Just curious.......

[trueorange]

Whilst taking my after dinner walk this evening, I saw 2 Sumter County Deputy Sheriff cars pull into my Village (which shall remain nameless) at a relatively high rate of speed. It got me to wondering if our law enforcement officers use swipe cards to get through the gates or if they have to buzz in. Does anyone know the answer?

[redwitch]

Buzz in. Seems ridiculous to me, especially that EMT's can't get in quickly.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Buzz in. Seems ridiculous to me, especially that EMT's can't get in quickly.

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.

[Polar Bear]

...The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose...
Wrong in so many ways.

[rubicon]

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.

I am going to guess that you are relatively knew to The Villages. I do agree and wish that we were a true gated community but we are not. However I suggest you watch an observe and you will discover that the gates have their place here

Personal Best Regards:

[biker1]

The most important function of the gates is traffic flow control. Without the gates, it would be dangerous for golf carts to cross at the Village entrances. When you see the gates down, you can safely cross.

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.

[ColdNoMore]

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.

Yep. :thumbup:

There area plethora of locations were the gates don't have any relation to golf carts crossing the road...yet they still exist.

They do however, give some people a false sense that they live in an actual 'gated community'...so will probably never be removed.

[Blessed2BNTV]

Since there are cameras at the gates, and one must slow down to go through the gates, to me that's a good thing.

Like others have said, gates also slow traffic.

The OP had a good question....and now we know the answer.

[golfing eagles]

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.

Doubt it. Anyone who "dies" from a 10 or 15 second delay is not going to make it anyway.

[jimmemac]

A better question might be - why don't the EMT and police have a card? I want them here as fast as possible if we are hurt or my house is on fire or we are being robbed.

[kcrazorbackfan]

The most important function of the gates is traffic flow control. Without the gates, it would be dangerous for golf carts to cross at the Village entrances. When you see the gates down, you can safely cross.

Not true. With all of the gates I see knocked down, a cart driver really needs to still be aware of possible oncoming traffic in case someone decides to forego swiping their card, or has a "medical episode" and drives on thru the gate.

[biker1]

So you want to nitpick, fine. No matter what the state of the gate, you can still be killed.


Not true. With all of the gates I see knocked down, a cart driver really needs to still be aware of possible oncoming traffic in case someone decides to forego swiping their card, or has a "medical episode" and drives on thru the gate.

[WhoDat]

My biggest concern is crossing Bonita at Morse because there are no gates to slow down the cars. That is the only crossing with a round-a- bout I know of on Morse or Buena Vista where there is no gate. I wonder why?

[Mrs. Robinson]

I am going to guess that you are relatively knew to The Villages. I do agree and wish that we were a true gated community but we are not. However I suggest you watch an observe and you will discover that the gates have their place here

Personal Best Regards:

No, I am not relatively "Knew" (sic). I have been here four years and see the confusion and problems our gates cause.

99% of residents never had a gate when they drove out of their previous community to a main street. Somehow -- they knew what to do. They either stopped or merged into traffic. And guess what? For the most part -- no accidents!

Personal Best Regards

[Mrs. Robinson]

Yep. :thumbup:

There area plethora of locations were the gates don't have any relation to golf carts crossing the road...yet they still exist.

They do however, give some people a false sense that they live in an actual 'gated community'...so will probably never be removed.

You are correct. The gates will never be removed. Want to know why? The Morses et al use the damn gates as a sales tool to make would-be buyers think TV is a grand, safe place to be.

What a joke. The gates are a waste of our hard earned $$$ and definitely do not make our community any safer.

[RickeyD]

You are 100% correct.

The gates are ridiculous, costly, serve no real purpose and slow down the egress and ingress of all vehicles, but mostly emergency vehicles.

One of these days someone will die because of the "slowing down" of the gates. I'd be willing to bet that has already happened.



I strongly disagree. I rely on the gates so as to allow my wife and I to cross safely in our golf cart.

[Mrs. Robinson]

It's a fact of life that streets everywhere, were meant for cars and trucks.

The onus is on the golf carts. Let them beware.

[RickeyD]

It's a fact of life that streets everywhere, were meant for cars and trucks.

The onus is on the golf carts. Let them beware.



This is The Villages, Florida. Carts, bicycles and pedestrians are priority.

[OCsun]

This is The Villages, Florida. Carts, bicycles and pedestrians are priority.

:agree:

This is what makes The Villages so special and a great place to retire. I think you either get it or you don't.

[photo1902]

You are correct. The gates will never be removed. Want to know why? The Morses et al use the damn gates as a sales tool to make would-be buyers think TV is a grand, safe place to be.

What a joke. The gates are a waste of our hard earned $$$ and definitely do not make our community any safer.

It's too bad you didn't know The Villages had gates before you moved here..oh wait.

[Carla B]

I'm thankful for the nearby gate to slow traffic so I can safely exit our neighborhood by car.

[jblum315]

Every EMT and police vehicle should have a gate card. Such a simple thing ,why has it not been done

[socrafty]

Community Watch is stationed at a lot of the gates. I would think if an emergency vehicle was coming through they would just open the gate for them.

[Marathon Man]

It's a fact of life that streets everywhere, were meant for cars and trucks.

The onus is on the golf carts. Let them beware.

Scary. Just plain scary.

There are many communities that do not have golf carts on the streets. Perhaps a better choice for some.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Starting to smell troll...can't be serious about such a sad, wrong post.

No troll here. Just a realist who has the ability to see through the smoke screen. There is nothing wrong with my post as it tells a real story, not some made up fairy tale.

If you don't think the gates are used as a major sales tool to make potential buyers think TV is the greatest thing since Dixie Cups, you are sadly mistaken. The same can be said for why they try to talk you into buying new before buying a resale.

Many great things have been done here, however a monster may be lurking. It all comes down to the almighty dollar for them, no matter how you look at it.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Community Watch is stationed at a lot of the gates. I would think if an emergency vehicle was coming through they would just open the gate for them.

I'm sure that they do open the gate for emergency vehicles if they notice one.

However, many times I have gone through a resident's gate and the so-called guard is sitting there and doesn't even lift up his/her head to acknowledge you.

[trueorange]

Community Watch is stationed at a lot of the gates. I would think if an emergency vehicle was coming through they would just open the gate for them.

I'm the OP. We live in a village with only a Resident Gate. I was just curious if emergency personnel had to buzz in. I think a nice solution would get to equip emergency vehicles with swipe cards.

[Reiver]

Aren't there buttons on the gates?

[photo1902]

I'm sure that they do open the gate for emergency vehicles if they notice one.

However, many times I have gone through a resident's gate and the so-called guard is sitting there and doesn't even lift up his/her head to acknowledge you.

Why should he/she if you are going through a resident gate? So you complain that we have gates, yet you complain that the "guard" doesn't acknowledge when you drive through one of the gates?

[Mrs. Robinson]

Why should he/she if you are going through a resident gate? So you complain that we have gates, yet you complain that the "guard" doesn't acknowledge when you drive through one of the gates?

There is a huge difference between a complaining about something and stating some pretty obvious facts.

The guards are not paid to simply open the visitors gate and to ignore or be unconscious regarding everything else!
They are paid to get off their duff and greet everyone, regardless of whether they are visitors, residents or tradesmen.
They are supposed to keep an eye out for anything abnormal in their immediate surroundings,
and to notify the proper authorities if they see something out of the ordinary or think something is suspicious.

It's apparent you live here and weren't aware of what these guards are supposed to do.

[photo1902]

There is a huge difference between a complaining about something and stating some pretty obvious facts.

The guards are not paid to simply open the visitors gate and to ignore or be unconscious regarding everything else!
They are paid to get off their duff and greet everyone, regardless of whether they are visitors, residents or tradesmen.
They are supposed to keep an eye out for anything abnormal in their immediate surroundings,
and to notify the proper authorities if they see something out of the ordinary or think something is suspicious.

It's apparent you live here and weren't aware of what these guards are supposed to do.

I'm well aware of the gate attendants (guards, as you call them) responsibilities, I just don't lose sleep if the one at my gate doesn't greet me with the morning paper.

[perrjojo]

Perhaps the emergency personnel do have cards to open the gates. Has anyone ever asked? I will.

[Taltarzac725]

Perhaps the emergency personnel do have cards to open the gates. Has anyone ever asked? I will.

It seems like they do. They are usually through the Belvedere Gate as soon as they can get the cars and other vehicles to pull over to the side.

[golf2140]

Not to be political but. When we first moved here it was a true gated community. The county was in democratic control from Bushnell. They only liked the dollars that they received from The Villages, not the people who lived here. They made The Villages install the buttons and make the gates open to all.

[Marathon Man]

I just don't understand how someone can hold so much unhappiness and anger. And over some of life's most un-important things.

[MikeyBoo54]

You are correct. The gates will never be removed. Want to know why? The Morses et al use the damn gates as a sales tool to make would-be buyers think TV is a grand, safe place to be.

What a joke. The gates are a waste of our hard earned $$$ and definitely do not make our community any safer.

Assuming you are very well informed on this subject with all the facts, please enlighten me.........

How much do the gates actually cost me in $$$ on a yearly basis?

[Reiver]

I suggest we table the discussion for another 10 years.
Should vendors have gate cards to The Villages? - News - Ocala.com - Ocala, FL (http://www.ocala.com/news/20070418/should-vendors-have-gate-cards-to-the-villages)

[ColdNoMore]

Not to be political but. When we first moved here it was a true gated community. The county was in democratic control from Bushnell. They only liked the dollars that they received from The Villages, not the people who lived here. They made The Villages install the buttons and make the gates open to all.

Fake news...fake political blame.

The truth of the matter is, that when the maintenance was given to the county (instead of the developer being responsible)...the gates had to (BY LAW) be made public.

It's pretty hard to justify a 'private road/highway' being paid by county taxpayers...don'tcha think?

It really is as simple as that. :shrug:

[big guy]

I am going to guess that you are relatively knew to The Villages. I do agree and wish that we were a true gated community but we are not. However I suggest you watch an observe and you will discover that the gates have their place here

Personal Best Regards:

We are not a gated community but rather a community with gates.

[Mrs. Robinson]

I'm well aware of the gate attendants (guards, as you call them) responsibilities, I just don't lose sleep if the one at my gate doesn't greet me with the morning paper.

Frankly, I don't wait for a hello or anything else. But I do notice how you glazed over what they are supposed to do and don't do.

I'm glad you don't care how your money is spent, but if you want a newspaper, the annual rate for it is your best betand you will find it in your driveway, not at the gate.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Assuming you are very well informed on this subject with all the facts, please enlighten me.........

How much do the gates actually cost me in $$$ on a yearly basis?

I don't have an exact figure for you at hand, unfortunately, but the cost to residents is well over one million dollars a year.

You have to take a number of things into consideration when you speak about what do the gates cost us.
Some of the things that come to mind are:

Electricity
Water/sewer
Salaries (gate people)
Maintenance & repair.
Insurance
Telephone (?)
Office supplies
Cameras