Beware!!! this SUV is out to kill someone...
 

This SUV tried to run over one of our cyclist the other day. Going north on Buena Vista by the Savannah center round about, our group after stopping to let other cars clear, started north again. That is when this SUV came up from behind us in the left lane and crossed in front of our lane to turn right on El Camino Real just missing the lead rider by inches, and mean inches. Had he not turned his from wheel to the right just a little, he would have been hit. No telling what injuries might have occurred if the contact had happened. Fortunately, the last cyclist had a camera going and we were able to get the license number. We called the Sumter County police, and officer Wills, to report the incident. We were not looking to ticket the driver, but to let him/her know that crossing two lanes at a high rate of speed is jeopardizing the safety, and maybe the life of these cyclist. The officer refused to help even after giving him the license number. I wonder if the same officer would have shown any interest if this SUV had collided with the bicycle? I guess someone has to be injured before this officer would help with the situation. If you know this person, please notify them that what they did was totally wrong, and could have cost someone their life just to make the turn 5 seconds earlier. They never stopped, or even acknowledged any wrong doing. Even after giving the Sumter County officer the license number he refused to do anything telling me that Florida license plates has 6 numbers/letters not 5. I know that vanity plates in Florida can have less than 6. I am not sure why he chose not to pursue this problem, or at least make a call telling them they are now being watched and should be more considerate of cyclist. Here is a picture of the SUV. Please let me know if you know this person. License # SJE IT
Thanks for caring,

I sympathize with you.

However, I'm not sure what you think the officer should have done. If you could take action against somebody based solely on the hearsay of another (there was admittedly no incident that the officer could investigate) think of the chaos that would cause. Simply don't like somebody? Tell police they committed a crime.

i was wondering from your description it sounded like the whole group started out. anyone in the roundabout would then have right of way over a bike entering. was it that way???

I feel your pain. However I am not Law Enforcement and neither are you. It is your choice to leave the offender's license plate number posted but I have a feeling it may not be the best way to go. My dad used to say, once your 3 times 7 you have to make your own decisions and live with the consequences. Be careful.

I think this guy's soul mate just tried to cream me 15 minutes ago. Headed west on Pinellas, a similar colored vehicle, but a sedan, cut right across my cart lane to turn into Bonifay. I hit the brakes so hard that the cart skidded about 15 feet and left 1/4 inch rubber on the path, missed contact by a foot or 2. He did not stop, he did not have a signal on, and he wasn't old enough to use that excuse. I was tempted to chase him up to the clubhouse, but I'd have more luck talking to a rock.

I also told the officer that we also had the video of the complete incident, but he did not care.

He came from behind us to the round about in the left lane and cut across our right lane to make the turn. He did not have the right of way!

If you need a rock to talk to, call officer Wills. Ha!

That's why I contacted the officer. If he would have at least made an effort to inform the driver that cutting anyone off, especially a pedestrian or a cyclist, I would not have to resort to these tactics. This person has no compassion for anyone who gets in their way. We had been stopped for around 2 minutes waiting for the traffic coming from the north to make the round about down El Camino. No one else was coming from that way, so we preceded to go north in our lane up Buena Vista. This guy came from behind us and in the wrong lane to make a right turn. I just wanted the driver to made aware of their mistake. I don't think that I was asking for too much.

The police are probably scared about defense lawyers, liability and the like. Chain of custody for things filmed as well. There is also the problem of false testimony against neighbors, ex-lovers, employees, ex-friends, bosses and the like whom you might have some argument with.

Maybe some of the Villages cameras have picked up this person's bad driving. There would not be any personal animosity and chain of custody problems there.

Many people seemed to be in a real hurry today. Had some tail-gating golf carts on my way to and from Sumter Landing. I go rather slow but not so much that I am a traffic nuisance.

According to state of Florida, the license plate SJE IT is available. Also available are SJE 1T and 5JE IT and 5JE 1T and all variations without the space.
https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckPersonalPlate/

It does look like a Florida salutes veterans plate.

You can get information on the owner of any plate as that is public record.

Bureau of Records
2900 Apalachee Pkwy, MS 89
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0500
HSMV-Records@flhsmv.gov
(850) 617-2702

A question to the cycling community. A group of cyclists riding two abreast come to a four way stop sign. How many are permitted to cross at once? My thought is the first two riders with the rest of the pack taking their turn to stop.

Each bike is a separate vehicle.....did they enter the circle En mass? Or individually?

How many times have we all seen the large groups of cyclists blow through STOP signs? They say they slow down and look for on-coming cars but do not unhook from their pedals.

The sign is not just a suggestion, cyclists.

You want to be considered a part of traffic - please obey the rules.

As for giving the police officer a plate number and saying the driver broke the law? Ridiculous! Posting his plate on TOTV? Irresponsible and quite possibly he could sue you for doing! If it was my plate, I would be contacting Attorney Dan Newlin.

:popcorn:

Not to mention the possible libeling of the police officer who was named. If department policy is to not address complaints of this nature, then he's skating on thin ice.

I believe, going north on BV at ECR, the lines in the RAB indicate that both the left AND right lanes individually continue for the first exit. That would lead most people to think that the inside/left lane has the right of way exiting at ECR. To continue north on BV in the right lane, forces traffic in the right lane to cross a dotted line as the traffic enters the left lane. The ridiculous signs that are too small to read while busy watching the road and traffic indicate that one should not be in the left lane if exiting the first exit. Big confusion, thus the officer probably did not want to spend otherwise valuable time tracking down and "teaching" someone the confusing/conflicting rules of TV RABs. This scenario happens at least once a day, only with two autos. If you bikers want to play on the roads built for 4000 pound killing machines, you better get used to these events. Otherwise, you can join the sane bikers on the MMPs and residential streets.

According to the sheriff's office, they are supposed to be riding single file if they are traveling slower than the surrounding traffic.

The moral to all of these stories: It is dangerous to ride a bike or drive a cart on a road where cars are driving.

Of course, nothing in life is free of risk. We just need to accept the risk of the activities we choose to enjoy. If the pleasure of riding a bike or driving a cart is important to you, then by all means do it, but you have to accept the fact that many people drive a car with their head in a warm, dark place.

Perhaps the Sheriff would take an interest in this whole incident, and even be grateful to know of the attitudes of his employees IF incorrect. Why not discuss it with him and see where that goes? ---Usually there at least two sides to every encounter. I gave up motorcycling mainly because the drivers here can not be trusted to navigate a round-about properly.

The movement of vehicles in a roundabout is dictated by the lane they are in when entering the RAB, not the lines on the road. What you are suggesting is the same as making a right turn from the left lane at a regular intersection.

Same goes for the late model white Camry, that ran the 4 way stop @ DelMar & Rio Grande-he followed the car that was in front of him-just to wait @ the traffic light @ Morse Blvd

Actually that is not what the law says. The law says that cyclists can ride two abreast as long as they aren't impeding the flow of traffic. In reality, cyclists cannot impede the flow of traffic on the roads in The Villages because they are sub-standard width and a bike and a car cannot coexist in the same lane. Cars must use the other lane to pass regardless of whether the cyclists are single file or two abreast - it doesn't matter. If the roads were wide enough for a car and single file bikes to coexist in the same lane, then riding two abreast could impeded the flow of traffic if it was a two-lane road. On four lane roads, cyclists cannot impede the flow of traffic regardless of the width of the lane because there is a passing lane. This has been discussed numerous times before.

Cyclists Riding Two Abreast | Florida Bicycle Law

I understand what you are saying, but....the lines DO confuse the issue. Lines are placed on the roads to provide guidance to the drivers, thus the confusion. Now add in the visitor factor, and you have the perfect storm. This scenario happens daily in TV RABs.

I would find out who posted my lis number and sue you first off. You have a picture and no proof. 2nd I posted a comment about bikes not yielding to traffic in general. If you are a big enough group and a club you need to either get a chase car or get with the District and have the lanes or streets block for your ride. I could tell you about bikes not stopping at stop signs,not yielding at circles not signaling for turns and many more. Some of these groups are causing attitudes as where do you get off thinking you own the road.It's hell this time of the year with traffic. Be safe and have a great day. I also think that TOTV should remove this post as this might be considered slanderous. They are a part of it. You people are nuts

I almost ran over a couple of idiot bicyclists with my SUV the other day. I was waiting at Bailey Trail and St. Charles in a line of cars at a red light and making a right when two bikes rode up on the diagonal white line area passing stopped cars on the right. They went straight. What the heck is wrong with some people.

That isn't what the deputy said according to the POA. You have interpreted the law to fit your desired outcome...imo. From one cyclist to another, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

I read the article and I have read the law and it is quite clear that bikes cannot impede the flow of traffic on sub-standard width roads. Single file riders can occupy an entire lane legally and will not be impeding the flow of traffic if they are sub-standard width. The point you missed is that the deputy's comments only refer to standard width roads. He already acknowledged that the roads must be standard width (which they aren't in The Villages).

Observations
 

How many have seen a number of bike riders occupying an almost total lane with a true sense of entitlement. They believe that as a large group they have the right over all others. It is no surprise that some times the cars get fed up with that arrogrance. As I understood the law bikes are to be wihin 3 feed of the curb.:ohdear:

Another bike rider had a real death wish last week. He blew through the traffic circle yield sign at full speed across the intersection of St. Charles & Buena Vista--

I'm thinking about getting a dash cam-it might save me and my insurance company some $$$ if things continue on the same path ,here

maximum density with an aging population--lots of problems ahead

That is incorrect. You might wish to look up the law. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as cars and can occupy an entire lane, just like cars, on sub-standard width roads (as we have in The Villages). There are several instances where you will see cyclists more to the center of a lane for safety reasons. This will happen often when approaching roundabouts to prevent cars from squeezing cyclists into the curbs. The Village's roads are not wide enough for a bike and car to coexist in the same lane (sub-standard width roads). Most cyclists will normally stay in the right most third of the right lane but there is still insufficient width for a car to pass in the same lane. You must move to the other lane when passing.

Don't be too hard on him. Maybe he is a cyclist that forgot he was in his car...

And you are surprised? Rolling through stop signs is pretty common around here.

could be didn't see any bike rack

Could it be that intersection is considered substandard, therefore anyone can "take the intersection"?

Start with Lt. Seimer, and continue up to Sheriff Bill Farmer. If you have proof (a Video) and are willing to go to court, an arrest is required.IMHO

Have not seen a response to this question. Based on observation on many occasions I would venture to say the riders went through as a group..... This tends to complicate the issue in many ways. If I were traveling with a group of car show buddies could we all just go at the same time and expect others to enjoy the parade? I don't think so......

If it is clear, you may see some roll through the stop sign at a slow speed. If it isn't, they will unclip and wait. Pretty much what many cars and golf carts do.

You may be correct but when I questioned the practice of the "other online paper" showing photo of bad parking along with license plates; I was told by many that there was no liability. Who knows? Well, at least I don't know. Btw, I used to be a cyclist and this is a battle no one will ever win. Drivers that have never cycled just don't get it and cyclist don't understand why it's really that offensive for vehicles to slow down for 2 or 3 minutes. Each has valid arguments but I wish we could be kind and share the road.