Key facts
- Rome authorities are cracking down on golf cart tours due to resident and taxi driver anger.
- Approximately 90% of the 500 golf carts circulating in Rome reportedly operate without authorization.
- Police issued €38,000 in fines this week for offenses including unlicensed driving and illegal parking.
- Rome's mobility councillor Eugenio Patanè stated the activity "risks spiralling out of control".
- Golf cart tours can cost between €100 and over €400 per person.
Rome authorities are intensifying efforts to regulate the burgeoning golf cart tour industry following widespread complaints from residents and taxi drivers who accuse the operators of stealing business and exacerbating traffic congestion. Police have reportedly found that 90% of the approximately 500 golf carts operating in the city are doing so without authorization.
This week, police stopped 131 golf carts in popular tourist areas like Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Circo Massimo, and the Spanish Steps, issuing €38,000 in fines for various offenses, including unlicensed driving and illegal parking. Eugenio Patanè, Rome's councillor for mobility, stated that the unregulated trade "risks spiralling out of control" and that regionwide measures are being pushed for.
For tourists, golf carts offer a respite from Rome's heat, crowds, and cobblestone streets. Barry and Linda, visitors from Texas, found the experience enjoyable, appreciating "feeling the breeze" and resting their tired feet after a difficult walking tour. They paid €310 for a three-hour ride, deeming it "worth it."
However, residents like Nora Fahmi, who works at an art photography shop near the Pantheon, describe the situation as "wild," while Elisa Isacco, a resident of the Monti area, expressed frustration, stating, "I find myself having to dodge them all the time – Rome is chaotic, it’s like a jungle."
Leo Pavoncello, a golf cart driver, defended the industry, highlighting the vehicles as silent, eco-friendly, and providing a comfortable way for people with disabilities and families with children to see the city. He suggested that a few "rotten apples" were giving the business a bad name and suspected "taxi lobbies" were pressuring authorities.