Madison council adopts revised golf-cart and low-speed vehicle rules, narrows Main Street access after lengthy debate

The City of Madison Common Council voted April 22 to amend and replace section 70.04 of the City of Madison code to update rules governing golf carts, low-speed vehicles and off-road vehicles.

The ordinance change, approved on second reading after extended public comment and council debate, keeps a city-level permitting and sticker requirement, expressly forbids ORVs from driving on city streets except with special Board of Public Works and Safety (BPW) approval for events, and includes a limited grandfathering clause that allows LSVs registered with the state before March 18, 2025, to register locally and operate in a portion of the corridor that had been proposed for wider access. Council also approved a technical amendment to clarify permitted crossings at several side streets to address residents' access concerns.

Why it matters: Council members, public safety staff and residents said the update attempts to balance resident access, tourism and downtown operations with public-safety concerns on the West End of Main Street, a corridor council and staff say is being redesigned with lighting, traffic calming and sidewalks. Opponents warned that allowing slower, lighter vehicles on a busy stretch of Main Street could increase crash risk until full infrastructure changes are complete.

Key facts and outcome - The ordinance replaces the previously tabled version of section 70.04 and was approved on second reading. The final recorded roll call on second reading: Council member Patrick Kavanaugh — No; Council member Carla Krebs — Yes; Council member Lucy Dattillo — Yes; Council member Josh Schafer — Yes; Council member Jim Bartlett — Yes; Council member Josh Wilbur — Yes. Joel Storm was recorded absent. (Yes: 5; No: 1; Absent: 1.) - The replacement ordinance: (a) retains proof-of-insurance requirements; (b) moves a clear prohibition on ORVs earlier in the text; (c) explicitly recognizes county golf-cart registrations so county-registered carts need not re-register; (d) allows BPW limited authority to alter requirements for special events; and (e) contains a grandfather clause for vehicles registered with the state prior to March 18, 2025. - Council approved a separate amendment adding specified crossings (Orchard Street, Green Road, West Third Street and Delta Lane) to section d(4) to address access for residents on West Third; that amendment passed by roll call during the same meeting.

Discussion highlights Council member Josh Schafer introduced the replacement language and summarized the substantive changes: grandfathering for existing LSV owners, re-inserting an insurance requirement on its own line for clarity, moving the ORV prohibition up in the ordinance and recognizing county golf-cart registrations that had been omitted from the online codified version.

Council member Patrick Kavanaugh and others pressed safety and fairness questions: whether insurance requirements could be waived for special events (BPW can approve event permits and event-level insurance covers organizers, staff said), whether grandfathering existing LSVs is fair to new buyers, and whether allowing golf carts/LSVs on the West End of Main Street (west of Craigmont) is premature before traffic-calming projects finish. Kavanaugh said, "I don't think in any situation we should be waiving insurance requirements," arguing the city should avoid unnecessary liability risk for residents.

Chief Scudder and staff clarified that ORVs are registered and insured by the state when legally used on roads and that event-level insurance commonly covers carts that operate only inside an event footprint. Mayor Bob Courtney summarized the council's aim to balance quality-of-life access and safety, saying, "We're trying to find a solution for the people who were who would potentially be unfairly penalized because the rules are changing."

Public comment Dozens of residents and stakeholders addressed council during the public-comment period. Supporters of broader LSV access said LSV models differ from basic golf carts, are equipped for street use and are already state-registered; one local dealer representative said, "LSVs are low speed vehicles. They are allowed to go on any state road under 35 miles per hour." Opponents and several longtime residents said they were worried about crash risk on stretches that still carry high-speed traffic and urged delay until design and speed reductions are in place.

Next steps and implementation - Existing LSV owners who qualify under the grandfather clause will obtain a city sticker (police department) after providing proof of state registration and insurance. The grandfathering applies per vehicle; when the vehicle is sold or permanently removed the grandfathered privilege will end for that unit. - City staff and BPW will administer event permits and may evaluate specific event footprints and event-level insurance as currently practiced.

Ending note: Council and staff repeatedly referenced concurrent West End infrastructure work (lighting, sidewalks, speed-table installation and other traffic-calming measures) that the mayor and public works staff said are planned for 2025 and intended to make the corridor more suitable for shared modes of travel.