LOW SPEED VEHICLE & GOLF CART CONNECTION HOMEport
Hello. We need your support to connect our communities with a lower speed transportation options for residents and visitors alike.
Golf Carts and LSV Low Speed Vehicles compliant (LSVs) transportation that are becoming a common sight for transportation in and around Michigan communities including summer destinations. They are efficient, fun to drive and and a great way to get around, especially during the summer months. Most people are familiar with basic golf carts, but another vehicle designation in Michigan, called a Low Speed Vehicle, or LSV has become popular..
GoJoe Rentals is leading the way and now offers street legal LSVs for rent to local residents and tourists to enjoy the area, visit beaches and more. Individuals, businesses and even municipalities can and do own and operate LSVs as a great way to move people or stuff around.
In addition, the Harbor Shores project with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course centerpiece along with robust and beautiful real estate developments and neighborhoods in and around the golf course with close proximity to Jean Klock Park, Tiscornia Park, Rocky Gap Park, the municipal marina and neighborhoods north of the river, is further fostering "resort community" feel and reality to the area.
This page provides information to the public, officials and anyone interested in supporting the following proposals:
Thanks!
Golf Carts and LSV Low Speed Vehicles compliant (LSVs) transportation that are becoming a common sight for transportation in and around Michigan communities including summer destinations. They are efficient, fun to drive and and a great way to get around, especially during the summer months. Most people are familiar with basic golf carts, but another vehicle designation in Michigan, called a Low Speed Vehicle, or LSV has become popular..
GoJoe Rentals is leading the way and now offers street legal LSVs for rent to local residents and tourists to enjoy the area, visit beaches and more. Individuals, businesses and even municipalities can and do own and operate LSVs as a great way to move people or stuff around.
In addition, the Harbor Shores project with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course centerpiece along with robust and beautiful real estate developments and neighborhoods in and around the golf course with close proximity to Jean Klock Park, Tiscornia Park, Rocky Gap Park, the municipal marina and neighborhoods north of the river, is further fostering "resort community" feel and reality to the area.
This page provides information to the public, officials and anyone interested in supporting the following proposals:
- Request a change for the speed limit across the BiCentennial Bridge (see map below) from 40mph to 35mph to support Low Speed Vehicle operation back and forth across that bridge. Note that LSVs are legal to operate in Michigan, and the regulation is provided for reference purposes. It is not required for the speed limit change request other than the regulation specifies the road speed limit that LSVs may operate on.
Section 257.660 of the Michigan Vehicle Code - Request the Cities of Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, and Benton Township authorize use of Basic Golf Carts on public roads defined in the Michigan Vehicle Code
Section 257.657a of the Michigan Vehicle Code
Thanks!
BASIC golf carts |
Low speed vehicles |
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A golf cart is defined in the regulation as a "vehicle designed for transportation while playing golf". But their utility, efficiency and ease of use in communities and notable summer resort areas around the country as well here in Michigan are becoming more prevalent.
As such, the State of Michigan has passed 257.600a of the Michigan Vehicle Code (Act 300 of 1940). This regulation (referenced above) gives municipalities with a population of 30,000 or less the authority to authorize, by resolution, the use of a standard golf cart on public roads with speed limits of no more than 30 mph. If a municipality has approved use of golf carts on their roads, that municipality may request from MDOT authorization for use on a State Trunk Line (other than an Interstate Highway) that includes bridges (such as the BiCentennial Bridge or the Blossomland Bridge, see map below). Here is partial list of Michigan Communities that have authorized standard golf carts for use: Michigan communities allowing basic golf carts on streets:
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LSV's come in several designs and are legal in Michigan on roads with up to a 35mph speed limit.
Today, even our local communities (City of Benton Harbor and the City of St. Joseph) operate low speed vehicles as part of the Parks Department, Public Works or Public Safety departments. LSVs, may be based on a golf cart, but are more than just the carts you might see on a golf course. First, they must be built by a federally licensed manufacturer. LSVs are registered in Michigan just like any vehicle and they have a license plates. An LSV is configured with many additional safety components including a windshield, a windshield wiper, front and rear lights, hazard flashers, turn signals, mirrors, reinforced roof, MDOT certified tires and most important seat belts. LSVs are governed by a state regulation which specifies among other things, they can operate on roads with up to 35 mph speed limit (except to cross). LSVs are allowed to operate at speeds up to 25 mph. A licensed driver is required to operate them just like any vehicle. At GOJOE Rentals, we require operators to be 21 years old and we limit speeds of the LSVs to less than 20mph. |
connecting our communities
Our beautiful Twin Cities have fantastic beaches, two vibrant downtown districts, a gorgeous golf course, hotels and restaurants and other tourist related venues as well as a beautiful waterfront which is second to none here in southwestern Michigan.
Our two cities, as well as the adjoining Benton Township & St. Joseph Township areas are connected by a total of 4 bridges that cross the St. Joseph River (Blossomland, BiCentennial, Napier and Interstate 94).
But the two bridges we want to talk about here are the Blossomland Bridge and the BiCentennial Bridge, and primarily the BiCentennial Bridge.
As it turns out, both of these bridges have 40mph speed limits, and this prevents legal use of LSVs between our communities.
We want to change this, or more accurately, we want to request a change the speed limits across the BiCentennial Bridge which connect Benton Harbor and St. Joe from 40mph to 35mph. Though the short distance over the Blossomland Bridge would be ideally lowered too, the BiCentennial Bridge connecting Marina Island (within St. Joe) and Benton Harbor is the primary focus.
Take a look at the current speed limit sign overview & location map below:
Our two cities, as well as the adjoining Benton Township & St. Joseph Township areas are connected by a total of 4 bridges that cross the St. Joseph River (Blossomland, BiCentennial, Napier and Interstate 94).
But the two bridges we want to talk about here are the Blossomland Bridge and the BiCentennial Bridge, and primarily the BiCentennial Bridge.
As it turns out, both of these bridges have 40mph speed limits, and this prevents legal use of LSVs between our communities.
We want to change this, or more accurately, we want to request a change the speed limits across the BiCentennial Bridge which connect Benton Harbor and St. Joe from 40mph to 35mph. Though the short distance over the Blossomland Bridge would be ideally lowered too, the BiCentennial Bridge connecting Marina Island (within St. Joe) and Benton Harbor is the primary focus.
Take a look at the current speed limit sign overview & location map below:
speed limit change overview ... 40 to 35 MPH
In short, we propose reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 35mph (just 5mph) to support legal operation of low speed vehicles across the river between both communities (note this change does not apply to basic golf carts which have a 30mph road speed limit).
Two speed limit signs (B+D) will do the trick, three (B+C+D) would be a better solution, and four (B+C+D+E) would be the best and provide the most flexibility.
SIGN B: Reviewing the map above, SIGN B if changed allows legal operation east bound on N. Wayne St. from SJ over the BiCentennial Bridge into BH. With just this sign changed, the downtown Arts District in BH, Tiscornia Beach, Jean Klock Park, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, and more can be reached via the rotary then traveling north on Riverview Drive to Graham Avenue to North Shore drive to downtown BH. Whitwam Drive to Upton Drive also accessible with this.
SIGN C: If SIGN C is changed, this would allow legal operation from the rotary at W. Main and Riverview Drive east along W. Main to downtown BH and the Arts District.
SIGN D: If SIGN D were changed, it would allow legal operation westbound from downtown BH over the bridge to downtown SJ. It should be noted that this speed limit sign presumably controls the speed limit from the rotary heading west to the and over the bridge until SIGN A where its 35 mph. There is no speed limit sign between the rotary (which itself is 15mph) between the rotary and the bridge.
SIGN E: With SIGN E (located just past Port St. heading north) changed, this would allow legal operation north over the Blossomland Bridge from downtown SJ to Whitwam Drive (immediately after the bridge), and provide easy and quicker access to the beaches (Tiscornia, Jean Klock and Rocky Gap, The Inn at Harbor Shores, and downtown Benton Harbor via Whitwam Drive & Graham Avenue. Only 1000 feet of road is impacted by this change.
Changing one, some or all of these speed limits is under the jurisdiction of MDOT because N. Wayne (SJ) and W. Main is an I-94 Business Loop and M63 past Port Street is a Michigan state road. The total road surface impacted if all four speed limit signs were reduced from 40 to 35 is less than 4800 feet (less than a mile).
A request for speed limit is made by the municipalities involved. The process by MDOT includes an analysis requiring the measuring of actual speeds by at least 100 vehicles along the proposed road way (typically done by the State Police using radar detection equipment). The speeds are logged and then typically, the 85th percentile of all speeds is the indicated speed limit for that section of road.
Two speed limit signs (B+D) will do the trick, three (B+C+D) would be a better solution, and four (B+C+D+E) would be the best and provide the most flexibility.
SIGN B: Reviewing the map above, SIGN B if changed allows legal operation east bound on N. Wayne St. from SJ over the BiCentennial Bridge into BH. With just this sign changed, the downtown Arts District in BH, Tiscornia Beach, Jean Klock Park, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, and more can be reached via the rotary then traveling north on Riverview Drive to Graham Avenue to North Shore drive to downtown BH. Whitwam Drive to Upton Drive also accessible with this.
SIGN C: If SIGN C is changed, this would allow legal operation from the rotary at W. Main and Riverview Drive east along W. Main to downtown BH and the Arts District.
SIGN D: If SIGN D were changed, it would allow legal operation westbound from downtown BH over the bridge to downtown SJ. It should be noted that this speed limit sign presumably controls the speed limit from the rotary heading west to the and over the bridge until SIGN A where its 35 mph. There is no speed limit sign between the rotary (which itself is 15mph) between the rotary and the bridge.
SIGN E: With SIGN E (located just past Port St. heading north) changed, this would allow legal operation north over the Blossomland Bridge from downtown SJ to Whitwam Drive (immediately after the bridge), and provide easy and quicker access to the beaches (Tiscornia, Jean Klock and Rocky Gap, The Inn at Harbor Shores, and downtown Benton Harbor via Whitwam Drive & Graham Avenue. Only 1000 feet of road is impacted by this change.
Changing one, some or all of these speed limits is under the jurisdiction of MDOT because N. Wayne (SJ) and W. Main is an I-94 Business Loop and M63 past Port Street is a Michigan state road. The total road surface impacted if all four speed limit signs were reduced from 40 to 35 is less than 4800 feet (less than a mile).
A request for speed limit is made by the municipalities involved. The process by MDOT includes an analysis requiring the measuring of actual speeds by at least 100 vehicles along the proposed road way (typically done by the State Police using radar detection equipment). The speeds are logged and then typically, the 85th percentile of all speeds is the indicated speed limit for that section of road.
BENEFITS & how you can help
A consensus & concerted effort among City leaders, businesses & citizens is necessary.
Though a speed limit change by MDOT follows a standard process, certainly an agreement by the citizens in both communities would assist to bolster a change request. We're not asking for an increase in speed, and the request is just 5mph slower over a section of road of about 3500 feet (about 2/3rds of a mile). The most impacted road surface would be W. Main Street which was newly renovated just a few years ago providing a substantially improved road with wide bike paths on both sides.
Both communities would benefit with the change, and a slightly slower speed limit would have very minimal impact over just 3600 feet of road way. And allowing for basic golf cart operation would enhance our communities resort lifestyle, and provide easier and more efficient transportation within neighborhoods.
Though a speed limit change by MDOT follows a standard process, certainly an agreement by the citizens in both communities would assist to bolster a change request. We're not asking for an increase in speed, and the request is just 5mph slower over a section of road of about 3500 feet (about 2/3rds of a mile). The most impacted road surface would be W. Main Street which was newly renovated just a few years ago providing a substantially improved road with wide bike paths on both sides.
Both communities would benefit with the change, and a slightly slower speed limit would have very minimal impact over just 3600 feet of road way. And allowing for basic golf cart operation would enhance our communities resort lifestyle, and provide easier and more efficient transportation within neighborhoods.
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Things you can do to help:
Thank you! |
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