Rome locals push back as golf cart tours multiply near historic sites

Residents of central Rome say they are increasingly frustrated by a rise in golf cart tours navigating the city's narrow streets and historic squares, according to The Guardian.

Near Piazza Navona, one of Rome's grandest squares, visitors from Texas named Barry and Linda stepped out of one such golf cart, planning to cross the square on foot to admire Lorenzo Bernini's 17th-century Fountain of the Four Rivers, illustrating the kind of tourist experience the vehicles have come to serve.

Local authorities have moved to crack down on the golf cart trade, which they argue risks spiralling out of control if left unchecked, citing concerns about congestion and the strain placed on streets built centuries before motorized tourism became commonplace.

Operators of the golf cart tours, for their part, say they are being targeted unfairly by the new restrictions, arguing that their businesses provide a legitimate and popular way for visitors to see the city's landmarks without the physical demands of walking long distances.

The dispute reflects a broader tension in Rome and other heavily touristed European cities between preserving historic urban environments and accommodating the steady flow of visitors whose spending supports local economies.