New Golf Cart Operation Information, August, 2006

New signs have been posted in the neighborhood by the the Fayette County Public Works department at the behest of the Fayette County Sheriff's office. 

All roads in WoodCreek are approved for use by motorized golf carts as they have always been.  Use of a golf cart on non-authorized roads has always been a violation of the local ordinance and subject to fine. The fact that there are now signs is simply an affirmation of the law that has been in effect for some time.

The reason for the signs is two-fold:
 
1) Driving on Redwine Road in a golf cart has been deemed a public safety issue, both for the driver of the golf cart and for cars on Redwine.

2) A Fayette County judge has mandated that the Sheriff provide signage at crossroads where authorized and unauthorized golf cart roads intersect. There apparently have been cases brought before the judge where people have been given tickets for driving on unauthorized roads and their defense has been that they had no way of knowing which roads are authorized and which are not.

This issue will not affect the vast majority of WoodCreek residents.  Two groups of WoodCreek homeowners may be impacted, however. First are those that take a shortcut on Redwine Road from Stonehaven Drive to the pool.  The second group are those that drive up Redwine Road to the Heritage Church on the corner.  The pool shortcut group will need to make use of the interior golf cart paths in order to avoid the risk of a potential fine. The folks that travel up to the church will be doing so at their own risk if they choose to drive their golf carts. To avoid the risk they will either have to drive their car or walk.

On a positive note, the county planning office is willing to work with us and consider offering a right of way to put in a cart path from the Stonehaven entrance to the church, with the issue being footing the bill for construction.  This may be something that Heritage Church might consider doing as a byproduct of their current expansion plans. It is something that we can pursue as a homeowners association with help from some of the church members that live in the neighborhood.

Multi-Use Recreational Paths

WoodCreek has a network of paved multi-use recreational paths.  Use of the paths is limited to pedestrians, bicycles, and non-motorized vehicles.  Because many residents of the WoodCreek community-- like our Peachtree City neighbors-- own and operate golf carts on the paths, they are more commonly called cart paths.

In addition to tying one street to another within the WoodCreek community, these paved paths also connect to neighboring subdivisions and to more than 90 miles of paths in the Peachtree City path network.  Use of the carts on the quiet streets within WoodCreek is also very popular.

Cart Path Rules

Golf cart operation on the streets and paths of WoodCreek is regulated by Fayette County Code, Chapter 10, Article III, which governs the operation of golf carts on streets and recreational paths in unincorporated parts of the county. Fayette County Code §10-43 provides that on public streets and recreational paths located within the unincorporated county only the following groups can legally operate a golf cart:

• Any person who possesses a valid motor vehicle driver's license and is at least 16 years of age.
   

• Any person who possesses a valid motor vehicle learner's permit and is at least 15 years of age, so long as such person is accompanied in the front seat by a person who possesses a valid motor vehicle driver's license and is at least 18 years of age.
   

• The ordinance further states that no person younger than 15 years of age shall be permitted to operate a motorized cart under any circumstances.

Other regulations to follow include:

• Operators must abide by all traffic regulations applicable to vehiclular traffic.
  
  
• Path use is limited to pedestrians, nonmotorized vehicles, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, golf carts, bicycles, and wheelchairs.  Specifically prohibited on cart paths are:  automobiles and trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, minibikes and mopeds, horses, and go-carts.

Residents who operate their golf carts on the Peachtree City path system must register their carts with the city and follow other operating regulations outlined on the Peachtree City web site.

Revised:  12/21/2007