By Mike Wood

Staff writer

Monday, June 23 (10:00 a.m.): Recently, there’s been an increase in complaints of golf carts being driven on walkways and sidewalks around Rossmoor, where they are not allowed.

This has been a consistent problem that spikes during warmer months, said Securitas Site Manager Steve Bertolozzi. It’s a problem particularly around the clubhouses and near the golf courses, said Bertolozzi, who noted a recent complaint from a pedestrian who was nearly hit by an unexpected golf cart in the walkway adjacent to Hillside Pool.

Bertolozzi said he’s also seen golf carts being driven on the sidewalk into Rossmoor to avoid entry through the front gate arms.

“There have been several complaints received by dispatch related to residents not following the rules when driving their golf carts,” Bertolozzi said.

Clubhouse and golf course areas fall under RWC rules, which align with the California Vehicle Code, which considers golf carts to be vehicles.

RWC Rule R 201.0, covering Traffic Rules and Regulations, states that vehicles of any kind “may not be operated on sidewalks.” Exceptions, on an “as-required” basis, are for emergency, utility and maintenance vehicles conducting official business.

The rule applies to all persons operating vehicles of any type … “on any street or community facility parking area in Rossmoor.”

Automobiles, motorcycles, golf cars, recreational vehicles and bicycles are among what are considered vehicles under the rule. Exceptions are motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs, scooters, child strollers or similar devices that are “generally required to assist individuals whose mobility would otherwise be impaired” and thus are allowed on sidewalks and walkways. Golf carts may “traverse” sidewalks as a means of getting to a roadway or parking lot, Director of Public Safety Tom Cashion said.

This issue was addressed early this year when additional signs that note where no golf carts are allowed went up around Rossmoor. They can be seen at locations such as around Dollar, Hillside and Gateway clubhouses and on the front of the bridge that connects the Creekside parking lot to the entrance to Creekside Grill.

Efforts like additional signage to mitigate such potential hazards have accelerated in recent years. To that point, a new residents’ guide to drivers and pedestrians is being developed, Cashion said. The guide – a collaboration among RWC Public Safety, Neighbors for Safer Streets, the city of Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Police Department – is expected to be available later this year, Cashion said.

By and large, most Rossmoor golf cart drivers follow rules, he said. But one errant driver can be hazardous to pedestrians, of which Rossmoor has an exceptional number. And it just takes one driver not following the rules to set a bad example that can be emulated, Cashion said.

RWC golf course rules (Rule 103.0) have an entire section extensively addressing use of golf carts while on the golf course, including the concrete pathways that are for golf cart routes.

This is an issue that goes beyond golfers, Director of Golf Mark Heptig said, because many people own carts as a second means of transportation and don’t golf at all. “So, all cart owners need to be aware of the rules and use their carts correctly,” Heptig said.