Personal Mobility Scooters on Golf Cart Trails

[skyguy79]

I cannot walk very far and I get around using a personal mobility scooter. I have used it to go from Colony Plaza to my home in Hadley and have used it to go from my home to our Hadley mail station on Odell. So far I haven't had any problems. Whichever way I travel to and from our mail box on Odell, I have to ride part of the time on the side of Odell Cir before I can access a sidewalk or enter the mail station.

Today I tried for the first time to take Havana Trail to Odell and noticed that there is a golf cart trail that could short cut me to Odell and it would also be the only way I could get to the mail box without driving on the side of Odell Cir.

My problem is that I'm not sure if that cart path is used exclusively for those playing golf. Even using Google Earth it's not clear. I would like to use it since it would keep me off the higher speed Odell where golf carts have to cross over to the car lane to pass me, but don't know if I'm breaking any rules or regulations by using the path from Havana to Odell.

Can anyone provide any advise or comments. Thanks! http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/stock/smiley-character00260.gif

[BBQMan]

Sky, The trails are there for all of us to use. Although they are commonly referred to as golf cart trails, their real name is multi-modal paths. They are there for walkers, runners, bicycles, roller skaters, segways and personal mobility scooters. I strongly urge you to use the trails and avoid the traffic on the Odell circle. It's safer for both you and the motorists.

[pqrstar]

I think the question was about using the golf cart trails that are part of the Havana Championship Golf Course.

These trails are for the exclusive use of golfers. They are not "owner by the residents."
They are part of the championship courses and require a special cart trail fee which is paid for by the golfer. Besides, it is not very safe. You may be hit by golf balls.

I have occassionally noticed walkers there. But even though these paths may run close to a road, they are not public sidewalks. They are a part of the golf course property.

[skyguy79]

Thanks for your replies to my OP. Since posting that OP I have done further digging on what information I could find. Using Golf of the Villages and the VCDD site I found the following information:

Havana is a Championship Course and as a resident I am automatically a member of it.
The trails on it are maintained by the amenity fees we all pay, including us non-golfers.
There are no fees specified for those who walk on the trails. "Those who walk" was clearly specified.
There were no specific restrictions stated or implied that prohibited walkers from using the trails. A PMV (personal mobility vehicle) scooter are the legs for those of us who cannot walk on their own, so it constitutes walking.
Regarding the comment that it was not safe because one could get hit by a golf ball, I think that's a risk anyone on a golf cart also takes and that the risk is not much higher on a PMV. Besides, I would rather risk the hit by a golf ball than being hit by a vehicle (auto or GC) on Odell Circle going to get my mail. IMO the risk on Odell is much greater than the risk on the trail.

If anyone has found any information that counters what I've found out, please let me know the website address where I can read it. Until I found proof to the contrary I have to presume that there is no reason that I cannot use the Havana to Odell shortcut to obtain my mail. I may be wrong, but what's on the two website I obtained the information does not support that I am.
http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/stock/smiley-character00260.gif

[redwitch]

sky, I don't know the rules and am way too lazy to look them up, but be assured that if you're on the golf course trails and an ambassador sees you, you will be escorted off the golf course trails. They absolutely do not allow anyone on them who is not playing golf. (Of course, you have to be caught first.)

[Bogie Shooter]

Thanks for your replies to my OP. Since posting that OP I have done further digging on what information I could find. Using Golf of the Villages and the VCDD site I found the following information:

Havana is a Championship Course and as a resident I am automatically a member of it.
The trails on it are maintained by the amenity fees we all pay, including us non-golfers.
There are no fees specified for those who walk on the trails. "Those who walk" was clearly specified.
There were no specific restrictions stated or implied that prohibited walkers from using the trails. A PMV (personal mobility vehicle) scooter are the legs for those of us who cannot walk on their own, so it constitutes walking.
Regarding the comment that it was not safe because one could get hit by a golf ball, I think that's a risk anyone on a golf cart also takes and that the risk is not much higher on a PMV. Besides, I would rather risk the hit by a golf ball than being hit by a vehicle (auto or GC) on Odell Circle going to get my mail. IMO the risk on Odell is much greater than the risk on the trail.

If anyone has found any information that counters what I've found out, please let me know the website address where I can read it. Until I found proof to the contrary I have to presume that there is no reason that I cannot use the Havana to Odell shortcut to obtain my mail. I may be wrong, but what's on the two website I obtained the information does not support that I am.
http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/stock/smiley-character00260.gif

There may be some confusion regarding championship and executive golf courses.
The Havana golf course(s) are not maintained by your amenity fee.
Even walkers on the championship courses pay a greens fee....it is not free.
There is signage on most championship courses indicating the cart paths are for golfers only.
There is more danger than you might realize by using the golf cart paths on the championship courses.....golfers are not expecting to encounter you and therein lies the most obvious danger.

[ajbrown]

Does the path you are talking about have a sign saying something like "golfing traffic only"? I see this sign alot where a country club path comes in contact with a mutli modal path.

At some courses there are cart paths shared by the golfers and local residents. An example is Hacianda, but I do not think that is the case at Havana.

That said, it is just my opinion, I would call Havana and ask if you can walk on the paths/golf course during the day, I suspect the answer is no.

[skyguy79]

Does the path you are talking about have a sign saying something like "golfing traffic only"? I see this sign alot where a country club path comes in contact with a mutli modal path.

At some courses there are cart paths shared by the golfers and local residents. An example is Hacianda, but I do not think that is the case at Havana.

That said, it is just my opinion, I would call Havana and ask if you can walk on the paths/golf course during the day, I suspect the answer is no.AJ, I didn't see a sign, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one. Also, if some of the comments made are true, then there's a lot of misinformation given on the VCDD and Golf of the Villages websites about this subject.

I have now made calls to VCDD, Havana CC and the District office covering the usage of the trails and they do support what most of you are saying... I can't use the trail. So I did what the district office suggested and have written the VCDD through the website to voice my specifice safety issues with not being allowed as well as to ask to speak to a person of authority about it. I also suggested that their websites be updated to prevent giving the false impression that it can be used. If someone in a similar situation to me didn't care to make sure if it were permissible, they would have just went by what the websites stated and started using the path and probably been embarrased and angry when confronted about being there.

If anything of interest happens, I'll post it here as a followup. Again thanks to all for your honest input, even when I didn't like hearing it! :ho:

[K9-Lovers]

Kudos to you for trying to find out the rules before taking action.

[PAfarmgal]

I cannot walk very far and I get around using a personal mobility scooter. I have used it to go from Colony Plaza to my home in Hadley and have used it to go from my home to our Hadley mail station on Odell. So far I haven't had any problems. Whichever way I travel to and from our mail box on Odell, I have to ride part of the time on the side of Odell Cir before I can access a sidewalk or enter the mail station.

Today I tried for the first time to take Havana Trail to Odell and noticed that there is a golf cart trail that could short cut me to Odell and it would also be the only way I could get to the mail box without driving on the side of Odell Cir.

My problem is that I'm not sure if that cart path is used exclusively for those playing golf. Even using Google Earth it's not clear. I would like to use it since it would keep me off the higher speed Odell where golf carts have to cross over to the car lane to pass me, but don't know if I'm breaking any rules or regulations by using the path from Havana to Odell.

Can anyone provide any advise or comments. Thanks! http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/stock/smiley-character00260.gif
Sky, Question on mobility scooter. Friends husband had stroke and needs to find scooter with bigger tires. They live on backroad and farm...lots of uneven ground but also be able to put on back of van for WalMart, etc. for mobility. He has fallen many times. Best product, make, model, etc. in your opinion and possibly others opinions? Thanks. BTW, they live in NW PA near Erie and Ohio border. Bigger tires may help in packed/plowed snow to mailbox??

[PAfarmgal]

Question on mobility scooter. Friends husband had stroke and needs to find scooter with bigger tires. They live on backroad and farm...lots of uneven ground but also be able to put on back of van for WalMart, etc. for mobility. He has fallen many times. Best product, make, model, etc. in your opinion and possibly others opinions? Thanks. BTW, they live in NW PA near Erie and Ohio border. Bigger tires may help in packed/plowed snow to mailbox?? She thought possibly area with many "seasoned" adults may have more insight.
PAfarmgal

[skyguy79]

Sky, Question on mobility scooter. Friends husband had stroke and needs to find scooter with bigger tires. They live on backroad and farm...lots of uneven ground but also be able to put on back of van for WalMart, etc. for mobility. He has fallen many times. Best product, make, model, etc. in your opinion and possibly others opinions? Thanks. BTW, they live in NW PA near Erie and Ohio border. Bigger tires may help in packed/plowed snow to mailbox??I'm sorry, but under the circumstances I don't feel qualified or comfortable giving any advise here. The only suggestions I can give is to direct you to find a conveniently located mobility scooter dealer for available product information, advise the user with the stroke that they should get their doctor's advice before using any scooter on ground that's uneven and use Google to seek however much information you can get about mobility scooters.

[MLCrisis]

Sky, go ahead and use the path. If anyone says anything you tell them I said it was ok to use it.
:angel:

[skyguy79]

Sky, go ahead and use the path. If anyone says anything you tell them I said it was ok to use it.
:angel:Thanks! I tried it this morning and when I told the Ambassador that you said it's ok, he called in and a bunch of Keystone Kops showed up within minutes to arrest me. Why you'd think I was trying to create a Major League Crisis! :coolsmiley::1rotfl:

[senior citizen]

Question on mobility scooter. Friends husband had stroke and needs to find scooter with bigger tires. They live on backroad and farm...lots of uneven ground but also be able to put on back of van for WalMart, etc. for mobility. He has fallen many times. Best product, make, model, etc. in your opinion and possibly others opinions? Thanks. BTW, they live in NW PA near Erie and Ohio border. Bigger tires may help in packed/plowed snow to mailbox?? She thought possibly area with many "seasoned" adults may have more insight.
PAfarmgal

I can relate to your mention of "uneven ground" in rural Pennsylvania as it would be similar to Vermont's hilly terrain. NOTHING is flat here.

While mobility scooters would be wonderful in THE VILLAGES FLORIDA, where allowed........or on one's own street or property.........on the backroad and farm that you mention, he could probably tip over quite easily. Not sure about "on snow".

Awhile back I saw an elderly neighbor of ours ride up our HILL to the end of our cul de sac.........very very slowly.......and then as he turned around at the end of our road........and headed "downhill"........on his "scooter" . I said my prayers.

We have another fellow who is on a walker and he will slowly trek uphill.

It's hard up here in Vermont or in rural Pennsylvania or other hilly state for anyone with mobility issues. Just to get up to one's front porch might entail many many many levels of steps........plus a slanted hilly driveway down to the mailbox............our daughter lives off several DIRT ROADS and has a 600 foot long dirt driveway which is private. Our grandson has an ATV....all terrain vehicle for the "mud season".......he's 11. They had four distinct mud seasons last year.

WE are familiar with the Lake Erie area............and Lake Erie is quite beautiful.....

I'm just afraid her loved one will take a spill on a road such as you described, especially if snow covered.....it can get icy and "rutted" in the winter time. He would do well in THE VILLAGES.....for sure. On a smooth flat road like in TV, those scooters would be a GOD SEND.