Rules of the Road for Island Drivers
Unlike our friends on Mackinaw Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, South Bass Island does not restrict the type of motor vehicles that may be operated on our roadways.
It is not unusual to see bicycles, pedestrians, golf carts, a car, semi-truck, school bus, two taxi vans and the Tour Train all in a parade of sorts down Langram Road, a busy artery between downtown and the Miller ferry dock.
A road widening project is currently being completed on Langram that will add a bike path on either side of Langram and also along a two-block stretch of Toledo Avenue coming into town. The project will be complete by Victoria Day weekend.
Whether there is a bike path along the roadway or not, we hope that visitors to the island and island residents use common sense when operating any type of vehicle or while walking along one of the island's roadways.
The first rule of thumb is to yield to any traffic that is bigger than you and let them pass. This means if you're riding a bicycle, you get out of the way when you see a car, truck, bus, taxi, etc. trying to pass you. We realize you may feel you have the right of way, but by holding your position in the roadway, you may cause an accident.
Golf cart operators should also yield to larger traffic. Carts don't move that fast and can bottleneck traffic such as taxis and the bus which are moving people to and from the ferry services. If you're sightseeing, stop your cart and get as close to the right shoulder as possible to let larger traffic pass and then continue on your way.
Above all, pay attention to where you are, what you are doing and what others are also doing to avoid careless accidents. Remember you're operating a golf cart that perhaps travels at 15 miles per hour alongside 3,000 pound vehicles and larger that are traveling 35 to 40 mph.
Golf carts are licensed vehicles on the island and therefore are operated under the same set of laws as any other motor vehicle (automobile). Keep this in mind when you think it might be cute to let your 12-year-old drive.
At least one of the large cart rentals have people who patrol the island on scooters to make sure their customers are following their rules and guidelines that are part of a contract signed at the time their cart is rented. Infractions can result in the loss of the cart and your deposit so don't take careless chances.
Golf Cart Road Etiquette
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Be aware of surrounding traffic at all times.
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Move aside for larger and faster traffic.
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Do not stop your cart in the roadway, or on the edge of the road to sight-see. You are sharing the roads with passenger vehicles and larger transport traffic that are driving at faster speeds than your cart.
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Do not drink and drive. See Ohio Drinking Laws.
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Do not trespass or drive onto private property. Put-in-Bay is mainly residential property privately owned by individuals.
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Do not litter. There's no excuse for littering and anyone who does should know better.
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Wear your seatbelts. Make sure your kids are wearing theirs.
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Stay seated at all times until the cart comes to a complete stop. Another way to interpret this is never step off a moving cart.
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No U-turns.
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Only licensed operators may drive carts. That means you must have a valid driver's license and young, unlicensed individuals can not legally drive a golf cart on the island.
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Be considerate when you park. Parking spaces are limited. If your group has two carts, see if they won't fit one behind the other in one vehicle parking space. Don't take a space for a car when there are designated spaces for carts available.
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Be considerate of island property owners and other drivers and expect them to be considerate in return.
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If you want to bring your own golf cart to the island (we're asked this question all the time), contact your local Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get your cart registered and licensed. Your cart must have an Ohio license plate from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Bring your registration along.
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It's a small island. Expect local residents to call the police and/or the cart rental if they observe you breaking the law, including littering, trespassing and letting underage persons operate the cart.
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Use common sense. Swerving down the road, overloading the cart, driving over private property and operating the cart recklessly can only mean trouble for the cart operator. The rental agent, who may be patrolling in a car or on a scooter, has the authority to stop you wherever you are and evict you from the cart.
