Fore! Debate growing in Phoenix suburb over golf cart-only lane

SURPRISE, Ariz. — This isn’t par for the course: Residents of a Phoenix suburb are divided over a recently-installed lane designated for the sole use of licensed power sport vehicles, such as golf carts.

Late last month, the city of Surprise restriped three miles of Bullard Avenue to add a “golf cart lane” — believed to be Arizona’s first — in each direction between Peoria Avenue and Greenway Road. It also reduced the speed limit to 35 mph, added three crosswalks and added a bike lane.

The lane, meant for golf carts and other licensed power sport vehicles like ATVs, is wedged between one car lane and the bike lane and has caused a major stir among residents.

“The changes on Bullard Avenue are ridiculous,” Lynne Sciury, who lives nearby, said. “It’s the road to nowhere for golf carts.”

The nearest golf course, Pueblo El Mirage, is three miles from Bullard Avenue.

Sciury questioned why the city chose the street. Only those who live along Bullard would be able to utilize the special lane, as speed limits on adjacent streets are higher than 35 mph. Golf carts are not permitted on those roads.

“In my mind, this has made Bullard more dangerous,” Scuiry said. “I see cars passing in the golf cart lane.”

Scuiry said congestion caused by the loss of a traffic lane is also a concern she and her neighbors share.

City leaders said the lane is part of a bigger goal to increase pedestrian safety, especially for children. Five elementary schools — Ashton Ranch, Rancho Gabriela, Marley Park, Countryside and Parkview, along with two charter schools — are in the area.

“Our children from five elementary schools crossing this street now only have to cross two lanes of traffic instead of four,” Councilman Todd Tande said, adding that proposed bus cuts could force more students to walk to class.

“The last thing we want is to have a child hit in a crosswalk or hit trying to cross the four lanes of road,” he said.

The city said, in the last five years, there have been 20 injury-causing car accidents and three more accidents involving children on bicycles on Bullard between Greenway and Peoria.

The redesign project cost $30,000, compared to the average cost of $250,000 to install a traffic light. In addition to cost savings, city officials said the area would not be able to support a light.

The changes are in an evaluation period. The city is hosting a public meeting at Marley Park Elementary School at 6 p.m. on Aug. 17 to collect feedback and explain the changes.

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