Golf Cart Rentals

For the past few years, the issue of soliciting and traffic congestion near the ports of entry to San Pedro Town has been a constant challenge. The problem is mainly observed near the water taxi terminals and the John Greif II Municipal Airports, and affected stakeholders are asking local authorities to do something about it. They noted that it interferes with the activities of law-abiding businesses and, at peak times of the day, adds to the congestion in the downtown area. These stakeholders urge the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) to enforce their regulations against this ongoing violation.

For the past years, the issue of traffic congestion in the downtown area of San Pedro has been a constant challenge to tackle. The cause has been attributed to congestion in specific areas, such as the local airport and water taxi terminals. As such, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) is implementing restrictions for golf cart rentals at these ports of entry, prohibiting them from parking, loading, unloading, and soliciting business. These restrictions did not sit well with some stakeholders, who felt targeted, describing these as unfair and harmful for their companies. A call was also made to reconsider part of the regulation and further investigate the issue of taxi drivers taking up street space and overcharging.

The competition between taxi operators and golf cart rentals at Central Park has been an ongoing issue that led to the intervention of the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) in the past. Taxi drivers who visit Central Park to pick up water taxi passengers at busy times have reported that traffic wardens do not allow them to park. In contrast, golf cart rentals are reportedly allowed to stay and solicit.

Over the past months, golf cart rentals in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, have reported a dent in their fleet due to the increase in cart theft. Some companies say the stealing has not slowed down, and it is primarily affecting clients staying in northern Ambergris Caye. As such, they ask the police to establish a more substantial presence in this part of the island.

The San Pedro Traffic Department has impounded several golf carts brought to the island without the required permits. The golf carts have been taken to a holding area managed by the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC). There is the possibility that illegal vehicles could be removed from the island.

The problem with traffic congestion in San Pedro Town continues to increase despite past and present administration efforts. Now that students have returned to in-person classes, it is imperative to address vehicular congestion during peak hours to ensure their safety and that of other pedestrians, including tourists. As such, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has set a schedule for large delivery trucks to alleviate the traffic and avoid potential accidents.

Effective August 1, 2021, the San Pedro Transport Department (SPTD) will be enforcing a new rule regarding golf cart rentals. All golf carts owned by a rental company will need to be labeled with the company’s logo/name, telephone number, and golf cart number. Failure to adhere to this measure will result in a fine.

The ongoing competition between taxi operators and golf cart rentals is slowly becoming an issue. Both groups struggle to make the most of the little business available on the island. The aggressive competition has resulted in mild altercations. Taxi drivers say that golf cart rental operators should not be at the entry ports (airport/water taxi) but at their respective offices/establishments. The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has since informed the golf cart rental businesses of how they must operate within their trade license parameters.