Foul mouthed cyclist
 

Yesterday, Hubby and I were driving home south on Morse about 3/4 mile from the gate/exit at 466 prior to Sumter bridge. We enjoy the view across the lake. Traffic was heavy in both car and cart lanes, and moving at a steady pace. In our right cart lane a cyclist enthusiast in full high tech cycling gear simultaneously thrust out his left arm and shot out in front of our car while overtaking a slower moving cart. To say he scared the 💩 out of us, would be an understatement. I screamed and braced for impact. Only my husband's quick reflexes prevented yet another car/bike accident, or worse. My husbands many years of training and driving a police vehicle saved the day. The cyclist wobbled all over the road, having waved his left arm so vigorously he lost control of his bike. My husband yelled in alarm to the cyclist "stay in the cart lane" to which the cyclist yelled "F@CK YOU" while indicating his IQ. It was a very ugly incident, and sadly not so unusual any more . The cyclist hung back (embarrassed, I hope)and eventually took the cart/tunnel under 466. Ugliness and fright caused by one person's lack of patience on a busy road. I could add for good measure the often seen "pack" of cyclist blowing through all the traffic signals at Moyer Loop and Morse, but then I will be repeating a long running thread. No doubt I will also be attacked for daring to call out an ill mannered, but luckily not injured, cyclist.

So you are saying the cyclist had a mouth like a chicken or turkey?

It hooray for me- look at these cyclists-- the most self centered in the Villages--I know I'm about to get trashed but they really push the envelope , especially in a senior citizen community and a community with lots of people trying to learn the lay of the land

The sad reality is that you can say "hooray for me- look at these car drivers, delivery truck drivers, golf cart drivers, etc". Bad driving isn't only isolated to just people trying to stay fit.

What exactly is the rule regarding riding a bike in The Villages? Are they required to stay on the multi-modal paths or can they get on the main roads? I sometimes see large groups of cyclists on Buena Vista or some other similar road, so are there exceptions for that size a group that doesn't apply to individual cyclists?

It would not have been a problem for the cyclist to have merged into the car/all vehicle lane had he done so properly. Suddenly veering in front of large moving cars, while simultaneously waiving the intent to move left, hardly constitutes safe cycling. But then again, he clearly didn't care. His loud exclamation of "F@CK YOU" was a clear indication of his apparent "superiority" not to mention an impressive command of the English language

Shrandell is the ultimate lady, smart woman, kind person and reasonable soul. Her husband is likewise a genuine tried and true good person, a retired police officer with all the wisdom that implies (to me anyhow). If she says this guy is at fault. Then he was.

Sorry this happened and glad no one was physically hurt.

Being as he was fowl mouthed, maybe he was really saying...flock you? :shrug:



:D

I'm an avid cyclist is the Villages and agree with you 100%. If your description is accurate my fellow bicycle rider owes your husband an apology for pulling out in front of him and giving you the finger. There are very few of us who ride bikes support that kind of dangerous behavior and attitude. Thank you for posting.

Thanks Gracie. It was a very frightening experience, not only a near accident, but the crude response toward us by the cyclist.
BTW I attempted to correct the thread spelling error, but no joy.

What always strikes me is that cyclists expect cars to give them three feet of clearance (it's the law), but they don't seem to feel the need to give the cars the same buffer.

No problem on the misspelling (as we all do it)...just teasing a little. :thumbup:

Googling the term "F@CK YOU" shows 68 million results, whereas "KISS MY ASS" or "WAY TO GO MEATHEAD" shows 3 and 5 million results respectively. The former seems quite popular.

Nope. They just act that way. Think of a large group of cyclists acting like they are funeral procession.


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That made me laugh...last week I was driving down Morse south of 466A and no sooner got around a pack of bicycle riders only to come upon a funeral procession where the sheriff was blocking each rotary as they passed and there was no way around them!

I remember a day in my hometown when a group of about twenty cyclists decided to go right thru a stop sign...barely slowing down. I had to stop for them. Little did I realize there was a cop car that had to stop behind me.

When i proceeded he turned on his lights and sirens and pulled them all over.

When i returned from the store he was still busy writing tickets.


Warmed my heart.

We rarely agree with each other, but this is one time I'll give you a :thumbup:. Unfortunately, someone on a bike is going to get badly injured or worst, killed by a inattentive driver (or one with a "medical issue") one of there days.

There are a lot safer ways to get/stay fit; I've seen some people on bikes that should have been on a bike about 50 lbs. earlier.

watch this one time when you think cyclists are equal. If there is a stop sign, say in front of the fore house from Eisenhower... ever see ONE CYCLIST stop? See, they follow the rules they want. Heck, I have insurance, I may have said f it and ran into his back. I trust you the payment I make with karma itself comes back, but the karma they get will be a kinder bike rider.

Cyclists are allowed on roads and paths. The exception to the rules of stop signs and basic traffic laws, is cars and carts stop, cyclists choose their own rules.

Sorry I ride, but not in a group. My dare devil times are over, and yep I know when I stop for a sign it does not effect my HR, it called interval exercise and I get to live another day.

As someone who walks the MMP from Hillsborough to Brownwood, I can assure you that cyclists are not the only ones to blow through the stop sign you are referring to. Not to mention the lazy cart drivers who cross Buena Vista to get to Eisenhower.

I agree. We were driving down Buena Vista yesterday, the flow of traffic is about 40 mph, and there is one of those street legal golf carts puttering along at about 25 mph, holding up traffic, basically causing a safety issue. Everyone is changing lanes trying to go around the guy, so all the cars are weaving in and out of the lane, because this self centered individual can't get himself to use the recreational trail. The point is, don't blame all the cyclists, there are self centered golf cart drivers and car drivers as well, who do unsafe things.

Yeah, but I bet you won't find the drivers of carts/cars wearing full body spandex. :1rotfl::1rotfl:

The roads are a shared resource. That means cars, street legal golf carts, and bikes are all using the roads, including the 35 mph speed limit roads such as Buena Vista. If there is a slower moving car, street legal golf cart, or bike in front of you, it is up to you to pass them when it is safe and legal to do so. Nobody is being "self centered". They are using a resource that they are paying for. The fact that they aren't going as fast as you want them to go is something you just have to deal with and no amount of whining or complaining is going to change that.

Nor would want to see most cart drivers wearing spandex.

I actually agree with biker. The rules are the rules. If the powers that be didn't intend it as a shared resource, they could make the speed limit 40 with a minimum speed of 26. Personally, I have less problem with bikers than with street legal carts. It seems bikers are more aware of the safety issues when riding on the roads. Street legal cart drivers seem to feel more entitled, they've paid to have a cart that goes a whole 5 mph faster, and now they want to cram their presence down everyone else's throat. They seem to make more stupid moves than bikers, disobey the same traffic laws, and create an even bigger safety hazard---all to save 3 or 4 minutes. If I had to choose, I'd take the bikers any day. Full disclosure----I haven't been on bicycle since 1974.

Well, Mickey, Buena Vista is a 35 mph roadway - not 40. The street legal cart IS allowed on a 35 mph roadway and the cart is restricted to 25 mph by law. The cart was doing the legal thing while the cars going 40 were in the wrong.

Yes the cart is legally right, but driving a vehicle 10 mph under the posted speed limit is not a smart thing to do, you are actually obstructing traffic & creating a hazard

In Fl you can't be ticketed for going 5 mph over the posted speed limit

Really?...where did you read that?

Its Fl LAW- the most you can get is a WARNING !!!!

Not if you do it in a school zone. Fifty buck fine for 1-5 over.

Florida has what is known as an “absolute” speed limit law. There is no trick to how this works: If the sign says 40 mph and you drive 41 mph or more, you have violated the law. !!!!!
Florida Speeding Laws | DrivingLaws.org

I'm talk about real road speeds- sorry I infuriate all you nit pickers--we're talking about Buena Vista & Morse Blvd-- you will not get a penalty for 40 mph on those roads--& if you are driving a Golf cart with a street legal tag on those roads you have a death wish-- it will catch up with you

You will never be stopped for 1 mph over the speed limit in Fl--all there fines are income driven --9 mph hits the BINGO button

and if you're driving 70 mph on I 75 in the left lane you will be tickled-- you are impeding traffic

I was taught by the policemen in my family that the fines were due to BREAKING THE LAW. I have seen folks here (not from OHIO) who think stop signs are only suggestions.

Stop signs are absolute--speeding enforcement is subjective

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While the roads ARE, in fact, a shared resource, there are cyclists (as this is the topic) who appear to think that they can make sudden; dangerous moves and risk the causing/sustaining the impact. Unfortunately, in this instance, it sounds as though the cyclist had the Wrong-of-Way. Had the vehicle struck the cyclist, the driver of the auto HAS TO LIVE WITH THAT IMPACT AS WELL. If I hit you due to your own negligence, I have to face the awful feeling in my heart and soul because I am human, not without empathy or sympathy or all other pathy's. It hurts too many when ones actions are not thought out.
Use your heads when driving anything. The fractions of seconds in action over words can be the very time that saves your life.
No tweety flipped here.

I prefer to simply state the facts and prefer to leave the hypotheticals and opinions to others. I also prefer to not attempt to state, as fact, what others are thinking. I will leave that to those who are apparently mind readers.

I believe you will find its the law around the nation. the variable is the cop. I had a cop give me a ticket on the NYS Thruway for going 5 mph. I took it to my attorney and he spoke to the judge. the judge said, the cop was being a jerk but even if it was 1mph or 15, etc it was over the limit and the cop had the right.

Sad statistic and reflects badly on our society

Tried to post an answer, but I included a link to the statute... Maybe the post will show up next year.