Police outline new rules for recreational vehicles in Columbus

A new ordinance in Columbus goes into effect on Monday, allowing some vehicles designed for recreation to drive on city streets and city police are offering tips on what you can ride and where.

Columbus City Council gave its approval to the changes in April. The new ordinance goes into effect on June 1st, allowing utility task vehicles and larger golf carts on certain city streets. UTVs are larger versions of more traditional ATVs but are equipped with more safety equipment.

The ordinance requires the vehicles to have seat belts, a rearview mirror, horn, functioning brakes, taillights, brake lights, headlights, turn signals as well as rear reflectors and a slow moving vehicle emblem on the back.

The new law does not allow dirt bikes, ATVs, go-karts, snowmobiles or other off-road vehicles on city streets.
Drivers must be 16 years or older and must have a valid driver’s license and the vehicle must have insurance.

The vehicles can only be used on streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less and are not allowed on any city streets that are also designated as state highways. That eliminates Second and Third Streets, Jonathan Moore Pike, Indianapolis Road and National Road.

The vehicles are not allowed on some busy city streets including all of Central Avenue, Washington Street from 11th to 25th streets, 25th Street from Washington to National Road and Goeller Boulevard from Jonathan Moore Pike to the west Tipton Lakes Boulevard intersection.

You can not take the vehicles onto sidewalks or the People Trail.

You can find more information here: https://www.columbus.in.gov/police/golf-carts/