Critics tie electric vehicles to downtown 'Disneyfication'

Thursday, May 16, 2002

BY JASON HARDIN
Of The Post and Courier Staff

     Having tackled mopeds, motor scooters, even motorized skateboards, the city of Charleston is looking at banning yet another threat to its downtown way of life: the "low speed neighborhood electric vehicle."
     The city is considering a prohibition on the rental of what city officials describe as "glorified golf carts" on the peninsula south of Mount Pleasant Street. The vehicles are contributing to the "Disneyfication" of Charleston and create the possibility of deadly collisions, officials told the city's planning commission Wednesday.
     Proponents, on the other hand, asked this question: Where's the wisdom in banning a vehicle that doesn't pollute, runs silently and doesn't hog parking spaces?
     Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. made a rare appearance at the commission meeting to contend that the electric vehicles, which top out at about 25 mph, give tourists a sense of driving around in a theme park. That is dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers, he said.
     Allowing the rentals to continue would also erode what makes Charleston what it is, a place world-famous for its authenticity and beauty, he said.
     "There's nothing phony. This isn't a theme park," Riley said. "If we let our guard down ... lots of business people and lots of citizens will be affected."
     Representatives from Rolling Rentals, the only company renting out the vehicles, questioned why the city would want to ban what they describe as the wave of the future. They rejected the description of the vehicles as golf carts, noting that they have safety belts, brake lights and other car-like features.
     "This is not a golf cart. This is a car," said Bill Bassett of Palmetto Ford and Ford Motor Co., which makes the vehicles. "It does everything a car does except pollute the air." Attorney Trent Kernodle, who represents Rolling Rentals, asked whether the city would prefer tourists wield a quiet electric vehicle or a large Cadillac on_downtown streets. "Ten years from now, you are going to be looking at ways to encourage these vehicles rather than discourage them."
     But the arguments failed to persuade the planning commission, which unanimously agreed to recommend the ordinance to City Council. The change would only affect the rentals of the vehicle, not their use by private citizens or others.
     Joanne Bleecker, a co-owner of Rolling Rentals, said she grew up in Charleston and doesn't want to do anything to take away from the city's ambiance.
     She wasn't even aware of any complaints.
     "It's not our goal to 'Disney-fy' the city," she said. "We are after a safe, energy-efficient, environmentally-sound way for tourists to see our lovely city."
    

     Jason Hardin covers the city of Charleston. Contact him at 937-5549 or at jhardin@postandcourier.com.