Shuttle between the Squares
 

I think it would be a great idea if there were some kind of shuttle service between the 3 squares. You could park your cart/car at the one closest to you and take shuttle to your destination. This would help a great deal for events and especially during the busy season. Thoughts?

I find your request interesting, because I have never found myself wishing to go from one square to another on the same day or evening, other than to show visitors an overview of The Villages.. To me the squares are places to dance/listen to music and to eat and to shop and usually one is enough for an evening.


If there is an event, such as a parade or something like a tree lighting, those are usually not scheduled for the same day.

Who pays??? How much are you willing to pay???

I would be willing to pay up to $5. If I live near Brownwood and want to go to the Sharon or eat at Katie Belles, I'd much rather hop on a shuttle/bus than drive to Spanish Springs and look for a parking spot.

Great idea. I think a shuttle would be well used and people would happily pay for the service.

What time would they do this til ? If someone decided to have dinner and missed the last shuttle, then what ? The cost of gas and a driver when only 2 people get on the shuttle to go from maybe Brownwood to The Sharon.
I have never gone to 2 squares in 1 night.

Since this is all hypothetical, maybe run from 9am-9pm. This shouldn't be limited to nighttime events/dancing, etc., as plenty of people visit the town squares during the day for shopping, sightseeing, dining, etc.

One word... Monorail. Could be built over existing MM paths. I mean, what's a DisneyWorld for Adults without a monorail? Right?

Haaaa. Last time we were at Epcot I said the same thing to my wife...The Villages need a monorail :)

But if they are getting the shuttle at a square, they might as well just go to the square they want.

Didn't the valet parking go away due to $5 to use

It wouldn't be for everyone, but I could see people using it. Especially if people wanted to make a day of visiting more than one TS and not having to worry about driving and parking.

I like the monorail. No traffic issues and a good way to sightsee. A subway would be my next choice.

Valet Parking did not work. Don't think this would either.

Probably not enough of a supply and demand to make this an economical business. And, I do not see the developers fronting something like this with their funds. Nor would the property owners of the Villages.

For the few who would use this...................why not just call a cab?

One Word: Pub Crawl!
[maybe that's 2 words but you get the idea]

take a taxi
then you can stay out as late as you want, and not worry about a DUI

I agree. The cost of building a monorail and and the disruption during construction and the ongoing labor costs would be borne by guess who?

Even a bus shuttle's initial and on going cost, including labor, would add to our monthly amenity fees.

If elevated sightseeing is one's cup of tea, spare us the expense and go rent a helicopter for a few hours. Visitors considering this still wonderful locale can ride The Villages existing tour bus or trolley.

Nothing is free. Add an amenity and greater payments would be required of us each month - not the developers. This whole country truly needs to return to the wisdom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

This is an interesting idea, and probably the only entity that could pull this off would be villages transportation. I am guessing that it would not be a profitable business, but I could be wrong.
Consider the following:

There were problems in the past with tour buses using the squares, and having cars parked for extended periods, so the bus pickup and drop off locations would need to be some distance from the squares to avoid the previous concerns, IMHO.

It would probably take an hour for a single bus to make a loop to all 3 squares, this may be too long for people to wait, especially if it is raining.

If you just missed the bus, then you have up to an hour wait for the next one.

During a very popular event (parade, show at the Sharon, farmers market, etc.) I could easily see more people arriving then seats available on the bus, while at other times the bus would be mostly empty.

It would be an interesting comment for the annual survey, and POA or VHA meetings to see if it gets any traction.

On a personal note, we go from the Brownwood area to the Spanish Springs square area 3 times per week, and would not use a shuttle or bus if it was available. We can make the trip by car in 20 to 25 minutes, and parking is typically available, except during the days with parades. The shuttle/bus would simply not be as convenient as our own car. This may change in the future, if we are no longer able to drive this distance, or at night.

Why not just have the tour bus make stops? Imagine yourself on a tour bus, not knowing very much about the place and a bunch of people that live here jump on. They are having a good time and being very friendly.

there are cabs available for this.

They do have tour buses which do not make very many spots though. I remember my visiting Aunt Gert went on when even though she would have never movie from her hometown of many decades.

I agree Bonny. I can't see the practical use of it. My husband said he thought it might be a good idea, he had our one car repaired at Mulberry and I could have picked him up in the golf cart but he waited for it, had lunch, took a book. But times like that are few and far between and if you have something done to a golf cart, they give you a loaner.


I think this place is geared toward people who are able to use motor vehicles. Maybe that is right and maybe it isn't but it is what it is. When we start trying to get services for things the majority won't use or try to add everything to a community a few desire, the cost of that has to be paid by somebody and that is where this place differs from others. We don't vote and tax. I rather like that.

So it's settled...we'll have one up and running by next weekend :)

Every night we see, parked behind the Lake Sumter Landing Sales Center, the nice TheVillages' Trolley Tour Buses, parked for the night.

I think The Villages (Sales) would be wise to run one or two of these buses (after the last trolley tour of the day) as shuttles on a set path from Brownwood to Lake Sumter to Spanish Springs and back on the same route, with pickup on the half hour or even on the hour, from let's say, 4pm to 10pm.

To me that's a logical function of the Sales Dept., since Villagers are the best word-of-mouth promoters of TV to new people, and giving existing Villagers a ride to the squares at distant north and south ends will inform them better about all that TV has to offer newcomers.

If TV Sales didn't want to offer this shuttle for free, they could sell $2 tokens at the Sales Center desks in each town square, where they sell the maps.....or at the Mercantile Banner shops at the sales centers.

You wanna drive? As a community spirited donation?

As for The Villages needing any more word of mouth promotion to sell anything...don't think it is needed.

I think it's an awesome idea for special events. I believe people misunderstood what you were saying based on their responses such as "who would want to go to two town centers in one day". We took the shuttle to Everbank Field in Jax from the Beaches all the time. Amazing that some posters who complain about "negativity" on this message board were some of the first to whiz on your suggestion.

Would be cancelled within 3 months.

Drying myself, and then asking what events would that be, here?

And I like Salpal to pieces. I would never pee on her suggestions.

parades and events such as the st paddy's day, columbus day, Christmas Tree lightings, and college color days. The shuttle wouldn't be running ordinarily. The Shuttles in Jax for sporting events worked well. They cost 5 to 8 dollars depending on how far away you were from the stadium and you got a pass for the return trip. I stay away from squares having special events due to the hassle of parking but would utilize a shuttle service if it was available.

No need to dry off Gracie since I didn't name names

Sounds good...but generally they have these events on different days. Our cheerleaders could get overtired and also our twirlers, so they have them on different days. The tree lighting is on different days too. That was my point.

Just as Bogie said, they tried valet parking and poof it was gone. I am trying to introduce a realistic argument, not whiz on someone's good idea. Niche businesses like this do exist, but usually are government funded and there I will stop.

I feel that valet parking is apples and oranges to a shuttle service. It would be anybodies guess as to whether or not it would be successful, but its an interesting concept to throw out as a topic.

especially since there is a fleet of trolleys which will be obsolete as soon as.....wait for it......build out occurs:icon_wink:

:ho:

Why would anyone drive to one square to take the shuttle to another square for an event ? If you are going to an event, just go to the square where the event is.
If people are going to get a token for a couple of dollars to cover gas & wear & tear, who's paying the drivers ?

Because the OP presented the question.

:clap2:

Would probably be a niche market, but I could foresee people going to one town square (not necessarily during an event), doing some sightseeing, then jumping on the shuttle do to the same at one (or both) of the other TS's. And, by the looks of things, I foresee a 4th Town Square eventually being built near Orlando, once the final of the fifteen "build outs" occur.

:1rotfl: