A recent article in the Tampa Bay Times has drawn attention to a new form of transportation in Downtown Tampa — golf carts. Golf carts are already a mainstay in areas like Davis Island and Temple Terrace, but they are not usually seen in the downtown area. However, a business has opened up downtown that allows people to rent them by the hour or for a whole day. Tampa is now a city of pedestrians, scooters, trolley riders, bikers, Segways, water taxis, and cars. Will this new form of transport make things smoother in the area or create more problems?
Golf Carts in Downtown Tampa
Channelside Golf Cart Rentals opened in May of this year. They are located at 369 S. 12th Street, which is in the parking garage across from the Florida Aquarium. A great spot near Sparkman Wharf and the ever-expanding Water Street Tampa. You can rent the carts by the hour or for $225, you can cart around Tampa all day.
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According to the Tampa Bay Times, the business is owned by Ethan Luster who owns similar businesses in Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, and Dunedin. Channelside Golf Cart Rentals has a fleet of eight 4-passenger gas-powered carts. And while Luster says rentals have been slow this summer, he expects they will pick up as people become more award of this new transportation option.
The areas you can explore in a golf cart include:
- Downtown Tampa
- Channelside
- Hyde Park
- Armature Works
- Curtis Hixon Park
Cart drivers must follow all the traffic laws that apply to driving a car. There are also a couple of more rules for riding a golf cart:
- The driver must be at least 25-years-old
- There can only be 6 passengers or fewer
- No driving on the sidewalk or bike paths
- Don’t go on any road with a speed limit of over 35 mph
The hours of operation are from 10 am to 8 pm Thursday to Sunday. They also are open for some major holidays such as Memorial Day. It’s recommended to book your cart a week or even a month in advance.
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