An ordinance to legalize driving golf carts on Bartlesville city streets failed 3-2 Monday on a vote by the City Council.

 

 The ordinance was brought forward by Ward 2 City Councilor Loren Roszel after first being heard by the council in May. After four months of additional study and two motions to table the ordinance, it finally received a full hearing last night.

 

Roszel said it was brought forward to him by constituents who wished to legally drive golf carts. A lengthy debate occurred between council members Monday.

 

Ward 4 Councilor Quinn Schipper says he spoke with several people across the city, and not one person was in favor of city-wide golf cart usage.

 

Bartlesville Mayor Dale Copeland, who also serves as Ward 1 councilor, said he spoke with representatives from two other cities that have legalized golf carts, and they warned him that if they had to do it again, they would not have. He says golf carts are designed for golf courses, not city streets.

 

Copeland and Schipper say just because the ordinance failed, does not mean it won't be possible in the future. Schipper says he would like to see a study in the city's future comprehensive plan for multi-modal transportation options, or maybe to limit use of golf carts to specific neighborhoods in Bartlesville.