Scooters on Golf Cart Paths

[Lovey2]

Okay...before anybody accosts me, I did read most of the prior threads, and find a lot of opinions and beliefs (many same as mine). My question is does anyone know where I can actually find the RULES for allowed use on the cart paths? I have done my homework with the state and my scooter is registered, which is ALL that is needed for the STATE. We were told we can use the multi modal paths for the scooter as it IS NOT a motorcycle and is under 50CC. This is why we bought it. My husband was just yelled at by a Community Watch guy directing traffic at our gate and told he wasn't allowed to drive it on the paths since IT WAS THE RULE. Anybody know where I can find THE RULES? :sigh: Thanks!!

[OpusX1]

I have read on this forum both yea and nay on the scooter question on the MM trail. I have never seen a document (rules) that state what is allowed on the trails. I know that scooters under 50cc do not require the operator to have a motorcycle endorsement for operation on the roads, I'm not sure about the license tag requirement for less than 50cc on roads. I ride my scooter on the roads and feel much safer than I would on the MM trail. My scooter is 250cc so I do have a MC endorsement and tags The scariest places I ride at are the rec center parking lots.

[Lovey2]

Yeah, we were only required to tag it, no license, or even insurance. We had to register and tag because we had to use it on the roads to get to the cart paths. I had called the Sheriff's office about the tagging and licensing so I know that's the case, and we did go register it, as I said. My understanding was the paths are multi-modal, and I'd rather have a scooter coming at me or out from a tunnel, than one of those damn recumbent bikes that are so low to the ground, they catch you off guard at the tunnels. I think every now and again, you get one of those Community Watch guys that are like the Rent-a-Cops we had at the shore in the summer...a little power crazy. (And let's not start a Community Watch thread here....most are great and pleasant, but I've run into (ONLY) 2 that were real butts.) Thanks for your input. Hopefully someone will know IF there are any actual rules, and where I can find them.

[Bogie Shooter]

Okay...before anybody accosts me, I did read most of the prior threads, and find a lot of opinions and beliefs (many same as mine). My question is does anyone know where I can actually find the RULES for allowed use on the cart paths? I have done my homework with the state and my scooter is registered, which is ALL that is needed for the STATE. We were told we can use the multi modal paths for the scooter as it IS NOT a motorcycle and is under 50CC. This is why we bought it. My husband was just yelled at by a Community Watch guy directing traffic at our gate and told he wasn't allowed to drive it on the paths since IT WAS THE RULE. Anybody know where I can find THE RULES? :sigh: Thanks!!

Village Community Development Districts (http://www.districtgov.org/community/MultiModal.aspx)



Multi-Modal Path Information and Safety

The purpose of this web page is to provide information to residents regarding the Multi-Modal Paths in the community as well as information for golf cart safety. Please check out the links below. We hope you find the information useful! If you have any questions about the information provided please contact the District Customer Service Center at 352-753-4508.

[Lovey2]

Village Community Development Districts (http://www.districtgov.org/community/MultiModal.aspx)



Multi-Modal Path Information and Safety

The purpose of this web page is to provide information to residents regarding the Multi-Modal Paths in the community as well as information for golf cart safety. Please check out the links below. We hope you find the information useful! If you have any questions about the information provided please contact the District Customer Service Center at 352-753-4508.


Thanks much!! I did stop a Community Watch guy while I was out, but you providing the link was much easier!!

[Lovey2]

clear as mud...one part says you have to abide by the rules of the road, or you can get a ticket and points on your license, then further down it says you don't have to be licensed to drive a golf cart but must be over 14. So...if you get stopped, just say you don't have a license?? :)
Nothing about scooters yet.

[Lovey2]

ahhh, so the Community Watch guy was incorrect. He said scooters weren't allowed because they can go over 20 MPH...same with the Street Legal carts. This thing said no mopeds or scooters because they were deemed "vehicular" . The Villages decided the Street Legal carts were OK, because they were still carts! Crazy... I've been passed, while I was doing 20 MPH, by Street Legal carts more than a few times. Oh, well....

[Down Sized]

clear as mud...one part says you have to abide by the rules of the road, or you can get a ticket and points on your license, then further down it says you don't have to be licensed to drive a golf cart but must be over 14. So...if you get stopped, just say you don't have a license?? :)
Nothing about scooters yet.

Didn't you wonder why you never saw scooters on the cart trail before? Maybe you thought you were the only one that wanted to ride a scooter on the multi trail.

[OpusX1]

I see scooters on the trail often. I think what is allowed on the trail is a very grey area. I see cars on the trail, scooters, lawn mowers, mobility scooters, walkers, skaters. Bicycle's, tricycle's, stand up scooters, electric bikes, wheel chairs both powered and manual, segway's, skate boards. On my scooter I stay on the road.

[Lovey2]

Didn't you wonder why you never saw scooters on the cart trail before? Maybe you thought you were the only one that wanted to ride a scooter on the multi trail.

No, I didn't wonder, as I see them at the rec centers often, and yes, I am quite unique...thanks for so kindly pointing that out!

[Lovey2]

I see scooters on the trail often. I think what is allowed on the trail is a very grey area. I see cars on the trail, scooters, lawn mowers, mobility scooters, walkers, skaters. Bicycle's, tricycle's, stand up scooters, electric bikes, wheel chairs both powered and manual, segway's, skate boards. On my scooter I stay on the road.

Thanks!! Yeah, maybe he'll use it on the road after season. A lot of craziness out there right now.

[Jayhawk]

If it is not highway legal, it seems it would be OK to ride an under 50cc scooter on the multi-modal. Scooters this size are not highway legal, as they cannot maintain highway speeds. The paths are not limited to carts, bikes, etc. according to this from 2010. It is a fairly thorough document:

http://www.districtgov.org/community/Multi-Modal-Memo.pdf

[bob47]

On posts similar to this one that have appeared in the past, I have always wondered:

Who makes these rules?

What government authority has the power and resources to enforce them?

I'm not saying this is or is not a rule, or advocating breaking it if it is. It is one of those things that we read or are told and often assume to be true without giving it further thought.

[sr1436]

You should report the Community Watch person. Even if he/she is correct there is no reason for them to yell. If you don't do something the person will continue to do the same thing again.

[buggyone]

On posts similar to this one that have appeared in the past, I have always wondered:

Who makes these rules?

What government authority has the power and resources to enforce them?

I'm not saying this is or is not a rule, or advocating breaking it if it is. It is one of those things that we read or are told and often assume to be true without giving it further thought.

Maybe it is the same authority that tells you - and enforces the "no lawn ornaments" or the "no one under 19 living in The Villages".

[buggyone]

You should report the Community Watch person. Even if he/she is correct there is no reason for them to yell. If you don't do something the person will continue to do the same thing again.

Remember that one person's definition of "yelling" will not necessarily be the same as another. Calling loudly in an informative voice may be construed as yelling by some. Screaming in a ranting tone is yelling to others.

[Topspinmo]

Yes Lovey2 you are unique and you paid amenities fees like everybody else:beer3:. I think it BS also the MM paths are restricting personal transportation. 49cc Scooters no more that bike with VERY small engine, let us know what you find out. I wouldn't want to be on Morse Blvd. or BV with 49cc scooter.

[Lovey2]

Thanks all. It appears that "they" think it is or should be (?) illegal to use it on the paths. I'm not one for breaking the rules either, but may hafta "overlook" this one, if you will, like the lawn ornaments, say. (good example) It absolutely makes no sense and NO, I would not want my husband out driving on Morse, 466, or BV on that scooter.
That being said, usually I give people the benefit of the doubt in the whole "yelling" issue as far as reporting goes...but I still am entitled to my "on the inside" (or TOTV) opinion. I don't like to hastily report, I worked in Customer Service for too many years, and you never know what that person's day is like. Usually, I say the first one's on me...
Again, thanks for all the support and answers and good advice. I think we will just carry on unless we hear from some residents (doubtful) or carters on the paths!

[TrudyM]

Now if a scooter had three wheels and a holder for the clubs and didn't go over 20 mph who is to say it isn't a golf cart. I was looking at one I saw on the net and thought it was cool it was 50cc and three wheels kinda stretched so a golf bag fit just behind the driver. Don't know who sells such a thing just saw the pic and thought it was cool I can't find it now to post though.

[Lovey2]

Now if a scooter had three wheels and a holder for the clubs and didn't go over 20 mph who is to say it isn't a golf cart. I was looking at one I saw on the net and thought it was cool it was 50cc and three wheels kinda stretched so a golf bag fit just behind the driver. Don't know who sells such a thing just saw the pic and thought it was cool I can't find it now to post though.

That would be kinda cool. We did look at those new-ish 3 wheeled cycles and they are fairly expensive, $15,000. I'm gonna look too, cause I'd even drive that. If I find it, I'll send it to ya.

[Lovey2]

50cc Mojo Trike Scooter Moped - Limited availability (http://www.saferwholesale.com/50cc-Mojo-Trike-Scooter-Moped-Limited-availabili-p/50cc%20trike%20scooter.htm)

TrudyM...here's a scooter I found on the site where we got ours. Very cute :), double the price, tho.

[sailor47]

I don't understand all the concern about riding a scooter on the roads. The issue with scooters and motorcycles is visibility. They are hard to see compared to a car. 50 cc Scooters will reach or exceed 45 depending on the load and or hill. They should be just as safe as a motorcycle on our local roads. They are small compared to cars so in an accident you loose. Same holds for motorcycles. You just simply must ride with your eyes open both the ones in front and behind (mirrors).
A really bright led tail and head light should be on all the time.
As a high schooler I drove my Honda 50 all over Kentucky and Ohio on summer vacations. Never had an accident. Relax and enjoy the wind in your hair but keep those eyes open.
The trouble with using cart paths is that the scooter is much faster than anything else on the path. Not saying you would go that fast but any accident may be on you to prove you weren't going too fast. Just Say-in.

[Lovey2]

I don't understand all the concern about riding a scooter on the roads. The issue with scooters and motorcycles is visibility. They are hard to see compared to a car. 50 cc Scooters will reach or exceed 45 depending on the load and or hill. They should be just as safe as a motorcycle on our local roads. They are small compared to cars so in an accident you loose. Same holds for motorcycles. You just simply must ride with your eyes open both the ones in front and behind (mirrors).
A really bright led tail and head light should be on all the time.
As a high schooler I drove my Honda 50 all over Kentucky and Ohio on summer vacations. Never had an accident. Relax and enjoy the wind in your hair but keep those eyes open.
The trouble with using cart paths is that the scooter is much faster than anything else on the path. Not saying you would go that fast but any accident may be on you to prove you weren't going too fast. Just Say-in.
True...MANY (many, many) years ago I used to drive a little moped around in SW Philly. It wasn't as dense as Philly proper and I was fine. BUT...there weren't many SUV's then, or big ole Escalades, or for that matter, round-abouts, snowbirds, and condensed elderly. Nahhhh, I'd do a motorcycle on the roads, but not this little scooter. Hell, I've seen the Street Legal carts on the road, and cars just itching to get by them or cut them off. Lived this many years with all my bones intact...gonna try hard to keep 'em as they are! (and, yes, I'm a chicken!) You are right about the paths, tho. Will keep it in mind...:)

[Topspinmo]

Sailor 47 said "The trouble with using cart paths is that the scooter is much faster than anything else on the path. Not saying you would go that fast but any accident may be on you to prove you weren't going too fast.

I'll have to disagree with that statement here's why IMO " Most cheap 49 CC scooter won't go 45 MPH unless they are modified. Even 125CC scooter has hard time breaking 55 unless it's modified. That's the problem they won't be able to keep up with traffic on the BLVD. or Highways cause NOBODY drives 25 or 35 MPH is speed Zones. and when the speed zone is 40 or 45 that means 50 or 55 for most drivers. remember the thread about some one driving the speed limit in the left lanes.

Just saying I got passed by 70% of the soup-up Golf cart going 19 MPH on the MM path, Then there are the street legal carts that approach 30 Plus MPH if you drive with you foot to the floor. Which NOBODY drives like that except for Law breakers. SO your statement about 49CC mopeds are not 50CC motorcycles that have gears, 49cc scooters are Belt driven CVT's single speed with adults weighing much more than average teens (135 pound give or take) are much faster don't hold much water IMO.

I guess Lovey2 you could check the rules and get you mini-bike? The lawn mower engine probably got more power and torque than the scooter anyway. It's not street legal as scooter's or motorcycle's are?.

[e-flyer]

I see scooters on the trail often. I think what is allowed on the trail is a very grey area. I see cars on the trail, scooters, lawn mowers, mobility scooters, walkers, skaters. Bicycle's, tricycle's, stand up scooters, electric bikes, wheel chairs both powered and manual, segway's, skate boards. On my scooter I stay on the road.

Yes, I've seen all of these mentioned as well. I even saw a mobility scooter cross 441/27 at a light leading to Spanish Springs. :pray: for them!

[VT2TV]

Thanks!! Yeah, maybe he'll use it on the road after season. A lot of craziness out there right now.

:shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug:: shrug:

I have no idea what the rules are, but I guess my question for the persons using the multi-modal paths would be::::::::do you at any time ride/drive the ________________ (fill in the blank) on the actual street, other than just when necessary to get to the next MM pathway? Do you ever drive outside the villages using the ___? If you do, then my opinion is that it should not be used on the MM pathways. If it is never driven anywhere other than the MM pathways, then it is my opinion that it would be okay on the MM.


Now having said that, I am just giving MY OPINION, and do not pretend to know what the rules actually are. I just think the MM paths are crowded enough, and if you can drive on the roads, you should, I don't like how people swithch back and forth, and people who have vehicles that can go over 19 miles per hour very seldom switch them back to a safe speed for the MM's, and that is unsafe for whoever is using the MM paths. I also don't know, but suspect that the personal "home scooters" and the segways are suposed to be riding on streets or public roads anyhow, which would mean, again my opinion, that they shouldn't be on the paths to start with.

Again, these arejust my opinions...do not have any idea what the rules are.

[TheVillageChicken]

I think this is about as close to an answer as you will get, and it looks like your scooter is not allowed on the mm paths because it is defined as a "motor vehicle."

Memo from Janet Tutt regarding Multi-Modal Paths (http://www.districtgov.org/community/Multi-Modal-Memo.pdf)

[Lovey2]

Yeah, thanks I saw that.:( Our scooter is very small, 49CC as I said, and is never used on the street, only on the lane for GC, and the paths. I DO see others on the paths, and rec centers. We DO NOT exceed the speed limit. Since the question seems to be SPEED, I think that the Street Legal carts shouldn't be allowed on the paths then. Anyhow, I think we'll just keep on keepin' on and see what happens. WE are infrequently on the paths anyway, mostly on the cart lane on the street to rec centers.

[TheVillageChicken]

Yeah, thanks I saw that.:( Our scooter is very small, 49CC as I said, and is never used on the street, only on the lane for GC, and the paths. I DO see others on the paths, and rec centers. We DO NOT exceed the speed limit. Since the question seems to be SPEED, I think that the Street Legal carts shouldn't be allowed on the paths then. Anyhow, I think we'll just keep on keepin' on and see what happens. WE are infrequently on the paths anyway, mostly on the cart lane on the street to rec centers.

Well, since the memo states that neither the CDD nor the sheriff has traffic enforcement jurisdiction over the mm paths, I guess the issue is moot anyway. Note that the Sumter County Sheriff is the one quoted. Marion may have a different interpretation.

[e-flyer]

The issue as I see it is, how does anyone know by looking at a moped/scooter whether it's engine displacement is under 50cc? As the memo states, they are allowed on the MM path if you pedal it. In my opinion if anything motorized has a maximum speed of 20 mph it should be allowed….but I don't make the rules.

[Phil and Jeanne]

Does a 49cc scooter need registered and tagged to ride on the multimodal paths?

[OpusX1]

Short answer is no.
How do you reach the mm path? If you have to be on a road to get to the mm trail then you will need a tag and as far as I know everyone has to use a road to get to the mm path.
If in doubt call the sheriff dept. for an answer.

[Ceafolks]

Does a 49cc scooter need registered and tagged to ride on the multimodal paths?

The short answer is yes.

[Topspinmo]

IMO the problem is the outdated laws on Mopeds (49 CC and below). Early Mopeds were like bicycle assited with small junk two stroke engine to assist going up hills and they had pedals and were light so you could pedal them. Manufactures resign of the 49CC engine allowed it to remove the pedals, again just step above bicycle in construction. 30 years further down the road the 49CC liquid cooled scooter was born. Still Moped due to 49CC and below but now it enter the gray area for tax purposes. Course it always comes down to taxing. We in the usa wouldn't want somebody riding around not paying taxes on that transportation, it's just not the American way

Now the 49CC moped/scooter could keep up in residential traffic and limited highways 45 MPH and below. All 49CC CVT scooters will not run 45 MPH without modification like the souped up golf carts. Sure they might reach 40 mph down hill but on level ground might eventually wind up to 35 or 38 depending on how heavy the operator is.

The outdated laws in most states still define moped as 49CC and pedal assist. This is the problem. hardly any mopeds are made now with pedal assist. 49 CC scooters is most states require license plates for tax purposes and law enforcement identification . Basiclly the 49 CC 4 stroke scooter gets up to or over 100 mph and should be allowed on MM paths as personal transportation just like the Golf carts, bicycles, Skagway's ect.. . Why cause the are the most fuel efficiency mode of transportation and should be encouraged to save energy IMO.

the 50 CC trike as suggested is motorcycle not moped due to it has more than 49CC.

[Lovey2]

Does a 49cc scooter need registered and tagged to ride on the multimodal paths?

Yes. I've been thru this whole gamut. It does need to be registered and tagged, does NOT need insurance, should you chose to go that route. A special motorcycle license is NOT required.

[Warren Kiefer]

if it is not highway legal, it seems it would be ok to ride an under 50cc scooter on the multi-modal. Scooters this size are not highway legal, as they cannot maintain highway speeds. The paths are not limited to carts, bikes, etc. According to this from 2010. It is a fairly thorough document:

http://www.districtgov.org/community/multi-modal-memo.pdf

sorry, you are mistaken. If the 49cc scooter is registered and has license plated, it is highway legal.
\

[Barefoot]

It appears that "they" think it is or should be (?) illegal to use it on the paths. I'm not one for breaking the rules either, but may hafta "overlook" this one, if you will, like the lawn ornaments, say. (good example) It absolutely makes no sense ......

I agree that some rules don't seem to make much sense.
Does this mean that we should each individually decide which rules to "overlook"? :confused:

[TheVillageChicken]

Does this mean that we should each individually decide which rules to "overlook"? :confused:

That is the de facto reality. The number is folks who don't have separate rules for themselves and others is quite small. I am among the guilty.

[Lovey2]

I agree that some rules don't seem to make much sense.
Does this mean that we should each individually decide which rules to "overlook"? :confused:

Unfortunately, I'm quite certain it happens regularly. I see dogs walking without leashes, and lawn ornaments galore...they are not causing any harm, and look lovely. My husband so rarely has to go on the golf cart paths with the scooter, he has actually taken it to the street since the warning. Most rec centers he need to get to are fairly close to us.