Another Near Miss - people in a hurry
 

Two weeks ago I slowly navigated the mm path’s blind bend toward the Moyer Loop/Morse tunnel. I say “slowly” because I was traveling behind a cyclist riding a low recumbent bike. As the path straightened at the tunnel approach, a man riding in a golf cart behind me, suddenly shot out and around me. He failed to see not only the recumbent bike in front, but a golf cart coming UP the tunnel, almost parallel with the bike. I screamed, hit the brakes and slid down the tunnel. The cart coming UP the tunnel swerved wildly and took a right turn into the grass and shrubs. The cyclist was miraculously unharmed as the idiot in the cart wove wildly around we three and shot off. His cart was “souped up” and he disappeared down Hillsboro. I can only hope he learned a valuable lesson in reckless overtaking. The white haired lady (me)driving so slowly ahead of him (we are only talking yards here) toward the tunnel, had two reasons for that slow speed. One, the blind bend in the mm path, Two, the low slung recumbent bike ahead of my cart. Following that very frightening near catastrophe, I pulled over on the verge to collect myself. Thankfully the high volume of traffic has decreased a little. I can but hope

Too bad police have no ability to enforce rules on the mmp's--they can do a stop unless there is an accident or an incident

This morning I was traveling along the path on 466 and saw a truck in/on the path and workers in the path spraying, two hoses AND two workers were in the path in front of me. I slowed down to be sure the truck wasn't blocking me ahead, an island obscured my complete view. I heard someone behind me yell GO! It was a group of bicyclists. They also yelled GO! when I stopped at the stop sign to turn into our village.

This has never happened to me. I try to be aware of people behind me but was concentrating at that time on the workers ahead of me.

Sorry that happend. It can be very scary. What are people thinking? I had a man in a car run a stop sign as I was driving North on Morse Blvd. yesterday passing the street Colony cottage is on. He didn't even slow down. I jammed on my brakes and the huge pickup truck behind me almost ran me over. The guy in the car looked very annoyed that he had to back up to get out of the intersection. Incredible.

But GG, you forgot that SOME, not all, and probably only a few cyclists are "entitled" and do not believe they should have to follow the same rules of the road as cars and carts----it is "inconvenient" for them to slow down like you had to. It is even worse when they ride in a large group and feel they are entitled to ride as one entity. I'm sure you've been going around a RB and have had a group of cyclists enter the RB, and just keep coming one after the other, ignoring the yield sign, so that you have to stop for THEM. I wish I was entitled to have everyone else stop for me as well---where do you go to get THAT privilege?

When I used to ride bikes-the rule of common courtesy was limit your group going into any intersection @ 5 bikes @ a time, too bad we have see groups exceeding 20 circling around circles and blowing thru intersections

It is very upsetting. After the fact you think of all the ways things could have gone horribly wrong. You can blame reckless drivers but that doesn't help. Driving here is a lot easier then in Philly or NYC but up there your antennae is always up. You get used to it.

Better to think of a way to minimize the risks like safer alternative routes or time of travel.

He didn't learn damn thing, did he have golf clubs on back of his cart? IMO most inconsiderate obnoxious out of control golf carts are the golfers racing to next tee times with there cart cranked up 35 plus.:gc: zoom, zoom.

Good point Tomwed. I already try to travel in less obvious times. You are correct that I did rewind the “tape” in my head and mulled over the “woulda , should-a, could-a’s along with the horrible accident mercifully avoided.

If you think that's bad? Which it is, but try driving motorcycle for just 2 miles and see how many will look right at you and pull out in front of you, like motorcycles don't have right of way when the do.

Now, sometimes at right angle the motorcycle will be hidden by the A pillar blind spot which as motorcycle rider you make sure you make eye contact and be ready to stop cause you can bet it will happen several times to you're destination.

Wish the cops would set up speed traps every morning , especially as the weather heats--to get the nuts who are running late for their Tee times, St. Charles and Bailey Trail would be like shooting fish in the barrel between 6:30-7:30 AM almost any day

I have seen what you are describing and know how dangerous it can be on a motorcycle. With so many seniors here who don't have great judgement or great eye sight it is scary to be in a car or on a bike around here.

I don't ride, but I've seen this happen quite a bit. Blind spot---maybe. That's why the warning light in the side view mirror is useful. You can't rely on it and should still turn and look, but one thing is certain---if the light is on, something is there.
I also see the big city lane change a lot. This is where the driver turns the wheel and catches the directional at the same time, usually while halfway into the lane change. This is born from driving in heavy traffic where the "inconsiderate AH's" will squeeze you out if you signal an intention to get into their lane. I guess they think they'll get somewhere sooner if they never let another car in front of them (in addition to the 2,000 cars already in front of them)

Apparently, to a bicycle shop.

The A pillar blind spot I was referring to when motorcycle in the roundabout or cross traffic and car entering can't see the motorcycle or car for that matter. With the slanting windshields and wide A pillar it can hide even compact car in its blind spot. As far as motorcycle beside car I never stay beside car in 4 lane road. I either get in front or stay behind vehicles beside me if possible.

I agree some will turn first look later or signal after they're half way in the other lane. I think it will take few more years before all cars have 360 degree warnings. My 2012 car will probably outlast me if I don't get tired of it and trade it? It don't have no cameras or warnings.

I think you could say that anywhere in the villages?

Someone ran a stop sign full speed on me today. Almost got me. I am really beginning to hate driving.

Folks bring their driving habits here with them. IF they were in a huge city---they will still drive "as if"!! Aggressiveness seems the norm with them! Pair that then, with aging, being on various medications, health issues etc.---and thinking they're 20 yrs (fill in the blank re: age) younger than they already are. I too am beginning to really dislike driving here---especially during the peak season. These folks come down to get away from their winters---either haven't re-acclimated OR are unfamiliar with the area. I HATE those recumbant bikes!! I think those folks have a death wish, truth be told!!! The flag on them don't do diddly squat neither. We ALL need to be aware at ALL times of our surroundings when we're driving!!!

That must be where they get that "Lance Armstrong" attitude, and those lime green spandex outfits.:cus:

I am very glad to read that no one was hurt. It could have gone terribly wrong and someone could have been badly hurt or worse.

I’m only a snow bird and am back up north. This was our first season at the Villages, we rented a golf cart and were also surprised to see many old timers driving so irresponsibly. My wife and I know of a couple who were in a fatal golf cart accident, he died she’s now in a nursing home disabled. ‘Nuff said.

I tried to post a link to the story of Donald Browne the party I wrote about who was killed. I’m still new here not sure why the link is not connecting to the story.

https://**************.com/villager-...cart-accident/

had a close one yesterday, a golf cart driver made a left turn from the cart lane directly in front of me, he went across two car lanes while turning into a street off of St. Charles-luck was on his side-- the same action resulted in a fatality last year

Please ,pull into the car lane before making a left turn--the 600 lb cart doesn't stand a chance when its broad sided by 4500lbs @ 30mph

We have lived here for two years and we have learned to expect all kinds of weird stuff when we are driving. My strategy is to drive at a moderate pace so I can deal with the unexpected.

For example, I was driving down Deskin in Osceola Hills and saw a golf cart stopped in the right lane. I VERY slowly started going around it, and then the driver did a U-turn in the middle of the road.

A couple days ago, I was driving north on Morse and wanted to turn right on Moyer near the Sarasota Golf Facility. As I slowly made the turn, I saw that a driver going west on Moyer was over in my lane because he was trying to avoid a couple of cyclists. He immediately pulled back into his lane, coming very close to the cyclists, which prompted the female rider to yell, "You Jerk".

More than once, I was driving along Morse in the right lane with a car beside me in the left lane. We both stopped at the roundabout to let a car already in the roundabout go by. When it was clear and we both started to go, the person in the left lane jumped in front of me and made the first right. Since I had let him get slightly ahead of me, I had time to stop.

The first time this happened, I was very surprised. Now that it has happened three times, I look out for it.

On more then one occasion I go around the circle more then once for safety reasons. It's like stepping away from the ball when you accidentally knock it off the tee.

How about more speed traps on Bailey Trail. High fines for the carts that have the speed jacked up. We've been seeing several taking turns on 2 wheels! The fines accumulated would pay for someone to man the trap.

A new thread every time someone passes someone unsafely and/or almost has an accident on a MMP? Maybe the mods should "stickie" one to the top and we can just add our experiences to it every time. I'm really not trying to be snarky but actually trying to make a suggestion to avoid redundant threads.

You would have to ticket 93.4612% (I counted them) of the carts in T.V. because virtually every cart exceeds 20mph, some by a lot. :D

then maybe a cart would not be so much of a convenience when it takes 30% more time from post A to point B, especially when its 90 degrees and 90% humidity

To steal a line from the "X Files", whatever you drive or wherever you drive in TV, "Trust No One". Always assume the other person will do something stupid. Only here for 2 years but we've seen it all including today when we were in the left turn lane on Morse at 466A. car next to us in the thru lane had their left turn signal on and sure enough, they entered the intersection from the thru lane and proceeded to turn left almost t-boning the car in front of us. It's not necessarily an issue of speed as much as common sense and awareness of one's surroundings.

I agree. Have you seen a car on a MMP yet?

I'll amend my statement that I've seen it all :). Haven't seen that one yet and hope never to.

wait--it will happen

I have.

A 'not-so-Smart' car trying to head to the MMP tunnel under Buena Vista...near the Lake Miona Recreation Center parking lot. :oops:

Apparently, after turning into the parking lot...it took a quick right. :1rotfl:

But, but, but...that's no fair. :D

First of all, there really isn't a state law enforceable 'speed limit' on the MMP's...given that it's private property

Secondly, it could lead to people losing their jobs...selling and changing tires.

Since the edges of my tires wear out fairly quickly when taking turns at 43 mph...I am at least doing my part for the local economy. :1rotfl:

I live in The Village of Dunedin, nearly killed 2 years ago by "Neighbor Jim" across the street driving me as a passenger in his cart and not waiting for me to belt up before he took off on a left hand turn like a race car driver and I was ejected. Laid in blood and never called ENT's. Just had spinal fusion surgery and a 2 year nightmare. Please be careful out there especially on Golf Carts people think their toys....

Gee, we are coming down in a few weeks to visit some friends. Now after reading these and other messages about traffic in TV, I am not sure if it would be a good idea to come down.

What frightens you? Look where you lived, MI, LA, IN, IL, MI (2), MA, NC, CA (2)A, FL, VA, RI, OR (2), FL (2), WI (2), MN. You don't appear to be house bound.

:boom:


:D


:thumbup:

It's always tempting to pay less attention and take in all of the views while carting around TV. But due to a few, you have to practice defensive driving. I get pulling around someone, when it's safe, if they aren't keeping up a reasonable speed (somewhere near the 20mph limit). But I can't count how many times I've been fed dust by someone even while I was at full pedal (which may be slightly over the limit :laugh:). Happened to me just yesterday. But just as dangerous, and also happened to me yesterday, was a cart completely stopped after an almost blind turn on one of the MM's where the lanes are split with landscaping in between. They were sitting there trying to take a picture of a gator that had ventured out. If I were not paying full attention, I could have slammed right into the back of them. Then, on the way home, where the cart path is the lane beside the road, another cart stopped to look at some wildlife on one of the golf courses, and a car coming up from behind both of us. If I had just swerved out to pass around, it could have been bad. As with many things, it comes down to using common sense. Something that seems to be severely lacking in some these days.

No one would do that in a car. They know better.