Question for Bicycle Riders Re: Roundabouts

[Polar Bear]

How do you handle them, particularly where there are gates?

Three obvious ways jump out at me...
1) Use the visitor lane and wait for the gate to lift;
2) Use your card for the resident gate, not particularly the easiest option for a bike rider;
3) Just ride past the end of the gate without lifting the gate...there is typically plenty of space between the end of the gate and the posts.

What do you riders typically do? (And are there other options that I'm not thinking of?)

Also, it is understood that none of these options should ever interfere in any way with vehicular traffic. And there are plenty of threads talking about the streets vs MMP's for bicycles. I'd appreciate it if this thread could avoid that topic also...unless of course some of it is relevant to the question posed.

Thanks for your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. :)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

How do you handle them, particularly where there are gates?

Three obvious ways jump out at me...
1) Use the visitor lane and wait for the gate to lift;
2) Use your card for the resident gate, not particularly the easiest option for a bike rider;
3) Just ride past the end of the gate without lifting the gate...there is typically plenty of space between the end of the gate and the posts.

What do you riders typically do? (And are there other options that I'm not thinking of?)

Also, it is understood that none of these options should ever interfere in any way with vehicular traffic. And there are plenty of threads talking about the streets vs MMP's for bicycles. I'd appreciate it if this thread could avoid that topic also...unless of course some of it is relevant to the question posed.

Thanks for your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. :)

I didn't even realize bicycles were allowed on the roundabouts. I thought they had to use the MMPs or cross at the pedestrian crosswalks.

[Polar Bear]

I didn't even realize bicycles were allowed on the roundabouts. I thought they had to use the MMPs or cross at the pedestrian crosswalks.
Bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law and have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles.

[Shbullet]

How do you handle them, particularly where there are gates?

Three obvious ways jump out at me...
1) Use the visitor lane and wait for the gate to lift;
2) Use your card for the resident gate, not particularly the easiest option for a bike rider;
3) Just ride past the end of the gate without lifting the gate...there is typically plenty of space between the end of the gate and the posts.

What do you riders typically do? (And are there other options that I'm not thinking of?)

Also, it is understood that none of these options should ever interfere in any way with vehicular traffic. And there are plenty of threads talking about the streets vs MMP's for bicycles. I'd appreciate it if this thread could avoid that topic also...unless of course some of it is relevant to the question posed.

Thanks for your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. :)

I typically use #3 but when its busy i try to use #1..Either way i proceed with extreme caution and ride slowly.

[karostay]

Bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law and have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles.

Your right and just the other day.A cyclist wearing a shirt embroidered
with a saying

Same rights same rules share the road it's the law

Then he proceeded to ignore the red light make a right hand turn

[birdiebill]

Be careful with #3 or avoid it completely unless you are going out the exit gate. Where golf carts cross at the gates, it is often difficult if not impossible to see incoming traffic due to vegetation, gate keepers building, or entrance wall. Cart drivers have to look for the gates opening and closing to determine if it is safe to cross at some of the gates. If you come through at the end of the entrance gate, especially at high speed, and that entrance is one where golf cart drivers have difficulty seeing incoming traffic, the risk of an accident is high.
One gate that meets that situation is the one at Odell Circle and Morse going west off Morse. There are probably others.

[Win1894]

Most but not all of the unmanned(unwomaned) gates allow enough space between the end of the gate pole and the curb to safely slide through. This works well if you are riding solo or small group of up to 4 riders. Group rides consisting usually of 8 to 10 riders activate the gate which will allow everybody through. Interestingly (to me anyway) I've asked my bike club safety officer (SLBC) to to ask TV authorities to see if there could be a gate pole length standard that would allow bikes to slide through all the gates (yet still control auto and cart traffic) but they were unwilling to do so.

[GoPacers]

Riding a bike on the roads (particularly the roundabouts) in The Villages is about as unfriendly as anything I've seen here. I try not to ride after 8am to avoid as many drivers as possible. There are plenty of bike haters here but mostly I just don't think people can see that well.

With that said, I try to use the gate(s) as a vehicle would for the same reasons noted by others. Golf cart drivers are mostly conditioned to watch for the gates opening so I feel it is somewhat safer for me and hopefully avoids an unpleasant gesture/expression from a surprised golf cart driver. The other challenge is that bikes are to follow the rules of the road as a vehicle and as such, should have Right of Way over golf carts at the gates coming into/out of roundabouts but that seems to be something a number of golf cart drivers don't understand.

[charmed59]

Be careful with #3 or avoid it completely unless you are going out the exit gate. Where golf carts cross at the gates, it is often difficult if not impossible to see incoming traffic due to vegetation, gate keepers building, or entrance wall. Cart drivers have to look for the gates opening and closing to determine if it is safe to cross at some of the gates. If you come through at the end of the entrance gate, especially at high speed, and that entrance is one where golf cart drivers have difficulty seeing incoming traffic, the risk of an accident is high.
One gate that meets that situation is the one at Odell Circle and Morse going west off Morse. There are probably others.

This is also true of most gate crossings on Buena Vista between 466 and 466A. The golf carts can’t see the cars, but feel safe crossing if the gate is down. If you go around the gate you may get hit by a cart.

[Velvet]

I don’t understand why anyone would use bicycle as transportation anywhere in TV. It is super dangerous in most places. The road system is not set up for it. My mom and aunt loved riding bicycles. They would get up at sunrise and bike around the nearest rec center for exercise and then home before traffic. That is about the only thing a bike was good for in TV. I am really considering whether to bring my bicycle to TV at all.

[coffeebean]

Bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law and have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles.

I understand that this is law but it does seem sort of ridiculous to me that a bicycle is considered a vehicle and a golf cart is not.

[Two Bills]

Bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law and have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles.

.....and like a majority of riders, they also consider themselves above the law, and ride acordingly, especialy when they are in packs.
....and don't get me started about the dingbats who ride those lay on your back things on wheels!

[Fredman]

They ride in packs and own the roads and don’t know how to use roundabouts. Hit them and u r in the wrong

[vintageogauge]

Bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law and have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicles.

Then they should have to carry a photo bicycle license after passing a test, registration with plates, and carry liability insurance. I've never seen a cop with a bike rider pulled over for infractions and they happen all day long.

[Polar Bear]

Then they should have to carry a photo bicycle license after passing a test, registration with plates, and carry liability insurance...
Regardless of what you say "should" be the case, bicycles are considered vehicles by Florida law, with the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles...as I said before. Just check for yourself.
...I've never seen a cop with a bike rider pulled over for infractions and they happen all day long.
And as we all know, automobile drivers never, ever violate the letter of the law even to the slightest degree. And on those rare occasions when they do, they get pulled over every single time! :D

[Polar Bear]

I don’t understand why anyone would use bicycle as transportation anywhere in TV. It is super dangerous in most places...I am really considering whether to bring my bicycle to TV at all.
IMHO, you are very, very wrong. With a few rules to ride by, you can ride your bike safely in TV. Of there are no guarantees with any form of transportation. But bicycling can be done safely in TV.

I won't go into detail here, but if you're interested in hearing those few rules, let me know. I'd be glad to share them with you. It would be a shame for you to not ride in TV based upon the assumptions you have made.

[CFrance]

I didn't even realize bicycles were allowed on the roundabouts. I thought they had to use the MMPs or cross at the pedestrian crosswalks.
Bicycles have the same rights to streets (except interstates) as cars do. It has always been that way in every state we've lived in. They are also obligated to follow the traffic laws.



Polar Bear, I am not a cyclist, but I would not suggest squeezing beside the gate. The gate comes down so that a cart is given access to pass in front of the gate. I would think that if a cyclist squeezed past a gate, s/he might run smack-dab into a cart that's crossing in front of the gate, and injury could occur.

[Polar Bear]

Back to the original question...

Thanks for the replies. One followup...if you choose what I've listed as option 3, of course it should be done at the very minimum speed and with maximum alertness for conflicting traffic. As one reply stated, I don't do it if there is lots of traffic, I just use the guest gate. But even when I do use #3, I'm going slow enough to stop before any unforeseen cross-traffic is a problem.

[CFrance]

I understand that this is law but it does seem sort of ridiculous to me that a bicycle is considered a vehicle and a golf cart is not.
Bicycles have been around since before cars. They were here first, so to speak.

[VApeople]

I am really considering whether to bring my bicycle to TV at all.

The Villages south of route 44 (sometimes referred to as the "Fenney Area") have some great bike/pedestrian trails that do not allow golf carts.

[Serenoa]

Regardless of what you say "should" be the case, bicycles are considered vehicles by Florida law, with the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles...as I said before. Just check for yourself.

And as we all know, automobile drivers never, ever violate the letter of the law even to the slightest degree. And on those rare occasions when they do, they get pulled over every single time! :D

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

[bilcon]

Definitely, those stupid recumbent bikes should be forbidden on any roads. I almost ran a guy over on the circle. As I rounder the curve he was right in front of me. I did not see him until I was practically on top of him. Guess who would have been at fault? Thank God I go slow on the circles.

[DAVES]

Definitely, those stupid recumbent bikes should be forbidden on any roads. I almost ran a guy over on the circle. As I rounder the curve he was right in front of me. I did not see him until I was practically on top of him. Guess who would have been at fault? Thank God I go slow on the circles.

I drive a car, own a golf cart and ride a bike.

Some people, do not seem to see a bicycle at all they are looking for cars, golf carts and walkers. Some people choose to BULLY others. Some people try to be nice and stop in the middle of the road to let a bike go. ALL ARE WRONG AND ALL EXIST. WHEN YOU ARE ON A BIKE OR DRIVING, OR WALKING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THEM-THINGS ARE NEVER, NOR WILL THEY EVER BE PERFECT. On a bike, I expect people to do what they are supposed to do. I've had people stop a car in the middle of the street to let my bike go. A NICE ACT BUT DANGEROUS. Particularly from a stop, it takes more time than you might think for a bike to get up to speed. The car behind you may choose to simply drive around you. They may not see or care about the bike.

Those three wheeled bicycles are according to me even worse in all the above mentioned bicycle issues. Mentally less likely to be seen and recognized. Being low adds to the issue. They also take up more road room.

As you read these threads, there should be no question there is no shortage of inattentive people-MOST POLITE TERM I CAN FIND. As stated I ride a bike, drive a golf cart and drive a car.
I have never ridden my bike through a roundabout, they are dangerous enough in a car. Roundabouts for golf carts only are exactly the same issues as the ones for cars. People either don't know or don't care what the rules are.

On a bike, use your brain. If you get hit, by a car, a golf cart or even a pedestrian who is at fault will not prevent you from being hurt, possibly severely or even killed. For peat sakes wear bright clothes, wear a helmet have and use lights try to avoid riding early morning or early evening when the sun is in peoples eyes.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Great tips and comments from DAVES. I'll add: I worked at Amazon in a sortation building for a season. They gave me a day-glo orange with reflective white striping vest. Very cheap quality mesh with velcro fasteners. I took it with me to Florida to use whenever I'm on my bike (day or evening) or walking in the neighborhood at night.

DAVES: if you don't use the roundabout, how do you get from one side to the other? Do you use the MMP with golf cart tunnels? Or do you use the pedestrian sidewalks? If you use the pedestrian sidewalks do you walk it across, or ride it?

[DAVES]

Great tips and comments from DAVES. I'll add: I worked at Amazon in a sortation building for a season. They gave me a day-glo orange with reflective white striping vest. Very cheap quality mesh with velcro fasteners. I took it with me to Florida to use whenever I'm on my bike (day or evening) or walking in the neighborhood at night.

DAVES: if you don't use the roundabout, how do you get from one side to the other? Do you use the MMP with golf cart tunnels? Or do you use the pedestrian sidewalks? If you use the pedestrian sidewalks do you walk it across, or ride it?

As stated, we have a car and a golf cart. On a bike, yes, I have walked it across. Probably not legal as there is no cross walk.
Where I am thinking, riding across, you would need to hop the curb and ride across the grass. Hoping the curb is not good for your bike and riding on the grass is not good for the grass. I walk it so that I do not need to do either.

I have a unique view for most things I do my best to do what I think is right. I do my best to respect the rights of others.
I am certain not everyone thinks that of me. In the end it is impossible to please everyone.

[Topspinmo]

Bicycles have been around since before cars. They were here first, so to speak.

So was the 🐎

[Topspinmo]

I don’t why people complain when mob of bikes go through gates or stops signs. Do you really want to wait for alternating bike car bike car? I sure don’t let them go and be done.

[Topspinmo]

Definitely, those stupid recumbent bikes should be forbidden on any roads. I almost ran a guy over on the circle. As I rounder the curve he was right in front of me. I did not see him until I was practically on top of him. Guess who would have been at fault? Thank God I go slow on the circles.

IMO the out for Morgan and Morgan paid day:1rotfl:

[charmed59]

So was the 🐎

Which brings up the question, with Chathem Acres attached to the MMP, are their horses allowed on the MMP?

[Fredman]

Bicycles have been around since before cars. They were here first, so to speak.

So what is your point?