Go-karts cause Belgian beach mayhem

3 August 2004

BRUSSELS – A proliferation of pedal-powered beach buggies is playing havoc on the Belgian coastline, it was reported on Tuesday.

Le Soir newspaper said hiring a go-kart to ride up and down the pier was all the rage, but unfortunate pedestrians were paying the price.

It added that senior citizens were among those most often hit by zig-zagging go-karters.

The paper said some beaches regulated the hazards, like at Knokke-Heist and Middelkerke, where there were lanes reserved for go-karts, bikes and skaters.

But other beaches like Zeebrugge, have no coloured zones, so it’s a free-for-all, with pedestrians having to keep on the alert for cruising buggies crashing into their legs.

The go-kart hire companies say they can’t be responsible for a minority of their customers who are dangerous drivers.

Subject: Belgian news