Ridgefield establishes golf cart zone

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RIDGEFIELD – June 1 was the first day Ridgefield’s new golf cart zone was open and resident Mike Bonebrake didn’t waste any time getting his golf cart approved by the Ridgefield Police Department.

“That day, I kept running into Mike in his golf cart all over town,’’ said Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow. “Each time, he had someone different in his golf cart. He was like a kid on a new toy.’’

The exuberance of Bonebrake, a Ridgefield resident since 1966, can easily be understood.

“I love this town that I call home and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,’’ said Bonebrake, who operates a small computer repair business out of his downtown Ridgefield home. “Nearly 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis). As this disability progressed I’ve had to understand my limitations and find ways to adapt.

“The simple things like jumping in the car to make a quick trip to the hardware store, check the mail at the post office or repairing a computer at the Mercantile, became difficult and inconvenient,’’ Bonebrake said. “There had to be a better way to stay active and be part of the community.’’

Bonebrake wrote a letter to Mayor Onslow and members of the City Council on Feb. 25, 2014. The city had previously discussed the idea of adopting an ordinance establishing a golf cart zone, but it never gained any traction.

Recently, council members Don Stose and David Taylor revived the idea and even assisted City Manager Steve Stuart with the research and preparation of the ordinance.

“We have some folks here in town who are partially disabled and have a difficult time getting in and out of a car,’’ said Stose, whose parents live in a community in Liberty Lake, WA, that has a golf cart zone. “Mike showed me he could easily get in and out of the golf cart. I went over and chatted with him and understood what he was up against.’’

In 2010, Washington state established RCW 46.08.175, allowing local governments to create golf cart zones for the purposes of permitting the incidental operation of golf carts on public roads that have speed limits of 25 mph or less.

The members of Ridgefield’s City Council approved the ordinance creating the golf cart zone at their April 23 meeting, citing the desire to promote access to shopping dining opportunities, parks, and other public services. The zone’s boundaries will be from the city limit on North Main Street, south to Shobert Street, and east to North 9th Avenue. The boundaries will be clearly signed, to promote enhanced awareness of mixed traffic. There will be no new roadways or paths built for golf carts, as golf carts are able to travel at the legal 25 mph speed limit.

Golf cart operation is limited to daylight hours. All golf carts must be outfitted with minimum safety equipment, including seat belts, reflectors and rearview mirrors. Operators must have a valid driver’s license and liability insurance for their golf cart. The Ridgefield Police Department will complete safety inspections and issue registrations for golf cart operators wishing to take advantage of this new mobility option. There is no fee for the registration.

Bonebrake was the first to take advantage of the new golf cart zone, but likely won’t be the last. He said it has offered a dramatic change in his life.



“Driving had become very difficult,’’ Bonebrake explained. “The cockpit is so confining. I can’t use my right foot so I have to figure out how to get the right foot out of the way and use my left foot. If I had to go somewhere, I normally just didn’t. I lived in my own little bubble here.’’

But, that changed on June 1.

“Now, I have the ability to get out here and drive around and see my friends, wave to them and talk to them,’’ Bonebrake said. “It’s awesome to reconnect.’’

Bonebrake said the fact that Ridgefield is the first city in Clark County to create the golf cart zone shows how special the community is that he lives in.

“Ridgefield is unique,’’ Bonebrake said. “It’s at the end of the road. It’s its own little tight-knit community. They look out for the members of the community. The city council was looking out for me as far as what I needed but they were also looking at the bigger picture and what other people need as far as mobility options. There are a lot of elderly folks around here.’’

For Bonebrake, it was just one more thing to love about his hometown.

“We have a lot of neat things in Ridgefield,’’ Bonebrake added. “We have the (Ridgefield National Wildlife) Refuge, the Fourth of July Celebration, the Old Liberty Theater – so many neat things and now this just adds to it.’’

Stose lives near Ridgefield High School, outside of the golf cart zone. Both he and Onslow said city officials will monitor the new zone and will consider expanding it in the future.

“There’s a possibility in the future we might expand the zone to allow folks in other areas of town to utilize golf carts,’’ said Stose, who pointed out the ordinance essentially didn’t cost the city anything other than a little staff time.

“I love it; I think it’s going to work great,’’ Onslow said.

The golf cart zone is one of many initiatives the Ridgefield City Council has been pursuing to help connect citizens with their community. Other 2015 initiatives include creating an action plan for building traffic improvements throughout the city, and a multi‐modal master plan that identifies and plans for needed sidewalk, bike path, and trail improvements.

Regarding action on the golf cart zone and other transportation initiatives, Onslow noted that “we’re a fast‐growing, forward‐thinking city that’s working on a lot of different options for our citizens to get around Ridgefield safely.”