Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael 61
I would really like to purchase a bicycle (either conventional or e-bike), but after living here for almost one year, I’ve seen way too many close-calls between cyclists and golf carts on the multi-modal paths. I think it would stress me out, vs being a relaxing, enjoyable ride on the paths, trying to dodge golf carts, or worry about them passing me on blind corners.
Maybe I’m over-thinking this, and it’s not as big a safety concern as I’m envisioning it to be. Would be interested to hear what cyclists have to say about their comfort and safety level when riding on the paths.
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I ride bike on the them. I don't have a golf cart so it's my primary means of transportation besides my car. I really like the idea of a GoPro as someone mentioned, never thought of that.
I never used to wear a helmet riding bike but I do now. I have a rearview mirror so I can see when golf carts are coming up behind me. I also have LED lights on front and back that flash so golf cart drivers are more likely to see me. You definitely need to be a defensive biker because some golf cart drivers, maybe even many, are driving distracted in some way or another. Watch blind corners, the natural tendency of people is to move towards the center of the path or hug the inside of a corner. If they're coming the opposite direction from you that could be a head on collision. I've also had people try to pass me on blind corners, but that's probably more dangerous for them than it is for me. I think the time of day makes a difference too. Experiment with it.
Oh, and slightly off-topic, there is an free app called Gaia GPS which is great for bike riding because it tracks everywhere you've been, tells you how long you've been riding and the distance you've ridden. You can even save the routes you've traveled and use them to navigate later. It's an awesome app. I normally use it for riding my ATV in Ocala national forest so I don't get lost but it works great for bicycling to. Also, There's a company named Quad lock that makes a great and very secure phone mount. It's a little pricey and you have to buy a special case, but they're fantastic. The phone will not fall off, even if you crash or your bike falls over. I bought it for my ATV first and my phone never once flinched, and I ride pretty hard. I ended up buying the compatible mounts for my car and bike so I only needed one case. Edit: I just saw that quad lock has most of their stuff 30% off right now for Black Friday sales
Bottom line is that I feel reasonably safe riding the trails as long as I am paying close attention to what's going on around me.