Thursday, January 17, 2013
A Clearwater Patch reader shares his experiences trying to operate a low-speed, charter vehicle service on Clearwater Beach.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, January 17
I am writing this letter to give you another perspective on the Golf Cart wars going on in Clearwater Beach. My name is John Starick. I drove the first golf cart on the beach in 2010. It was a free beach shuttle. It was fun. The people that rode it, got to see the beach and get to their destination safely. In that time that I was doing this service, I got to meet a lot of the staff that work at almost all the restaurants, charter services, bars and so on. That Fall my father became sick up in Michigan. I went up to help him recover. When I came back down in December 2011, Florida Free Ride was only a few months old. Florida Free Ride and the Jolley Trolley were having their war. I just sat back and watched. The cart that I was driving was …
Monday, January 14, 2013
The direct ride service complements the regular Jolley Trolley services, according to Bob Longenecker, trolley president.
The Jolley Trolley recently launched an 'On Demand' service for Clearwater Beach residents. Jolley Trolley On Demand uses a smartphone application to notify drivers when a passenger wants a pick up. The On Demand service uses golf-cart type, slow moving, electric vehicles, which are not ADA compliant. There is also a vehicle that looks like an Excaliber kit car and another that looks like a Jeep. Cost for a ride is $6 anywhere on Clearwater Beach for up to five people. It is $8 to Sand Key and Island Estates, which uses a van to navigate the Memorial Causeway. “It’s going to take some work,” Longenecker said regarding letting concierges know about the service and how to use it. “It’s going to work well. It’s just going to take a little bit…
Friday, March 16, 2012
After some wording changes, city leaders gave final approval on an ordinance regulating pedi-cabs, golf carts, surrey bicycles and other slow moving vehicles. The rules take effect April 15.
City leaders put the brakes to rules regulating slow moving vehicles on the beach. No, they were not scrapped, but questions regarding the type of braking systems allowed under the regulations lead to a change letting any type of braking system on a surrey bicycle as long as it “lock ups” sending the wheels into a controlled skid. With those changes City Council gave final approval on the ordinance that regulates pedi-cabs, golf carts, surrey bicycles and other slow moving vehicles Thursday. The rules go into effect April 15. Instead of establishing a stopping distance in the ordinance which Paul Bertels, director of traffic, could not find information to support a number for, the bikes have to be able to come to a skid stop, basicallly …
Lee Obercotter
8:02 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I like the idea of simply reconfiguring your bus to meet the city code. We also hear many complaints about the "you name your fare, but it better be good" free rides. Our store does not recommend them...and never will. more ›