Walking in the Villages
 

I have been taking some long walks recently but find it is getting very dangerous. I try to use the residential streets and intermodal paths as much as possible but part of my walk takes me onto Enrique Drive where I have to use the golf cart lane because there are no sidewalks. I walk against traffic so I can see what is coming at me. 90% of the carts move over into the car lane to go around me but there is a brutal 10% who like to play "chicken" and don't want to move over. They drive right right at me and when they see I am not moving they swerve at the last second to avoid hitting me. Some yell insults as they go by. I believe walkers are entitled to use our streets just as much as the golf carts are. They seem to think that it is I who should jump off the street so they don't have to move. I will stand my ground on this and when I get hit my first call will be to Dan Newlin who I am confident will get me a bundle like he advertises.

Amazing, why would you put yourself or others at risk?

Did you miss the part about Dan Newlin?

Funny....intentionally trying to get hit to meet Dan Newlin :)

Gotta love the new America. Care for no one and nothing but the almighty dollar!

As far as I know, you are allowed to walk that way on streets with no sidewalks. I, too, have walked along Enrique facing traffic. I will move toward the curb if a cart comes along, but resist the idea of jumping into the grass if they insist on being horse’s rear ends. If they want to play chicken, I might jump out of the way, yell at them, and possibly wave my finger at them. I, personally, don’t want to meet Dan, and doubt whether I would survive to make that call.

Oh, of course.

So you’ll be disabled or possibly dead, but at least you...or your descendants...will have a few bucks.

Sheesh.

I would find a safer place to walk, do you really trust the drivers around here?

If I did walk the streets in the villages I would try to do so to avoid endangering myself, golf cart, or car drivers at any cost.

Carts should move but by standing your ground u may meet your maker, not Dan

We've had alot of bicycle and pedestrian traffic I guess due to the Covid virus. Between them, the golf carts, landscapers, delivery vans, and miscellaneous work vehicles, streets are on the dangerous side. We are using a treadmill for excercise, and an excercise bike is on the way.

That’s another reason I love the southern villages, where we have dedicated walking paths..

now let me understand what is being said. You want to walk in the way of golf carts . As I remember this is mostly an over 55 community some have poor vision, some can't hear, some with very poor reflex's. Some have the start of many physical problems. Sounds more like you are just looking to cause an accident.

You are living in a community that has an average age of 67 according to a Daily Sun article. How many of these senior drivers have poor eyesight or have trouble concentrating on their driving? I'm sure there are cart drivers who don't have a drivers license because of their physical or mental inability to safely operate a motor vehicle. And you want to play chicken with these drivers? What good will a large lawsuit award do you if you are dead or paralyzed because you wouldn't get out of the way?

We've been looking at developments in the Sarasota area. All of them have sidewalks on every street, both sides. It is absolutely horrid that Morse and company have not, considering our age, we need sidewalks.

Please remember some people may not see you because they are distracted, have poor vision, or poor judgement. I wish everyone followed Florida law and walk as you describe facing oncoming traffic. I've found it especially annoying when people walk with traffic and I have to cross the street to avoid them.

Op you are very cavalier about life. I am guessing you live alone, and have no family members to worry about

There are countless exercise videos on YouTube for cardio workouts. There are plenty of beginner for seniors videos too. Most of them included walking and all sorts of other nice moves to keep you moving and walking. So nice and safe to exercise in air conditioning in your own living room. Win win.

That is exactly what I was thinking. When hubby and I walk outside, we walk only on side streets and stay clear of the golf carts. Golf carts ALWAYS have right of way in our minds. Those golf carts can kill us.

Our son jogs/walks about 5 - 6 miles a day five days a week. When he visited last fall, he made the comment that The Villages was a very dangerous place for him to exercise. Wife and I walk maybe a mile and half within the neighborhood and never considered it a problem. I suppose it’s different on a multi-modal path or jogging through a tunnel.

If I was driving the golf cart I would gladly move into the auto traffic lane and go around you, assuming there were no cars coming up behind me. However, if there were cars coming up behind me (which the walker should be able to clearly observe), I would expect the walker to move to the left, out of the golf cart lane, so I could safely pass.

And some good advise to the OP, it is a very bad idea to play chicken with anything that is bigger than you. The law of physics says you will not win.

You nailed it

...........or you could just avoid Enrique Drive altogether and stick to those streets that have sidewalks?? Why put yourself in harms way, just to prove a point?

Where theres a sidewalk, by law you are not permitted to walk on the street. When there isn't one, you better be more careful

Cov-19 Villages psychosis?

Sometimes, acceptable adjectives, nouns etc. are not nearly as effective as a good expletive!

Walking on golf cart paths
 

You can’t win. When the lawyers are finished and the cast comes off your leg you will remember that you may be right for the rest of your life.

What happened to common respect. I to am a walker even on rec paths there is a problem of getting hit

You might want to check the law regarding the multimodal paths.

It seems to me that it would be infinitely more desirable to step into the grass and let the cart pass. There could be a car passing the golf cart as he is passing you. Would you do the same if there were a car coming instead of a golf cart? I have walked on the side of many roads without sidewalks or walking lanes and, whenever a car is coming towards me, I ALWAYS step off the road into the grass. C'mon folks, is that too much to ask? As a cart driver, I get frustrated at people walking in the cart lane because they dont want to be "close" to other walkers even though they are wearing masks.

TV with a lack of sidewalks is not very walker friendly. An over reliance on golf carts, is a contributing factor why most villagers, like most Americans are overweight and out of shape.
Seems most village residents just accept it with the resulting health problems and shortened lifespan.

I recommend buying a bicycle bell with a sound you like and screwing it or wiring it to a piece of wood or a walking stick and carrying it around with you. If you aren’t sure an oncoming cart driver sees you, ring the bell to get the driver’s attention. Or get one of those ooga horns with a rubber bulb and carry that. Or a boat air horn attached to a can of compressed air if you really want to startle the driver. Or you could buy a hand bell like old night-watchmen used to carry and ring it when you see a cart coming. You could even start crying out “Unclean! Unclean!” like a biblical leper. As others have said, don’t assume that any driver is NOT on autopilot while driving a golf cart. Some are! One is all it takes to take your life.

Average age in the villages
 

Not to change the subject, but I believe 67 is the average age in Sumter county. In the villages it’s in the 72-73 range and further supports your point.

DrDoug, you are absolutely correct. That is why we have stopped walking around our neighborhood of Osceola Hills.

Fortunately, we live close to the Southern Area. We go down there several times a week so we can walk or ride a bike without being concerned about being hit by a car or a golf cart.

You could carry an orange caution pillon with you as you walk and set it down in front of you as you wait for the golf cart to pass.?

It's wonderful to walk, good for you, but please do not wear dark clothes!! Get something bright on so us cart drivers can see you before and not at the last minute. Also, for you cart drivers at dusk/dark, please, please, use your turn signal!! Don't stick your arm out to indicate a turn and expect the person coming up on you in a car or cart to see that arm sticking out. It's dark people!

It is by far safer and easier for you to walk a few steps on the grass than for a Cart to swerve into the middle of the path. I really can't comprehend such lack of consideration for others.

no sidewalks = 'horrid' - interesting observation
note to op - next time golf cart doesn't move out of your way, stick out a foot & trip it - that'll teach 'em manners

Paintball...