The golf cart is Peachtree City’s iconic image. The 90 miles of paths designated for the estimated 12,000 carts eliminate approximately one million car trips per year, said City Clerk Betsy Tyler. The paths are also what separate Peachtree City from the often-compared area of Sun City, Ariz., where the carts must travel on public roadways.
The community originated in the 1950s by a group of real estate developers and was chartered in 1959. It’s one of the nation’s most well-known planned communities. Early property owners helped established municipal services such as the volunteer fire department, and resident-run volunteer boards continue to monitor planning and development carefully.
In addition to the golf carts, the city as known for numerous recreational spots, including two lakes, several pools, soccer fields and parks, as well as "The Fred," Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, a 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheater that hosts acts including Kenny G, Kool & The Gang and Bryan Adams.
The city also is a source for other communities hoping to implement golf carts as a means of transportation. Reps from Peachtree City often travel to other cities in Georgia to educate leaders on current laws, including an upcoming speech by city attorney Ted Meeker at the Georgia Municipal Association Conference in Savannah later this month. Peachtree City is different because it does not require a driver’s license to operate the vehicles. With supervision, children as young as 12 could be in the driver’s seat, and 15-year-olds with learner’s permits are allowed to drive alone.
Tyler said the relaxed rule allows 16-year-olds with no driver’s license to get involved helping elderly or compromised residents get where they need to go.
“The carts make a trip to the store or a trip to the dentist fun,” Tyler said. “They are a part of our culture. People often call and ask if we allow cars.”
The paths wind through wooded areas behind the neighborhoods. “It’s a much more friendly experience than being in your car,” Tyler said. “You see a lot of people who are new here pulled over to the side with their maps out. Someone always stops and asks, ‘where is it you want to go?’"
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