Joe Allen wants nothing more than to make sure you have every means of locomotion possible as options for getting around town, so he’s due back at City Hall tonight in search of approval for another expansion of his burgeoning business most folks in town know simply as “Scooter Joe’s.” Reality is, however he’s got far more options for you than simply scooters, and wants to add yet another means of propulsion for your destination visits to St. Joe.
Allen, who has owned and operated Scooter Joe’s in downtown St. Joseph and alongside the Inn at Harbor Shores for years, is asking St. Joseph City Commissioners to green light his plans to rent low-speed vehicles, or LSVs, for use around town from his site on the inner harbor. Allen already offers bicycle, scooter, surrey-bike, fat-tire bike and kayak rentals from his base of operations and wants to add the new additional element of LSVs.
St. Joseph City Manager John Hodgson tells City Commissioners, “A low-speed vehicle (LSV) is kind of a cross between a golf cart and a small car.” He goes on to tell the commission that, “At one time it was possible to modify a golf cart by adding safety features to create a low-speed vehicle, but Michigan law has changed and this is no longer possible> To be considered an LSV the vehicle must be built by the manufacturer as an LSV.” Hodgson’s note to the commission adds, “LSVs have some of the safety and operating features of automobiles, such as seat belts, headlights, tail lights, turn signals, safety windshields, etc. If an LSV has a crush-resistant roof, occupants need not wear crash helmets.”
Under state law, LSVs may be operated on streets with a speed limit of not more than 35 mph. The maximum speed of a LSV is 25 mph and the operator must have a valid driver’s license.
In detailing Joe Allen’s request, the City Manager points out, “As a side note, it is important to be aware that LSVs are different from golf carts and from off-road vehicles (ORVs). LSVs are street-legal, within limits, by state law and no local action is required to authorize this. Golf carts and ORVs (they are also different from each other) may be permitted to operate on streets by individual communities, but communities must take specific actions as authorized by state law. This discussion and request is focused strictly on LSVs.”
Since the LSVs are already legal, Allen’s request tonight is for the City Commission to consider amending the license that allows operation of the kayak livery near The Inn at Harbor Shores, to allow the rental of LSVs there as well.
Hodgson reminds the Commission that the parking lot and waterfront areas surrounding The Inn are owned by the city, and there are several licenses that allow for some private activity on the site, including the license that permits the kayak livery.
Allen has indicated he believes his initial operation would include approximately three of the LSV style vehicles.
With the requested change in the license, Scooter Joe’s would offer LSVs for rent to the general public on an hourly, daily, multiple day, weekend or weekly basis from his location alongside The Inn at Harbor Shores.
*****UPDATE*****
The St. Joseph City Commission tabled Allen’s request Monday night, opting to study the issue more and asking him to return in January for further review. They want to obtain input regarding the city’s new master plan process to determine if Allen’s plan would mesh or clash with that master plan for the central business district and other parts of the community. Stay tuned.
