[grayesun]

In the last week, I've had 2 close calls, nearly being run down by vehicles running stop signs and traffic lights...slow down people...just slow down and pay attention!

1st incident - riding my bike on Bichara Blvd. (most dangerous place to ride a bike in Villages IMHO, I won't ever do it again). Travelling south at a slow speed, I was approaching La Plaza Parkway intersection - when a vehicle pulled up to stop sign after exiting 441, driver "paused-slowed" at stop sign momentarily then darted out right in front of me. I needed to jam on both brakes and come to sudden stop to avoid crashing with car. I yelled out a few choice words, observed the lady-passenger in the car saying something to male driver as they continued on their way. I know the driver saw me as he slowed at the stop sign, bur apparently he decided he could speed through the intersection before me.

2nd incident - at of Lakeshore Drive and Lake Sumter Landing, we were just leaving Subway at LSL in our golf car heading east, about to enter intersection (traffic light had been green for about 5 seconds), when a car flew through the red light from Lakeshore Dr., nearly hitting a golf car that was turning left towards Sweetbay. Fortunately, we had slowed to allow this golf car to turn left in front of us...or we would likely have been hit broadside by the speeding car that ran the red light. The windows were down as the car sped through, so I yelled out "RED LIGHT"...hopefully this driver will be more attentive following this near tragedy.

The lesson of course is to always drive or bike the roads wherever you are "defensively"...you never know what the other guy/gal is going to do.

Safe travels folks and slow down!