Morse Boulevard - three questions

[Arctic Fox]

I have three questions regarding Morse Boulevard, north of 466:

1) each side lane is marked "Golf cart and bike lane". Are they really multi-modal, or are walkers meant to walk on the grass (which is full of ruts and pot-holes)?

2) the roundabout at the north end of Morse is encircled by a golf-cart path. Is this a roundabout, too, or can golf carts go either way round it?

3) I have seen golf-carts traveling south stop at the Rio Grande traffic lights, then proceed as if they were going "right on red". This is no more dangerous than a true "right on red" but is it legal?

My thinking is:
1) the lanes should be treated as true multi-modal;
2) should be treated as a roundabout;
3) stop and wait for the green light.

I am interested in what your answer would be to each of the above but, also, where might I find a definitive, legally-binding answer to these questions?

Thank you

[Walter123]

Dwyl

[janmcn]

I have three questions regarding Morse Boulevard, north of 466:

1) each side lane is marked "Golf cart and bike lane". Are they really multi-modal, or are walkers meant to walk on the grass (which is full of ruts and pot-holes)?

2) the roundabout at the north end of Morse is encircled by a golf-cart path. Is this a roundabout, too, or can golf carts go either way round it?

3) I have seen golf-carts traveling south stop at the Rio Grande traffic lights, then proceed as if they were going "right on red". This is no more dangerous than a true "right on red" but is it legal?

My thinking is:
1) the lanes should be treated as true multi-modal;
2) should be treated as a roundabout;
3) stop and wait for the green light.

I am interested in what your answer would be to each of the above but, also, where might I find a definitive, legally-binding answer to these questions?

Thank you


1) Anybody who would walk in the cart/bike lane would be taking their lives in their own hands

2) This traffic circle has always had one way traffic for golf carts

This section of Morse Blvd was designed and built in the 1980's. There were no 'multi-modal' paths at that time. This is one of the worst designs in TV, but, to be fair, the population at that time was about 10,000. Hopefully, a solution to these problems can be found.

Don't know what the legally-binding answers are or where to find them. Probably the Sumter county sheriff's office. Comparing Morse to what is built today is apples to oranges.

[Arctic Fox]

1) Anybody who would walk in the cart/bike lane would be taking their lives in their own hands

Yes - they are far from ideal for walkers. I walk in the lane facing traffic and move on to the grass if a cart is coming, as it can be hard for them to move out to avoid me, especially at this time of year

[cquick]

I think it is so sad that this part of The Villages is so poorly designed. No place for walkers...no sidewalks, and the "multimodal paths" seem just plain dangerous to golf cars, bikers and people who are all expected to share that small strip of asphalt.

[cquick]

1) Anybody who would walk in the cart/bike lane would be taking their lives in their own hands

2) This traffic circle has always had one way traffic for golf carts

This section of Morse Blvd was designed and built in the 1980's. There were no 'multi-modal' paths at that time. This is one of the worst designs in TV, but, to be fair, the population at that time was about 10,000. Hopefully, a solution to these problems can be found.

Don't know what the legally-binding answers are or where to find them. Probably the Sumter county sheriff's office. Comparing Morse to what is built today is apples to oranges.

Even in the 1980's, people walked.

[redwitch]

Multi-modal means just that. It is for golf carts, bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters, etc.

The circle at Morse is a one-way roundabout. If a police officer sees a cart going the wrong way, the cart can be ticketed. I actually saw this happen once.

It is a red light. It is not a stop and go ahead because you're in the golf cart path. Golf carts turning left from Rio Grande need a clear path to enter safely. That will not happen if idiots run the light.

[KittyKat]

1. Walkers should walk on their neighborhood streets if they want to make it back home in one piece.

2. Correct. Golf carts travel counter-clockwise.

3. Correct. They should wait for green light; otherwise they might hit a golf cart turning South onto Morse.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

1. Walkers should walk on their neighborhood streets if they want to make it back home in one piece.

2. Correct. Golf carts travel counter-clockwise.

3. Correct. They should wait for green light; otherwise they might hit a golf cart turning South onto Morse.

This!

[cquick]

1. Walkers should walk on their neighborhood streets if they want to make it back home in one piece.

2. Correct. Golf carts travel counter-clockwise.

3. Correct. They should wait for green light; otherwise they might hit a golf cart turning South onto Morse.

what if a person wants to walk from his/her home to Spanish Springs or to Hacienda Rec center or to the hospital? There are many places a person would want to get to by foot without worrying about getting hit by a golf cart.

[outlaw]

what if a person wants to walk from his/her home to Spanish Springs or to Hacienda Rec center or to the hospital? There are many places a person would want to get to by foot without worrying about getting hit by a golf cart.

Why not drive your golf cart to SS, hospital, etc.? Then do your walking in your quiet neighborhood. Do you have the right to walk on Morse? Yes. Is it safe? No. Just realize if you choose to walk on Morse, you are increasing your risk of injury or worse. I usually don't even walk on the BV cart paths that are huge compared to Morse. I walk in my neighborhood and bike or cart on the MMPs.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

what if a person wants to walk from his/her home to Spanish Springs or to Hacienda Rec center or to the hospital? There are many places a person would want to get to by foot without worrying about getting hit by a golf cart.

What if someone anted to walk down the Florida Turnpike? There are some places that people just shouldn't be allowed to walk.

[Topspinmo]

Plenty of places to walk at spanish springs. For some it maybe safer to drive out of your locked out villa,s to safer place to walk. I rented close to spanish springs and I walked to rolling acre road to hernandas. I avoided rio grande, Delmar, and morse. Plenty of places to cut through villa,s and go down golf cart paths.

[Arctic Fox]

"There are some places that people just shouldn't be allowed to walk."

I should hate to see people cede their right to walk somewhere just because other users refuse to share the road.

I have just come from a stroll along the edge of the Morse multi-modal lane and felt totally safe - facing traffic and stepping on to the grass when a golf-cart approached.

Without fail, each of the golf-carts moved to the outside edge of the path, even though I was a yard on to the grass.

The path is a lot wider than some - Rio Grande for example - although I wouldn't want to risk just staying on the edge of it as a golf-cart goes part.

[mgcsooner]

I have three questions regarding Morse Boulevard, north of 466:

1) each side lane is marked "Golf cart and bike lane". Are they really multi-modal, or are walkers meant to walk on the grass (which is full of ruts and pot-holes)?

2) the roundabout at the north end of Morse is encircled by a golf-cart path. Is this a roundabout, too, or can golf carts go either way round it?

3) I have seen golf-carts traveling south stop at the Rio Grande traffic lights, then proceed as if they were going "right on red". This is no more dangerous than a true "right on red" but is it legal?

My thinking is:
1) the lanes should be treated as true multi-modal;
2) should be treated as a roundabout;
3) stop and wait for the green light.

I am interested in what your answer would be to each of the above but, also, where might I find a definitive, legally-binding answer to these questions?

Thank you
1) When a roadway has a bicycle & Cart Lane or for that matter any roadway with a bicycle lane along the curb is IS NOT FOR WALKING! Think about those roads where they have a bicycle/cart lane and a right turn lane, and the multimodal lane moves inside of the turn lane--you'd have pedestrian traffic crossing traffic at turn lanes-very dangerous. Pedestrians never have walkways along roadways, a;though they do have cross walks, designated pedestrian with controlled by lights or pedestrian right of way.

Carts are not permitted on sidewalks, nor are bicycles supposed to be on sidewalks. I'm not sure if the development or other governing body has defined use of the off-road multimodal paved paths, but thinking they are there for pedestrian traffic seems like a dangerous assumption. There are some sharp turns and two way traffic that does not leave room for protected pedestrians. The carts are traveling anywhere from 19-25mph on average depending on whether they are also street legal :) .

[tomwed]

Does The Villages prohibit biking on the sidewalk? I wouldn't bike on the sidewalk in the squares. It's way too busy.

This is all I could find about biking on the sidewalk.
The 2014 Florida Statutes (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2065.html)

(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

[Arctic Fox]

1) When a roadway has a bicycle & Cart Lane or for that matter any roadway with a bicycle lane along the curb is IS NOT FOR WALKING!

I agree with you that care is needed, but there are several such roads (Del Mar for example) where the end of the multi-modal lane has a sign "Ped Lane Ends", the implication being that pedestrians have a right to be in that lane.

[mgcsooner]

Does The Villages prohibit biking on the sidewalk? I wouldn't bike on the sidewalk in the squares. It's way too busy.

This is all I could find about biking on the sidewalk.
The 2014 Florida Statutes (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2065.html)

(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.


Stand corrected--although I"m not certain that law is the same in every state. I know I've heard about warnings being issued here about carts on sidewalks.

[jebartle]

I have three questions regarding Morse Boulevard, north of 466:

1) each side lane is marked "Golf cart and bike lane". Are they really multi-modal, or are walkers meant to walk on the grass (which is full of ruts and pot-holes)?

North of 466, those lanes ARE for walkers also, and they are dangerous because most walkers face traffic, and carts must be alert, wait for traffic to clear so they can go around walkers.

2) the roundabout at the north end of Morse is encircled by a golf-cart path. Is this a roundabout, too, or can golf carts go either way round it?

I asked similar question regarding being waved thru at this intersection, very dangerous, especially when you approach area that allows room for only one cart to park waiting for traffic to clear b4 proceeding.

3) I have seen golf-carts traveling south stop at the Rio Grande traffic lights, then proceed as if they were going "right on red". This is no more dangerous than a true "right on red" but is it legal?

Should probably merge into traffic if making a turn here but certainly with a lot of caution. Bottom line BE CAREFUL and BE SAFE.

My thinking is:
1) the lanes should be treated as true multi-modal;
2) should be treated as a roundabout;
3) stop and wait for the green light.

I am interested in what your answer would be to each of the above but, also, where might I find a definitive, legally-binding answer to these questions?

Thank you

Another scary intersection, Rio Grande and Del Mar, snowbirds still are not use to seeing a 4-way stop there and frequently run stop-sign. SCARY! I tried to answer other questions next to the question above.

[Barefoot]

1. Walkers should walk on their neighborhood streets if they want to make it back home in one piece.

2. Correct. Golf carts travel counter-clockwise.

3. Correct. They should wait for green light; otherwise they might hit a golf cart turning South onto Morse.

Good reply KittyKat - clear, concise and to the point.

[Bogie Shooter]

Another scary intersection, Rio Grande and Del Mar, snowbirds still are not use to seeing a 4-way stop there and frequently run stop-sign. SCARY! I tried to answer other questions next to the question above.

-------------------
3) I have seen golf-carts traveling south stop at the Rio Grande traffic lights, then proceed as if they were going "right on red". This is no more dangerous than a true "right on red" but is it legal?

"Should probably merge into traffic if making a turn here but certainly with a lot of caution. Bottom line BE CAREFUL and BE SAFE."

Why would you merge into traffic if you are going south??