2023-10-31 16:36:00
bvAt the beginning of August, Lesley-Ann Poppe and her husband Kevin Lebreton launched their own company Safe City Car. Golf carts as a safe and environmentally friendly means of transport in Antwerp, Poppe already envisioned it. But the city of Antwerp is now putting a stop to the plan, because Lesley-Ann’s golf carts are not eligible for a parking permit. Picking up the kids from school without being allowed to park? That will be difficult.
“I had been looking for a comfortable and ecological means of transport for some time to take the children to school and do their shopping.” This is how Lesley-Ann Poppe proposed her new idea this summer. “An electric cargo bike is not for me, especially not in rainy weather, a moped is too small to transport the children and an electric scooter is certainly not suitable.”
So Lesley-Ann and her husband decided to set up their own company and offer electric golf carts themselves. It also seemed like the perfect way to circumvent the new parking regulations in the city center of Antwerp. Since August 1, only residents, healthcare providers, companies or shared vehicles with a parking permit are allowed to park in the historic center. However, the city of Antwerp does not think it is such an ingenious idea. The city council is not prepared to issue a parking permit to Poppe’s golf carts. Drivers will therefore not be able to park on the street. The parking spaces on the street are only for passenger cars, minibuses, vans and microcars, the city of Antwerp explains.
LOOK. Lesley-Ann Poppe bounces across the Meir in her pink golf cart
But Lesley-Ann and Kevin are not giving up yet. They are now challenging the city of Antwerp’s decision with the Domestic Administration Agency. Poppe has a particular difficulty with the fact that microcars can obtain a parking permit. “There is no rational argument that explains why a golf cart would fall out of the boat. I don’t think it’s a sensible argument that it’s not on the list. It seems logical to me that an ecological vehicle such as an electric golf cart would receive a permit,” she argues in ‘Het Nieuwsblad’.
Poppe also believes that her golf carts can be compared to cargo bikes and speed pedelecs, which she believes can be parked anywhere. Antwerp is not going along with this either, because those types of bicycles are not allowed to be parked in parking spaces anyway.
The city simply maintains its original position in the response to the couple’s complaint. It is now the governor who, on behalf of the Domestic Administration Agency, decides on the fate of the golf carts in Antwerp. Whatever is decided, according to Poppe there is no danger to the success of Safe City Car, because “sales are going very well with customers throughout Flanders”. “The fact that it would not work in Antwerp will not make much difference for our company,” she says.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
#LesleyAnn #Poppe #receive #parking #permit #golf #carts #Antwerp #rational #argument