Is something happening again with Oak Forest Drive?

[Taltarzac]

Heard a rumor at Doggie Doo Run Run that the Oak Forest Drive issue is hot again. Is there any news on this?

Not exactly sure what is going on though? Something about a 20 m.p.h. speed limit being strictly enforced on Oak Forest Drive but unless they are going to spring for an automatic speed indicator with a camera rigged up so that it snaps when a vehicle goes over a certain speed, cannot how they can strictly enforce this?

[graciegirl]

I am sure some incensed person will wander in here and tell us how it is all our fault.

[redwitch]

Just read a post by santiagobob in the New Villagers forum (I think). I honestly can't figure out why people would drive down Oak Forest in a car. The golf carts keep the traffic pretty slow, so unless you have a reason to be on that street, why would you? As I've said previously, I do use it when I'm in a cart -- BV golf cart path is just too bumpy to be comfortable.

[Cassie325]

We USE it with the golf cart....it is a great short cut...well just a cut....it is much moother than the golf cart path on Buena Vista!!

Anyway as far as the topic coming up....there is a meeting on October 28th! I am not sure where...or when....or all that other important info is....but I DO know it is on the 28th! There was an article in the paper....if I wasn't so tired I would find it for you and post the link!

Sorry...perhaps I will be better tomorrow...now GREY's is almost over!! Must watch...

[Taltarzac]

We USE it with the golf cart....it is a great short cut...well just a cut....it is much moother than the golf cart path on Buena Vista!!

Anyway as far as the topic coming up....there is a meeting on October 28th! I am not sure where...or when....or all that other important info is....but I DO know it is on the 28th! There was an article in the paper....if I wasn't so tired I would find it for you and post the link!

Sorry...perhaps I will be better tomorrow...now GREY's is almost over!! Must watch...


Must have missed this article in the Villages Daily Sun. The DDRR person did mention a meeting but said that it was NOT open to the public which I find really odd. I would think something like this would have to be open to the public with the FL Sunshine Law. http://myfloridalegal.com/sunshine

[Cassie325]

Must have missed this article in the Villages Daily Sun. The DDRR person did mention a meeting but said that it was NOT open to the public which I find really odd. I would think something like this would have to be open to the public with the FL Sunshine Law. http://myfloridalegal.com/sunshine

I also read somewhere that the residents of Oak Forest recieved letters...it didn't' say what was in the letters....just that they were sent...

the whole thing is odd...actually we never would have known about it except that it was posted on here months ago....as soon as we got down here...we started using it and searched for the "sign" that was apparently posted....

We are SO nosey!! ;)

[SABRMnLgs]

Did I miss something? ........... I don't live on Oak Forest but I do understand it is a PUBLIC road with taxes paid by everyone. I have traveled many times from my home in Calumet Grove to the Saddlebrook/Laurel Manor area in our golf cart. I have always used the cart path and do not find the Buena Vista path excessively "bumpy". I would be a bit more concerned with the narrowness of this pathway than the comfort situation. (Don't even know how to get to Oak Forest, wherever it is).
I've heard a lot of carts use Oak Forest due to a lack of comfort on this path. Simple solution, you want to get rid of the carts on your public road, fix the cart path. End of problem.

[Cassie325]

Simple solution, you want to get rid of the carts on your public road, fix the cart path. End of problem.


I think that is a simple solution too....however getting TV's to do that has been the hardest thing ever....I believe many people have tried in the past...they keep saying it is going to happen....but it hasn't yet. Personally I think they are a little dangerous as they are....they are narrow and very bumpy....which can make for a dangerous situation at times.

[thegreenerside]

I spoke with a couple on Oak Forrest and they mentioned a letter received a few days ago and that the speed limit was going to be reduced to 15mph.

[graciegirl]

Tempest in a Teapot. IMHO. With so much other bad stuff happening in the world.

[rdmills]

Let's see. They build a large shopping area om 466. They also install a traffic light at the Polo Ridge gate. Isn't it much safer to cross the highway where a traffic light is then dodging traffic at the Glenbrook gate. I don't see any resoultion to the folks on Oak Forrest with the traffic.

[Cassie325]

Just a thought about Oak Forest....it is a safer drive especially in the rain!

We were hightailing it home (17 mph) tonight on the golf cart....coming from friends off of Rainy Trail....all the way up Buena Vista before crossing 466 it was just fine....dark and raining....but it was fine.....

Once we crossed BV we were on bumpy, narrow paths....they were flooding because the rain was coming down so hard...we couldn't even see the "yellow" dotted lines sperating the two sides....
It was very scary!

We have been taking BV instead of Oak Forest because it seems to be the right thing to do....for the folks on that road....however...it was very dangerous for us!

Who do we talk to about re-doing the paths??

[Barefoot]

I feel sorry for the folks on Oak Forest Drive. I imagine at one time it was a little-known short cut. I personally had no idea that people used Oak Forest as an alternative to the BV golf cart paths.

I'll bet that the traffic has increased considerably as a result of the publicity.

[Cassie325]

I feel sorry for the folks on Oak Forest Drive. I imagine at one time it was a little-known short cut. I personally had no idea that people used Oak Forest as an alternative to the BV golf cart paths.

I'll bet that the traffic has increased considerably as a result of the publicity.

BF....I agree with you...we actually didn't know about it until we saw it here...but I also think it is sad that folks go speeding down the street...I actually have never seen anyone do that. When we do go that way...we watch for cars pulling out of their driveways and let them go first...

We have found a golf cart route...with actual paths....takes a little longer...comes out by the church behind Crispers...but probably worth it for the sake of the folks that live on Oak Forest. Last night BV was faster....but looking back it would have been better going the other way...

It would be good if we could get BV fixed though....I thought I had heard or read somewhere that there were funds allocated to do that...anyone know?

[Barefoot]

It would be good if they would fix BV cart path, but how could they ever shut it down to fix it? I guess they could work on it from midnight until 5 AM!

[Cassie325]

I suppose while they fixed we would all have to take short cuts....through neighborhoods...like Oak Forest...one last drive on Oak Forest....

Oak forest should just put in speed bumps....I would avoid it like the plague then....I can't stand those things...another short cut street had that done...Avienda Circle I think is the name of the street....Stop signs and speed bumps....

It is on the side of the Savannah Center....short cut into Santiago...

There is even a woman (must be ansowbird and not here yet) that will sit outside or in her window....and blow a whistle VERY loudly if someone does not stop at the Stop Sign properly. This is actually why I am unsure of the street name....we call it Whistle Blower street....

Perhaps this is what should happen on Oak Forest....

[llaran]

My husband and I counted 14 streets coming off Oak Forest. If the are only 6 houses on each street thats 84 houses and how many cars? and or carts? how many houses face Oak Forest? we didn't count them but I would guess at least 30/40. I'm sure they all have cars and/or carts. everyone has to drive on Oak Forest to go to get out south or north. AND what about all the service people, delivery vans, etc....

This is a through street and there are others, think about southern Trace and woodridge; houses face those streets also. do we make them off limits also??

People in that area need "TO GET A LIFE":shocked:

[gemorc]

Tempest in a Teapot. IMHO. With so much other bad stuff happening in the world.

Suppose you awoke one mourning, and all of a sudden you had over 400 vehicles ( cars and carts combined) passing in front of YOUR house daily. The tempest is always in the eye of the beholder.

[Taltarzac]

Suppose you awoke one mourning, and all of a sudden you had over 400 vehicles ( cars and carts combined) passing in front of YOUR house daily. The tempest is always in the eye of the beholder.


I avoid this street when going by car as it rather slow because of the traffic on it. BV is much easier for cars except maybe when the Polo Field is attracting a rather large crowd which may be more and more frequent with the "improvement" of the Polo matches in to bigger draws with more world renowned polo players.

[lefty]

the Sumter County commisiion has taken this issue up on several ocasions. they have had several traffic studies (not free), held meetings (more costs), erected signs ($$$), had more meetings ($$), took down the signs ($$$) and NOW want to have more meetings ($$$).

I contacted all of the commisioners and questioned WHY?. Commisioner Gilpin was the only one to respond. I feel that the commisioners could have asked the Sherriff to increase patrols on Oak Forest instead of spending taxpayers $$ and the speeding problem as well as others would have been quickly resolved

[Sidney Lanier]

the Sumter County commisiion has taken this issue up on several ocasions. they have had several traffic studies (not free), held meetings (more costs), erected signs ($$$), had more meetings ($$), took down the signs ($$$) and NOW want to have more meetings ($$$).

I contacted all of the commisioners and questioned WHY?. Commisioner Gilpin was the only one to respond. I feel that the commisioners could have asked the Sherriff to increase patrols on Oak Forest instead of spending taxpayers $$ and the speeding problem as well as others would have been quickly resolved

I absolutely agree. When this was a major issue a few months ago (which did indeed bring publicity to and hence awareness of the existence of the so-called shortcut...), my concern (then and now too) was that even though the residents of Oak Forest believe they have a traffic issue, making ANY street in TV an exception could open a rat's nest of issues on the countless other through streets in TV. It was supposedly resolved then, the result being that Oak Forest would NOT be made an exception. All streets in TV have speed limits, so yes, let law enforcement devote some time to ticketing speeding golf carts and cars, and the problem should abate considerably once word gets around.

[Bogie Shooter]

There was a class action lawsuit that included as part of the settlement the repaving of cart paths on BV & El Camino. The new Ammenities committe that is to be elected will have the authority to expend those funds to redo the cart paths.
When this is done the Oak Forest "problem" will go away.