are paying for it.
2. An update on your local community college.
3. Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey?

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail me at abriancalhoun@gmail .com.