What Clearwater's Saying: Golf Cart Wars on Clearwater Beach

Readers offered their thoughts after John Starick recently shared his experiences trying to operate Captain John's Beach Bus, a low-speed, charter vehicle service on Clearwater Beach.

Here is what some Clearwater Patch readers had to say:

christine: "TYPICAL!!! this area is so difficult to live/do business in anymore. The officials are not fair in their decisions and to whom they allow to do business. I don't go to Clearwater Beach, haven't in years. Feels like it should be in New York City not Florida. It does not give a welcoming feeling. So sorry you ran into all the "red tape" and lost. I just feel that the City doesn't go by the book, but wait maybe they do, its just "Their" book, the one with the hidden rules......."

Joe: "Take your vehicle back to the manufacturer, have the rear seat removed and put in 6 seat belts and have them re-tag it the same exact tag as your competitor. Shouldn't be a problem. Then go back to city hall with all of the new info and tell them your vehicle now meets THEIR recommendations. Always ask what their recommendations are and follow them and get it in writing for future use."

Carolyn Parsons: "It seems to me that the City of Clearwater officials make up the rules as they go. There was no reason for them to cease the operations of Captain John's Beach Bus. It really ticks me off knowing that the Jolly Trolley now has three of the same buses on the streets and the city allowed it. I am curious as to what the City officials have to say now what their reasoning was to shutting down Captain John's Beach Bus. I think John should take it to court. The weight limit of the vehicle is the weight; regardless of how many seats are on it and how many seat belts it has."

What do you think? Join the discussion by posting a comment below.

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