By Oliver Lazenby Billy Brown, Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce vice president, queues a song on his Bluetooth speaker and eases his electric golf cart onto Birch Bay Drive, his dog Elizabeth Rose Windsor sitting on the back. Brown is embarking on a cruise south along the drive toward the C Shop candy store, a trip he often makes with his grandchildren.
Brown was a driving force behind getting golf carts allowed along Birch Bay Drive and adjacent roads. In May 2018, after discussions with the county, Whatcom County Council passed an ordinance creating a golf cart zone in Birch Bay for an 18-month trial period. With that period about half over, the golf cart zone is getting mixed reviews.
Of more than 20 responses on a Northern Light Facebook post asking about the ordinance, the majority approved of the golf cart zone. Those who don’t like the ordinance reported seeing golf carts blocking traffic or breaking rules. The ordinance requires that golf cart drivers be at least 16 and have completed a driver’s education course or have a driver’s license and golf carts must have reflectors, seat belts and rearview mirrors.
Despite the ordinance, golf carts aren’t all that common. Brown said he rarely sees golf carts in the winter, and on summer weekends the C Shop’s owners said that they may see three to six a day.
Keith Alesse, whose family owns the C Shop, said he hasn’t seen many problems during the trial period and he likes some of what golf carts do for Birch Bay – he sees people in golf carts out enjoying Birch Bay and stopping to talk to friends.
“That seems like a good thing, at least from the perspective of a guy trying to sell candy to happy people,” he said. “I’d say it’s proving to be a success. I always think it makes sense to pay attention to what goes on and be willing to change your mind. If at some point in the future it seems like it’s no longer working, we should be willing to make a change.”
Keith’s father, Patrick, a member of Whatcom County’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, is concerned about golf carts blocking the bike lane or shoulder. Birch Bay drive is popular with walkers, joggers, and bicyclists.
“I’ve seen several times these things will pull off into the bike lane because they can’t go as fast as cars,” Patrick Alesse said.
A ride in Brown’s golf cart proves both of the Alesses’ comments. Drivers and pedestrians smile and wave as he works his way south along the drive. “I can’t get around the bay without seeing three or four people I know,” Brown said.
His golf cart tops out at 15 miles per hour. A few cars are backed up behind it on Birch Bay Drive, which has a 25 MPH speed limit, and Brown eventually lets them pass by pulling onto the shoulder, where, at the moment, there are no cyclists or pedestrians in sight.
“Golf cart season” is just starting in Birch Bay, Brown said. This fall, when it’s winding down, Whatcom County Council will hold another public hearing and decide whether to make the ordinance permanent. Whatcom County public works staff will make a recommendation to council based on what they hear from the sheriff’s office and the community in the meantime.
Joe Rutan, Whatcom County engineer and assistant public works director, said no accidents have been reported and one person called to thank the county for the ordinance. Aside from that, he personally hasn’t heard much about the golf cart zone.
One commenter on The Northern Light Facebook page, Brad Otto, said he has seen multiple issues with carts and “all were documented and forwarded to the sheriff’s office.” Otto couldn’t be reached for further comment by press time.
Whatcom County undersheriff Jeff Parks said the sheriff’s office is aware of no crashes or major issues with golf carts in Birch Bay.
“We’ve had very little discussion on it,” he said. “I don’t think anything has risen up to the level where it’s on our radar.”
Rutan expects to see more golf carts in Birch Bay this summer than last, he said. Cruising back toward the Birch Bay Visitor Information Center, Brown said he also expects to see more golf carts this summer. He’s a realtor, and he’s sold four homes in Birch Bay in the past year; one client was shopping for a golf cart, and the other three already owned carts.
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