What the heck do you mean, "slow down and putt putt in your golf cart?"
Are you going to be retired and speed everywhere? Most of the streets here are 35 mph and strictly enforced. Sidestreets are 25 mph and enforced. Speeding fines are very expensive. Golf carts go 20 mph (legally - and enforced on the streets). Speeding fine on a golf cart is just as expensive as in a car.
I am way far south of being 80. I know how to drive my car just fine - BUT I prefer to drive my golf cart to places in The Villages. I live up by the Glenview Country Club and am 15 minutes by golf cart to Spanish Springs and to Lake Sumter Landing. I go to the grocery store,bank, church, restaurants, Walmart, Beall's, Belk, rec. centers, down to 466A and Colony Square, and all the golf course including over to Orange Blossom in the historic section - all by golf cart. It is so much more enjoyable than by car and so much cheaper.
I do have to use my car when I go to a doctor appt up on 466 or in Leesburg, of course. I use my car to drive to restaurants outside The Villages or to Orlando or my beach days with friends.
Yes, there is a Village taxi service. Only shuttle bus I know of is from Freedom Pointe for their residents - the independent and assisted living facility.