The City of Monroe may not have started a trend regarding electric vehicles last week, but it put itself toward the front. The City of Darlington may not be far behind.
The Monroe City Council last Tuesday voted unanimously to allow little electric cars - NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) - to be driven on city streets. NEVs resemble golf carts, but include lights, mirrors, windshields and seat belts, as required of all licensed vehicles to drive on streets. They must travel at least 20 mph, but not more than 25 mph. They can cross state-owned roads, but cannot travel along them.
The decision wasn't a particularly difficult one for aldermen, as evidenced by their unanimous vote. But it was a forward-thinking call nonetheless. While you shouldn't expect to see Monroe overrun with NEVs anytime soon, the electric cars do provide an alternative for people who want to get around town without burning high-priced gasoline. They also are much more environmentally friendly than automobiles.
A handful of Wisconsin communities, such as Stoughton, passed NEV ordinances before Monroe. But there remain relatively few, and the city's leaders should be commended for taking an innovative idea and writing an ordinance for facilitating it.
Darlington may be next. The city's police department will have a meeting Aug. 27 to discuss the public's interest in allowing NEVs on city streets. Allowing ATVs on city streets also will be discussed at the meeting.
Darlington Mayor Dave Breunig said he has had more people than usual talk to him about ATVs and NEVs this year. Given the rising cost of gasoline prices, that shouldn't come as a surprise.
"If people want this, then we'll go for it," Breunig told the Times. "Why not?"
Why not, indeed. Regardless of the outcome of talks in Darlington, city residents should appreciate their leaders' willingness to discuss a new idea. Communities like Monroe and Darlington set a good example for others that can take innovative steps that piece by piece can help the nation do what it must - wean itself off of its dependence on foreign oil.
The Monroe City Council last Tuesday voted unanimously to allow little electric cars - NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) - to be driven on city streets. NEVs resemble golf carts, but include lights, mirrors, windshields and seat belts, as required of all licensed vehicles to drive on streets. They must travel at least 20 mph, but not more than 25 mph. They can cross state-owned roads, but cannot travel along them.
The decision wasn't a particularly difficult one for aldermen, as evidenced by their unanimous vote. But it was a forward-thinking call nonetheless. While you shouldn't expect to see Monroe overrun with NEVs anytime soon, the electric cars do provide an alternative for people who want to get around town without burning high-priced gasoline. They also are much more environmentally friendly than automobiles.
A handful of Wisconsin communities, such as Stoughton, passed NEV ordinances before Monroe. But there remain relatively few, and the city's leaders should be commended for taking an innovative idea and writing an ordinance for facilitating it.
Darlington may be next. The city's police department will have a meeting Aug. 27 to discuss the public's interest in allowing NEVs on city streets. Allowing ATVs on city streets also will be discussed at the meeting.
Darlington Mayor Dave Breunig said he has had more people than usual talk to him about ATVs and NEVs this year. Given the rising cost of gasoline prices, that shouldn't come as a surprise.
"If people want this, then we'll go for it," Breunig told the Times. "Why not?"
Why not, indeed. Regardless of the outcome of talks in Darlington, city residents should appreciate their leaders' willingness to discuss a new idea. Communities like Monroe and Darlington set a good example for others that can take innovative steps that piece by piece can help the nation do what it must - wean itself off of its dependence on foreign oil.
