After stop-and-go start, Wichita allows golf carts on some city streets. Here are rules

After much back and forth, the Wichita City Council has approved a law that allows golf carts to be driven on some city streets.

In January, the council passed a more restrictive ordinance, then withdrew it and sought feedback from residents at district advisory board meetings.

“This will save police time. It’ll legalize golf carts so police don’t have to go out when somebody calls and says ‘somebody’s riding a golf cart,’” councilmember J.V. Johnston said.

State law prohibits the use of golf carts on city streets unless a city passes its own ordinance regulating golf cart use.

The new ordinance allows golf carts to be used on streets where the speed limit is 30 mph or less.

It restricts the use of golf carts on sidewalks and bike trails after the Kansas attorney general’s office recently issued an opinion that driving golf carts on sidewalks is illegal under state law and that cities cannot legally allow that.

Despite that, some residents at the meeting asked the council to reconsider the restriction.

“I would just ask and urge and plead to allow sidewalk usage if we have a driver’s license” resident Jennifer Arnold said. “We are able to make those decisions on not hitting a pedestrian. … We can move off… to the grass.”

Golf cart drivers must be 16 years or older with an unrestricted drivers license, down from 18 in the initial ordinance.

Drivers can also use golf carts in the city’s core, despite its prohibition in an earlier draft of the ordinance.

The carts must be equipped with lights when driving at night.

Golf cart owners do not have to register their carts with the city or pay a fee, another change from the original city proposal.

Drivers not in compliance with the ordinance will be fined no more than $200.

This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM.