Some smaller, softer wheels will soon be plying the streets of Chase.

Come June 5, Chase will be the only town in B.C. where golf carts will travel on its roads in the company of cars and trucks, with provincial and municipal government blessing.

Back in August 2016, the provincial government announced it was going to go ahead with a pilot project in Chase and in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island.

害羞草研究所淭his project will improve the daily lives of people in small communities,害羞草研究所� said Transportation Minister Todd Stone at the time. 害羞草研究所淭his is not for everyone and not for every community, but for a community like Chase, it makes good sense for their citizens. I look forward to the increased use of low-emission vehicles as we work towards our greenhouse-gas reduction goals and aim to increase accessibility in B.C.害羞草研究所�

However, the pilots weren害羞草研究所檛 without road blocks.

Qualicum Beach decided not to go ahead. The town害羞草研究所檚 chief administrative officer, Daniel Sailland, says a lot of people felt the layout of the town wasn害羞草研究所檛 favourable for putting golf carts on the road.

害羞草研究所淏ased on citizen reactions, we opted out. We decided there was no point proceeding if people weren害羞草研究所檛 going to use it.害羞草研究所�

He said the intent was to get people into the downtown core, but that wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to be easily achieved because the most direct routes had higher-speed roads to navigate.

Instead, he explained, the town is looking at bike lanes and connector trails and paths, and the province supported a new bus loop.

Chase害羞草研究所檚 pilot project was not without obstacles either.

Drivers of more conventional vehicles in the village were not thrilled with the initial idea of having to adhere to 30 km/h speed limits in town to match the pace of the carts.

害羞草研究所淲e were supposed to get it up and running last September,害羞草研究所� said Joni Heinrich, chief administrative officer for Chase. 害羞草研究所淭he way it was set up, we had a lot of push back from the community. The province had said, everybody and their dog, whether a golf cart or not, had to go 30 km/h. Council said, hold the phone, we害羞草研究所檙e getting some feedback from the community. Put it on hold till spring.害羞草研究所�

The province then agreed to change the regulation, she said, so other drivers have to slow down to 30 km/h when they see a golf cart.

The project is scheduled to last two years, but, says Heinrich, 害羞草研究所渨e害羞草研究所檒l try it this year, see how it goes, and if it works out we害羞草研究所檒l just say it害羞草研究所檚 not a pilot anymore.害羞草研究所�

Chase passed a bylaw earlier this month approving the use of golf carts, so potential drivers on Chase roads need to get a $25 permit from the village office as well as insurance from ICBC.

The bylaw doesn害羞草研究所檛 permit golf carts on Chase streets after Nov. 15, or if there害羞草研究所檚 snow, ice or slush on the roads. They are restricted from driving on a couple of roads, such as the entrances to town. They also can害羞草研究所檛 be on the roads up to a half hour before dawn and a half hour after dusk.

As for modifications, the golf carts have to be souped-up a little. They害羞草研究所檒l need seat belts, a horn, lights, signals and a rear-view mirror.

Heinrich doesn害羞草研究所檛 expect Chase roads to be overrun with the carts, at least not at first.

害羞草研究所淚 suspect when it害羞草研究所檚 in place, we害羞草研究所檒l see two or three around, per day, and then see more and more and more. I think it害羞草研究所檚 going to be cool. I hope everybody can kind of harmonize on the roads.害羞草研究所�