THOMASVILLE — Thomasville residents who like taking their golf carts for rides downtown may be facing a quandary soon. 

A new state law has restricted golf carts, and other low-speed vehicles, to streets with a maximum speed limit of 25 mph. 

“There are not a lot of streets that are 25 and under,” Mayor Jay Flowers said at a recent city council meeting. “That is a significant change for Thomasville.”

The limit on Broad Street through downtown is 25 mph. But many of the streets that connect to Broad are at 35 mph. 

“You can’t get to downtown where it’s 25 mph,” said City Manager Alan Carson. “That’s what we’re dealing with here.”

Council members faced concerns from residents who ride their golf carts downtown.

“I enjoy riding,” said Pam Wright. “I go to Cherokee Lake, I drive it to church, I go to the grocery store, I go downtown and shop.”

Wright also said tourists and other visitors welcome the sight of golf carts traversing downtown streets.

“They’re tickled to death when they’re visiting and they see this is a golf cart community,” she said. 

Golf cart drivers do not have to be registered but drivers must have a license. The carts have to have horns and if driven at night, must have lights. Seat belts are not required on golf carts. 

Vehicles known as side-by-sides, which include ATVs and UTVs, are not permitted on city streets, Flowers reiterated. 

The new state law, though, has the city pondering what to do to accommodate golf carts.

“We’re not quite sure, either,” Flowers said. “Thomasville has a climate and an atmosphere that is very friendly. it is a long conversation that is really just getting going.”