Low speed vehicles may be examined

LEAMINGTON — While Leamington Councillor Tim Wilkinson’s idea of allowing golf carts on municipal roadways was shot down last month, his suggestion has spawned a new idea for council to consider.

“In researching deeper into my golf cart idea, I discovered a new form of transportation,” he said. “They’re called Low Speed Vehicles or LSVs.”

The LSVs that Wilkinson refers to are similar to electric golf carts but have doors and windows, which was one of the main concerns about the previous golf cart idea.

They LSVs are designed to be driven in areas where the speed limit is 50 kph or less, but will max out at 40 kph.

“I hope that council in the near future considers eco-friendly alternative transportation,” said Wilkinson.

He said that communities such as Grand Bend and Lambton Shores are already employing them and asked if Mayor Hilda MacDonald could reach out to her counterpart in those areas to get a comparison.

The vehicles typically cost anywhere between $15K-$25K and can carry a wide range of passengers.

The LSVs may come in handy during large events such as Hogs for Hospice, concert nights or festivals near the waterfront.