Driving in excess of 10 mph, SHAME ON YOU!
 

This morning, I witnessed the most egregious, rude, careless AND dangerous behavior of a golf cart driver in my many years of bicycle riding in The Villages.

Traveling south from the intersection of Morse and 446, with little traffic, I crossed the Lake Sumter bridge. Actually, it is safer for me to ride the road (helmeted, lights and colorful clothing), at speed (nearly 20 mph), than negotiate the narrow two lane MMP.

The carts on the MMP, also going south, were traveling parallel to me (near 20 mph). Just as I reached the start of the 10 MPH zone, an older gent, in a cart, passed two recreational "townie" cyclists, a man and a woman, so close, that the pair had to pull off the MMP, onto the grass.

I have witnessed, and been subjected to the same behavior, the cart drivers don't want to be "stuck" behind any other vehicles, runners, or walkers on this dangerous MMP.

Then, he raced through the 10 MPH zone, followed by three or four other carts, all going faster than 19-20 MPH, which was showing on my speedometer.

So, be on the lookout for an older gentleman, goatee, with a 12" Pittsburg Steelers decal, driving a fast cart.

I sure will!

Those beardies are dangerous!

I hope you meant speedometer, not speedo.

I'm sure those idiots are feeling "shamed" right now:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
Actually, it's not really funny, they could have caused you serious harm

That bridge is to dam narrow. Ride on the sidewalk.

The paths are for all, walking, bikes, carts. Respect everyone and give them some space. What the heck is everyone trying to go so fast for anyway. Look around the villages is beautiful, stop sometimes and relax. Go slow there is so much to see.

Got to get to next tee time! :MOJE_whot:

Seriously, did you expect any other kind of behavior?

Yes!

Probably no more than cart drivers.
Full disclosure I don’t ride a bike, but drive a cart.

OK, good answer.

After the experience described by the OP, what kind of behavior do you expect from cart drivers in the future?

I hope you weren't the biker on that bridge with me today. Every time there was a chance to pass, the biker moved left and straddled the line so that no one could pass.
Then, when we finally got around after the bridge, I stopped at the stop sign in my cart, waited for one car to pass then pulled out. To my surprise, the bicyclist had caught up, passed the golf carts waiting at the stop sign, didn't stop and weaved out in front of me while I was making my right turn.
I have been in TV for 10 years and I have NEVER seen a cyclist stop at a stop sign. But this one deserved whatever he will get. And he will get it soon enough, and all the cyclists will blame everyone else.

I had sympathy for you as I read your post...until that last statement.

You're Right!
 

It doesn't cause any inconvenience to have respect for each other! Aren't we all retired-so what's the hurry.

I don’t condone that behavior BUT no one who rides a bike in the villages adheres to ANY RULES OF THE ROAD....so stop whining

A Steelers fan, that explains it!

You are so correct. SLOW DOWN and enjoy life.

Seems like if that’s a hotspot law-enforcement should set up observance stations and get out of the parking lots. If law enforcement were to issue more tickets to the cart drivers it would stop that behavior. A friend of mine failed to stop at a stop sign While driving his cart and received a $300 ticket.

Yeah. Once again, lets call the cops. How about the ignorant people just act like adults and follow the law. Cops got better things to do than chase after old people on bikes and in carts

defensive driving is becoming more and more important....

the nuts are out there

I typically bike 25-50 miles per day. I see a bad example of cart driving at least every other day. The latest was meeting a cart head-on while coming around a blind corner on a multi-modal path. It was an ambassador and he was 100% in my lane. The paths are always the most dangerous where a multi-modal path is shared with an executive golf course. So many golfers come whipping onto the path without even looking.

He probably had to hurry to pee.

The rest of us see examples of bad bicycle driving ten times a day. I hope you are the exception.

Don't tar EVERYBODY with the same brush!!

What we need here is some proactive law-enforcement.

Having cycled on the road for the better part of 50 years, I am used to non--cyclists complaing that we "blast through" stop signs.

This article, with forty-two (42) citations, discusses why some cycle friendly states have legislated an answer.

So in 50 years you haven't learned the meaning of a STOP sign yet??????? I guess you're lucky you never encountered a car WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY who didn't see or anticipate you VIOLATING THE LAW.

You 'we are all retired so slow down' people are a joke. First, not everyone here is retired. Second, those of us who are did not come here to slow down. We came for the activities and life style. That said, I do think that many of the cart drivers here are rude and break the law often. Until the powers that be start enforcing the laws, nothing will happen. It is the same with the bad parking.

Did you read this article?

Idaho stop - Wikipedia

BTW, shouting doesn't make your assertion more credible. :icon_wink:

Speed limits are there for a reason. Sometimes, it appears that they are a bit lower than they need to be.

But people are impatient sometimes, and I understand why.
WE ARE OLD, and most of our lives are behind us. Time is of the essence, and one minute wasted going too slow, is like an hour in dog years.
BTW......we know that the Villages is supposed to be the friendliest hometown, but it is also home to the worst drivers, worst parkers, and the most jaywalkers in the world.

DO YOU THINK YOU LIVE IN IDAHO????? Shouted that as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Bike paths are not for walking . Ask a cop

An even worse situation ...
 

is golf carts passing cyclists on the Morse Avenue bridge. I ride a recumbent trike due to neck problems. I have been passed on the bridge more than once. I’m usually traveling about 10-12 mph, so yes, I’m speeding! However, as narrow as the multimodal path is on the bridge, passing presents a danger to both the cyclist and the cart driver. Any error in judgment or failure of cart mechanics can send the cart right into the cyclist, with likely serious injuries. When I am on the cart paths and a cart comes behind me I always move as far to the right as I can and wave them by when it’s safe to do so, except for on the bridge. I always try to be courteous to carts, after all they’re bigger than me!

O come on! We know Yankees fans are much worse:):boxing2:

Huh?
 

Ignorant people - Act like adults / Ignorant people / Follow the law
Seems like Oxymorons to me. LOL

Steelers Fan
 

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

I drive a golf cart and I ride a bicycle. Regardless of which one I’m using I try to be courteous to others.
Wouldn’t that solve most problems on the MM paths? It’s all about good manners.

That is a smart, smart law. I have bicycled for many tens of thousands of miles, all accident free. I yield to cars, golf carts, pedestrians, and ducks. However, if I approach a stop sign and no traffic is around (and I carefully look at least twice), I'm going through it. I have survived by being where cars are not. Coming to a full stop and then building the momentum to get through the intersection takes valuable time, exposing me to a greater possibility that a car will arrive.

Car and golf cart drivers (I drive a car, a golf cart, ride a bicycle, and fly a plane) don't seem to appreciate that when on my bicycle, I have 180 degrees of visibility without even turning my head. I don't go through stop signs 20 mph, more like 5-10 mph. If done right, it's safer for everyone.

Jacksonbrown, I lived in TV for 8 yrs. & this is probably the most asked comment or complaint that I’ve seen over the 8 yrs. that I lived there. Save your breath because TV & law enforcement doesn’t do anything to slow the carts down. Just let the speeders do what they want & you just keep doing what’s right! Coming here won’t slow them down. Stay safe & god bless!

The reason the speed limit on the Morse bridge is 10mph is because it's narrow and has tall curbs on both sides of the path. There is nowhere to bale to avoid a collision if the person coming toward you is over the centerline. Two carts crashing head-on would have the force of running into a wall at 20mph. At 20mph, those same carts have an impact equal to hitting a wall at 40mph...not nearly as survivable. Of course, a collision would likely be off-center, and the faster moving cart would likely flip to the right. If you are going the speed limit, you probably will be able to call an ambulance for the guy who was speeding...when you get around to it.