Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Interesting MMP Observation
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Old 01-14-2024, 11:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby View Post
I agree, the design is flawed. But that's the design we have, presently. While we can advocate for a change in design (and some of us already are doing that), we still have to accept what IS, until and unless it changes.

Right now, the MMPs are considered wide private paved pathways in which golf carts are permitted to travel, sharing the path with pedestrians and cyclists. They're not considered roads, private nor public, and the regulation of the district government that oversees these MMPs have stated in writing that these MMPs do not allow vehicles. Therefore - according to the body of government that oversees these MMPs, golf carts are not included in the category of "vehicles." The laws of automobiles and motorcycles don't apply on MMPs, because neither of those types of mechanical transportation devices aren't allowed on MMPs. MMPs are their own thing, with their own rules, and their own lack of rules, with their own version of enforcement or lack thereof.

It's no different from dirt bike trails up in the mountains where I came from. The trails are somewhat regulated. Dirt bikes are allowed. X/C skiing and snowshoes are allowed. Pedestrians are allowed. But ATVs are not, nor motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, snowboards, downhill skis, horses, cars or trucks. They're called dirt bike trails. They're not roads, and the laws of roads don't apply. The biggest most significant difference, other than dirt bike trails aren't paved, is that pedestrians absolutely do NOT have the right of way on them, at all. Dirt bikes have the primary right of way, and only have to yield to emergency vehicles. Pedestrians walk those trails at their own risk.
Your dirt bike trail analogy doesn't work at all here.
I still mtb, ride motocross and ride trails. I also have SxS back in Indiana.

The mmp are a different animal completely. Hence the name, mmp.
Bottom line, a golf cart is a motorized vehicle that can easily kill a pedestrian.

We're really over analizyng this, it's not that hard. It just makes sense to follow common rules of the road on the mmp. Then we can all enjoy using them.
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