Carts Crossing at Saddlebrook

[Sandtrap328]

I was coming back home in my car about noon today, I was on Buena Vista northbound and waiting for the left turn arrow to go onto Southern Trace.

While the North and South traffic was stopped by the red light, 3 golf carts crossed Buena Vista from the Saddlebrook side to the Polo Ridge side. They obviously did not want to take the designated detour to the Belvedere Tunnel now that the Saddlebrook Tunnel is closed for repairs.

Waiting for them on the other side was a Sumter County Deputy. He signaled all three carts to the grassy area and was talking with them. Hopefully, he just warned them what they did was illegal. Otherwise, he could charge them with a variety of citations costing a few hundred dollars.

To me, it seems that an exception should have been made for the month the repair is being done. A sign could have been put up instructing cart drivers they could cross Buena Vista at that spot while obeying the traffic light.

[manaboutown]

Cite them. Fine them.

[dbussone]

Cite them. Fine them.



Too dangerous, I concur.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Ooper]

But yet, just a quarter mile north on BV at the next stop light, it is perfectly ok to cross under the same exact circumstances... go figure! Bureaucracy at it's best.

[photo1902]

But yet, just a quarter mile north on BV at the next stop light, it is perfectly ok to cross under the same exact circumstances... go figure! Bureaucracy at it's best.

Where is this? The only other stop light on Buena Vista north of Saddlebrook is at 42.

[ureout]

I think they mean El Camino Real and Enrique Dr... the powes to be say its unsafe crossing at the light in a golf cart but it's ok to cross on a bicycle or motorized wheel chair ....

[Trayderjoe]

I was coming back home in my car about noon today, I was on Buena Vista northbound and waiting for the left turn arrow to go onto Southern Trace.

While the North and South traffic was stopped by the red light, 3 golf carts crossed Buena Vista from the Saddlebrook side to the Polo Ridge side. They obviously did not want to take the designated detour to the Belvedere Tunnel now that the Saddlebrook Tunnel is closed for repairs.

Waiting for them on the other side was a Sumter County Deputy. He signaled all three carts to the grassy area and was talking with them. Hopefully, he just warned them what they did was illegal. Otherwise, he could charge them with a variety of citations costing a few hundred dollars.

To me, it seems that an exception should have been made for the month the repair is being done. A sign could have been put up instructing cart drivers they could cross Buena Vista at that spot while obeying the traffic light.


Plenty of discussion on this in a recent thread:

Saddlebrook-multi-modal-tunnel-closure (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/saddlebrook-multi-modal-tunnel-closure-245008/)

Cite them. Fine them.

Agree. I believe that one of the respondents to the linked email chain indicated that he planned to cross in a similar fashion. If the detour is that much of an inconvenience, then drive or wait until the repairs are completed if using a golf cart is a must or accept the consequences which I hope is only a traffic ticket or two and not a life changing event.

[Taltarzac725]

I think they mean El Camino Real and Enrique Dr... the powes to be say its unsafe crossing at the light in a golf cart but it's ok to cross on a bicycle or motorized wheel chair ....

Some cars really are going fast on El Camino Real. 40 mph seems about an average speed there.

[Ooper]

Where is this? The only other stop light on Buena Vista north of Saddlebrook is at 42.

Yup, sorry, meant to turn off BV onto ElCamino. But the situation is exactly the same, maybe even worse because it is a straightaway and the speed trend to be higher. But it was approved anyway, years ago.

[Chatbrat]

In Fl you can not get fined for more than 5mph or less over the posted speed limit, you get a warning--this applies to cars/trucks--not golf carts

[Ooper]

Well apparently the county had a change of heart. Heading south on Buena Vista, there is a detour sign right in front of the barricade to the closed tunnel directing you across the intersection through the stop light to the other side. No cops and everybody is utilizing that directive. Looks like somebody at the county offices finally woke up!

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I like consistency and am dismayed that no one has played the "you're retired, what's the rush?" card.

[Ooper]

I like consistency and am dismayed that no one has played the "you're retired, what's the rush?" card.

Don't be dismayed... be happy. it already has been done in a previous post.

[ajbrown]

Well apparently the county had a change of heart. Heading south on Buena Vista, there is a detour sign right in front of the barricade to the closed tunnel directing you across the intersection through the stop light to the other side. No cops and everybody is utilizing that directive. Looks like somebody at the county offices finally woke up!

Interesting... have to be careful in a cart coming south, taking a left into Saddlebrook, especially if carts stack up on the cart path. Normally we cross Southern Trace (S.T) gate while light is red to S.T. or all cars are gone. Now it will be green and need to carefully watch for cars entering and exiting S.T.

I reckon we will find out...

[ColdNoMore]

Well apparently the county had a change of heart. Heading south on Buena Vista, there is a detour sign right in front of the barricade to the closed tunnel directing you across the intersection through the stop light to the other side. No cops and everybody is utilizing that directive. Looks like somebody at the county offices finally woke up!

:BigApplause:



https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/1433900-post31.html

Whether the 'allow' crossing on Saddlebrook across BV to Southern Trace or not, unless the cops are posted there... people will be doing just that. I know I will be.

In fact, when I first moved here I missed the semi-hidden cart path leading to the tunnel and did exactly that more than a couple of times. There is a traffic signal there, so it's not all that dangerous anyway. :shrug:

A neighbor told me of their grandson who did some roof damage to their normal sized golf cart, by not swinging wide enough while entering from the east side.

You can look at the crown (corner of the arch) when entering the tunnel from the east and see where many people have done the exact same thing and hit the sides of their roofs. I always hug the left wall before turning, as it is one of the tightest fits of any of the tunnels in TV.

My guess is that they will either be moving the left side wall back so that a wider arc can be made entering the east side of the tunnel, or they will shave off a little of the east corner entering the tunnel so it's not so square... or if they're smart, doing BOTH.

[ColdNoMore]

I like consistency and am dismayed that no one has played the "you're retired, what's the rush?" card.

Don't be dismayed... be happy. it already has been done in a previous post.

Hopefully, we don't have too many folks that are upset...that the county did the common sense thing.

[spring_chicken]

Hopefully, we don't have too many folks that are upset...that the county did the common sense thing.

I always use the light anyway because that stupid tunnel is too low for my cart roof. I've never understood why there is zero consistency in the height of tunnels.

[ajbrown]

I always reserve the right to be wrong.

I took the dog up to the Polo field for some fun. Looking from the Polo field driveway, I could see no signage that indicated it was OK to cross on either side.

In fact all signage on 466 indicates that taking the tunnel under 466 is for local traffic only.

I hoped it was true... am I wrong?

[ureout]

I always reserve the right to be wrong.

I took the dog up to the Polo field for some fun. Looking from the Polo field driveway, I could see no signage that indicated it was OK to cross on either side.

In fact all signage on 466 indicates that taking the tunnel under 466 is for local traffic only.

I hoped it was true... am I wrong?

these posts have nothing to do with the tunnel under 466... we are discussing the tunnel from saddlebrook under Buea Vista

[ajbrown]

these posts have nothing to do with the tunnel under 466... we are discussing the tunnel from saddlebrook under Buea Vista

Understood, clearly my writing skills are not so good. I mentioned 466 tunnel only stating that the signage clearly has the detour to Parr Drive.

In addition, I was at the Polo Field driveway and there was no signage on either side that told me I could cross Buena Vista.

[Aw Man]

Well apparently the county had a change of heart. Heading south on Buena Vista, there is a detour sign right in front of the barricade to the closed tunnel directing you across the intersection through the stop light to the other side. No cops and everybody is utilizing that directive. Looks like somebody at the county offices finally woke up!

We traveled both north and south through this area yesterday afternoon.
We didn't see any signage directing you to cross the intersection of Southern Trace and Buena Vista.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I was Southbound yesterday on the multi-modal. When I got to the gate at Polo Ridge there was a big orange sign with an arrow pointing left (towards Saddlebrook), and the sign said Golf Cart Detour. I and others took that route. Was the sign placed there by traffic control personnel or pranksters? I don't know.

[champion6]

We traveled both north and south through this area yesterday afternoon.
We didn't see any signage directing you to cross the intersection of Southern Trace and Buena Vista.
I was Southbound yesterday on the multi-modal. When I got to the gate at Polo Ridge there was a big orange sign with an arrow pointing left (towards Saddlebrook), and the sign said Golf Cart Detour. I and others took that route. Was the sign placed there by traffic control personnel or pranksters? I don't know.Two consecutive posts. TOTV is so helpful :shocked:

[ajbrown]

I was Southbound yesterday on the multi-modal. When I got to the gate at Polo Ridge there was a big orange sign with an arrow pointing left (towards Saddlebrook), and the sign said Golf Cart Detour. I and others took that route. Was the sign placed there by traffic control personnel or pranksters? I don't know.

I also wondered about 'pranksters'.

I was hoping it was true as I go from Mallory to north of Southern Trace often and like to use the cart.

[Taltarzac725]

I also wondered about 'pranksters'.

I was hoping it was true as I go from Mallory to north of Southern Trace often and like to use the cart.

There is a cool shortcut using a golf cart going via the Southern Trace CR466 tunnel and up past the New Covenant United Methodist Church on 3470 Woodridge Drive. New Covenant United Methodist Church | Friendly Methodist church serving Sumter County, Lake County, and Marion County (http://newcovenantumc-fl.org/).

Take Woodridge to Davenport on left. Follow Davenport to Auburndale Avenue going right at T. This will lead to a golf cart path to Addison Avenue which will lead to Tally Ridge Drive (right) where you can get on the golf cart path on Buena Vista. The golf cart path is where Auburndale Avenue makes a sharp turn to the south. You can see it quite well on MapQuest using the satellite feature. I have gone up that way to feed the birds off the ponds on Glenview Road.

[ajbrown]

thanks Tal. With my unsophisticated googlemaps skills, it is about one tenth of a mile shorter than Wedgewood detour path.

I measured from the 466 tunnel at 101 to intersection or Talley Ridge and Buena Vista

Nice change of pace also, I will try that next time.

[Sandtrap328]

I just took my car across Buena Vista to go to the Saddlebrook pool.

There ARE NO signs on either side of BV at the traffic light saying carts CAN cross with the green light. Of course, there are no signs saying carts cannot cross with the green light, either.

To avoid confusion - and citations, a warning sign should be placed on both sides of Buena Vista at the traffic light area.

Preferably, it should be allowed for carts to cross with the green light.

[CWGUY]

:read:

e-Notification
Subject: Schedule Updates & Closings - Street
Date: 8/7/2017


Multi-Modal Tunnel Closure

The multi-modal path tunnel located under Buena Vista Boulevard at the Saddlebrook Recreation Center will be closed for stucco repairs beginning Monday, August 14, 2017. This work is anticipated to take approximately four (4) weeks. Please use caution in this area and follow the directional signage to the tunnel at Belvedere Boulevard for crossing under CR 466. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact District Property Management at (352) 753-4022.

:thumbup:

[perkfarm]

Currently there are no signs directing golf cart traffic to cross Buena Vista from Southern Trace to the Polo Fields. Heading from Southern Trace, there is also a sign saying "No golf carts beyond this point". Some golf carts are taking the risk anyways.

[Ooper]

Just came from that area again and the signage that was there yesterday has been taken down and traffic is now redirected through the Belvedere tunnel. Guess it depends on what day you are at that intersection.

[ureout]

this is definitely a Villages SNAFU... I traveled S on the multimodal trail and passed a lit up sign saying "tunnel is closed ahead follow the detour"... when I reached Southern Trace at the light there was NO sign or arrows saying which way to go....lol they actually have the signs down the road near the postal station... I guess they are assuming everyone will make a right turn to see it. I chose to turn left and cross at the light