Roads
Nonprofit hopes courtesy prevails as golf carts return to Willbrook path
When Georgetown County owned the multi-use path along Willbrook Boulevard, there was one rule: no motorized vehicles.
The nonprofit group that took ownership last month is promoting four rules to make the path safe for pedestrians, cyclists and golf carts, but they can be summed up in one.
“It’s essential the people be courteous,” said Mark Curtiss, president of the Willbrook Boulevard Path Association.
The group was formed by the Willbrook Corridor Beautification Association to take ownership of the right of way that it had deeded to Georgetown County in 2005. The path was built by the Litchfield Co. when it developed Willbrook to provide property owners with access to Litchfield by the Sea. It became part of the county Bike the Neck system, but was the only section where golf carts were allowed.
That ended after a collision between a cyclist and a golf cart that led to a lawsuit in 2021. The case was settled before going to court, but signs went up banning carts from the Willbrook path.
While the carts were able to use Willbrook Boulevard, that raised a new set of safety concerns.
The county agreed to turn the path over to the new association, provided it remains public and that it is clearly marked that the county is no longer the owner. The county also reviewed the signs posted on the path that require golf carts to yield to bikes and pedestrians.
“It took us time to get insurance in place and get signs up, which was part of our agreement,” Curtiss said. “Hopefully we can go another 30 years without another accident and lawsuit.”
The beautification association, formerly know as the Willbrook Plantation Road Maintenance Association, will maintain the path with annual fees collected from property owners. It spent over $20,000 to cover the cost of transferring the property.
“The survey of the path was terribly expensive,” Curtiss said.
Even though the path is private, golf carts still have to comply with state law to reach it on public streets. That includes having a state registration, a licensed driver at the wheel and insurance.
Electric bikes will also be allowed on the path.
The path association sent out a notice to area residents with its own rules:
• pedestrians should stay on the edges of the path;
• cyclists and golf carts must give an audible warning before passing pedestrians or cyclists;
• cylists and carts should operate at a “reasonable speed”;
• and carts should move off the path when encountering cycists and pedestrians.
“The carts are larger, heavier, faster,” Curtiss said. “They don’t have to stop. They’re meant to go on the grass.”
While the sheriff’s office was charged with enforcing the ban on golf carts, and deputies wrote tickets earlier this summer, the association is counting on people to cooperate with its rules.
“We want people to be courteous. For 30 years we got along just fine. All it took was that one lawsuit,” Curtiss said. “Most people are pretty good about meeting the rules.”
