July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Let's talk about golf carts (8/31/04)
Opinion
Good government is all about balance.
It's a challenge to balance competing interests and end up with a resolution that's fair to all concerned.
Good government is also about timing.
It makes sense to work on solving problems when they're small rather than wait until a crisis forces hasty decision-making.
All of that may sound like a pretty complicated way of getting to a pretty mundane topic: Golf carts.
But the golf cart issue is complicated enough on its own.
Each year, during the days surrounding the antique engine and tractor show and during the gathering of vintage motor bike enthusiasts, Portland finds itself awash in golf carts.
They're the preferred mode of transportation for lots of folks as they cruise city streets to check out the garage sales or head out for dinner.
Trouble is, they're not street legal. And their proliferation is creating a serious traffic problem.
It's only a matter of time before a bad — perhaps horrific — traffic accident occurs.
And in the aftermath, it's inevitable that someone will start second-guessing city policy on the matter.
As we understand it, for decades the city has turned a blind eye to golf carts on public thoroughfares during events like the engine show. It's been a matter of hospitality as much as anything else; common sense has been the rule, with fingers crossed.
But the volume of traffic and the increasingly litigious nature of our current era ought to cause the city to re-think its policies, official or unofficial.
Again, good government is all about balance.
We'd like to see a policy in place which balanced the need for public safety with the need to be a good host, as difficult as that might be to achieve.
And, again, good government is about timing.
That's why we'd suggest that, with the 39th engine show in our rear view mirror, the city start figuring out a smarter, safer, equitable plan before the 40th rolls around.
Will it be difficult? We're guessing it will be, both from a legal standpoint and from a hospitality standpoint.
But just because a job is difficult doesn't mean it shouldn't be attempted. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
It's a challenge to balance competing interests and end up with a resolution that's fair to all concerned.
Good government is also about timing.
It makes sense to work on solving problems when they're small rather than wait until a crisis forces hasty decision-making.
All of that may sound like a pretty complicated way of getting to a pretty mundane topic: Golf carts.
But the golf cart issue is complicated enough on its own.
Each year, during the days surrounding the antique engine and tractor show and during the gathering of vintage motor bike enthusiasts, Portland finds itself awash in golf carts.
They're the preferred mode of transportation for lots of folks as they cruise city streets to check out the garage sales or head out for dinner.
Trouble is, they're not street legal. And their proliferation is creating a serious traffic problem.
It's only a matter of time before a bad — perhaps horrific — traffic accident occurs.
And in the aftermath, it's inevitable that someone will start second-guessing city policy on the matter.
As we understand it, for decades the city has turned a blind eye to golf carts on public thoroughfares during events like the engine show. It's been a matter of hospitality as much as anything else; common sense has been the rule, with fingers crossed.
But the volume of traffic and the increasingly litigious nature of our current era ought to cause the city to re-think its policies, official or unofficial.
Again, good government is all about balance.
We'd like to see a policy in place which balanced the need for public safety with the need to be a good host, as difficult as that might be to achieve.
And, again, good government is about timing.
That's why we'd suggest that, with the 39th engine show in our rear view mirror, the city start figuring out a smarter, safer, equitable plan before the 40th rolls around.
Will it be difficult? We're guessing it will be, both from a legal standpoint and from a hospitality standpoint.
But just because a job is difficult doesn't mean it shouldn't be attempted. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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