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Health & Fitness

Low-Speed Vehicles in Reston?

Could electric Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) have a future in Reston? Do these vehicles have the potential to fill the gap between walking/cycling and a personal automobile for local travels?

Today I received a press release from the Club Car organization titled "Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs): Cool, Affordable, Earth-friendly Rides. Learn What Makes These Street-legal Vehicles the Way to Go"

The release talks about the growing popularity of these street legal vehicles that are often confused as golf carts. Advocates for these vehicles note that many of our trips around town are brief trips on roads with speed limits of 15 - 35 mph, yet we are driving large fuel inefficient vehicles.

The press release defines LSVs which are also referred to as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) as:

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A motor vehicle and regulated by the NHTSA. These vehicles travel at speeds between 20 -25 mph. They are allowed on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less in most states. But they must have vehicle identification numbers, be registered and insured, and be equipped with windshields, turn signals, head and tail lights, seat belts and other safety equipment.

Last year we had a demo from about the potential for a shared transportation system with LSVs in Reston.  Click to watch a brief video of the demo. During that demo it confirmed that you can get anywhere in Reston on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.

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Could you see yourself or a neighbor utilizing a vehicle like this to get around Reston?



 

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