getting around with golf carts
 

I am assuming you cannot drive a cart on 441? Can you cross over 441 in a cart? Also, can you drive a cart on 466 and 42, if not can you cross over them? Also, do you need a drivers license for a gas powered cart as opposed to an electric one? Don't know the area, just asking based on what I see on a map. Thanks for any help.

That is correct.


No.

No.

No.

There is one location a cart can cross 441, but it’s outside of The Villages. You can cross 441 by using the MMP bridge near Spanish Springs. You cannot drive a cart on 441 or 42. If you have a “street legal” golf cart you can operate it on Buena Vista and Morse, and can legally cross 466 and 466A. Hope this helps

You can cross over 441 at the golf cart bridge that goes from Spanish Springs to the Historic side.

As to a driver’s license, a gas or electric cart does not matter. If you drive an unlicensed-for-road cart on streets, you need to have a driver’s license. Drivers aged 14 years or older don’t need a license. However, I have been told that if they are in an accident or caught speeding, they can still be charged/ticketed.

You cannot drive a golf cart on any road with a speed limit higher than 30. Nor can you cross those roads.

You can cross 466 by taking a golf cart tunnel under the road. Same for 466A.

Gas and electric carts have the same rules. You have to be older than 14 to drive.

Speed limit for golf carts is 20. Some people ignore that.

That is simply not true. A Street Legal cart can use Buena Vista and Morse, as well as cross over 466 and 466A on those roads

Most people ignore that.....there is no enforcement to speak of.

Just to clarify, that bridge is part of the Villages (not outside) and connects the Historic section with Spanish Springs.

The other location I was referring to where a cart can literally cross 441, at grade, is outside of the Villages, near Spruce Creek, more precisely.

Yes, that is true.

But the original poster was asking about golf carts, not street legal.

I couldn’t read their mind, so I included info on both. Especially if they’re visiting and see a street legal on BV or Morse, and wonder what the deal is. Plus a street legal might be something they’d consider purchasing

Police have become more lax the last couple of years in giving out tickets. They will ticket a golf cart if they see it breaking the law, but I haven't seen any golf cart speed traps in 4 or 5 years. In my neighborhood they use to be set up on Bailys Trail near Cane Garden GC at the pumping station driveway with a handheld radar gun quite often, but haven't seen that in a good while.

You may read in the Villages online newspaper (not the Daily Sun) maybe once every couple of months that someone was arrested for driving a golf cart on Stillwater or Buena Vista and was intoxicated, that will get you arrested. You'll probably see a mug shot and a story that you were at City Fire for a several hours, that newspaper likes to go into details. If you're speeding over 20, first they won't bother you on the MMP (multi-model paths) for speeding because that is private property owned by TV. However, they will give you a ticket for an open container of alcohol if you're seen no matter where you're at. Odds of that happening are slim unless you're involved in an accident. Another trick they use to do was Villagers sitting in their golf cart at the square listening to the music with an alcoholic beverage. You can get a DUI for that, even though your cart is not moving, or even turned on. Put two yard chairs next to the cart and you're legal. This hasn't been done in a couple of years, but at LSL and BW it was done.

If you speed up your cart, which I guesstimate about 40% of Villagers have adjusted the linkage on their cart and then you're caught going say 24, it won't be a speeding ticket. You are no longer operating by law a golf cart, golf carts are vehicle that can only go 19.9 mph. You will get an unregistered vehicle ticket. You will need to get a letter from a certified mechanic that golf cart has been dialed back to the original speed and appear in court in Bushnell and pay about $400 in costs. If you show up in shorts and not long pants, your case will be heard at the end of the day about 4:30. You have to ask yourself is it worth the risk to go a little faster? Secondly if you have an accident and you've tampered with speed of the cart, will your insurance cover the costs even if it's not your fault.

Here are a couple of links about the operation of a golf cart in Florida and TV.

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

Golf Cart Requirements | The Villages Florida

If you've lived here long enough, you'll know that golf carts and cars don't always mix and sometimes people pay the price. This cart driver about 3 years ago was on O'Dell in the golf cart and remembered he forgot something and decided to make a U-Turn, unfortunately he didn't look and whipped his cart in front of a van and was killed.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...0c&oe=6011EEAF

About five years ago this cart driver had just checked his mail at the post office and was making a short trip of just a couple of blocks on Morse and then turned into his street, but did it right in front of an oncoming car and was killed.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e3&oe=6010D190

You asked about 441/27, here's an Atomic Electric Car, which is a licensed vehicle but approved by TV for use on the golf courses. They're sold at a dealer across from Brownwood and you'll see many in TV because they are air conditioned and heated. However this fellow was crossing 441 in front of the Villages Hospital and was hit by a large pickup truck and killed.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1a&oe=6010F898

No more than ignore....
 

the posted speed for cars. So why point it out?

The posted speed for cars on 441 is 45, up by the Historic section.
The posted speed for cars IN the Historic Section is 25, except near Paradise Rec Center, where it goes down to 15.
I believe 466 speed limit is 40 or 45, though it's pretty hard to go that fast near the miles-long stretch of traffic lights.

Since you're not allowed to take a golf cart (street legal or otherwise) on any road with a speed limit higher than 30, you can't drive ON any of those roads in a golf cart (street legal or otherwise).

Apparently there is at least one spot where you're allowed to CROSS those roads, but generally you can't even do that - because in order to cross a road, you have to be ON it for at least a second or two while in the process of crossing it.

OK....The wording was a little confusing

Correct. My bad

Please don’t put out incorrect info.

The crossing on 441 near Spruce Creek is absolutely legal to cross using street legal and “regular” golf carts.

And Street Legal carts can use roads with speed limits of 35mph or lower, such as Buena Vista and/or Morse.

Since you obviously don't know the area, nor do you know the rules for non-street legal golf carts (gas or electric), here is a summary for you (from North to South):

1. You cannot cross Hwy 42 at all. You can travel on the residential roads and Multi Modal Paths (MMP) that are south of 42, and you can get into the shopping area, VA, gas station, and Mulberry Rec Center from these routes.
2. You cannot drive on Buena Vista, not even to cross. There are MMP's along it entire length (42 to Brownwood) and a number of MMP tunnels to get from one side of Buena Vista to the other.
3. You cannot drive on El Camino, but you can cross it at the light at Enrique & Botello (the village of Alhambra). There is a MMP along the entire route and there are also a couple of MMP tunnels.
4. You cannot drive on Buenos Aires, not even to cross.
5. You can only drive on the MMP or in the marked bike/cart lane along Morse Blvd from El Camino to 466.
6. You cannot drive on 23/441, not even to cross. There is a cart bridge going over 23/441 near Spanish Springs to the Historic section.
7. You cannot drive out of the north end of the Historic section (village of Orange Blossom Gardens) to Lowes & Cracker Barrel without a gate card to get back into The Villages.
8. You cannot drive on Griffin Ave (near Home Depot), not even to cross.
9. You cannot drive on CR 101 (near Southern Trace Shopping Center), not even to cross. There is a MMP tunnel near the shipping center to get from one side to the other.
10. You cannot drive on CR 103 (near Walmart), not even to cross. There is a MMP tunnel at Wedgewood Ln to get from one side to the other.
11. You cannot drive on 466, not even to cross. There are 3 MMP tunnels under 466 (near Morse Blvd, near Buena Vista, and at Belvedere Blvd.)
12. You cannot drive on CR 472/Rainey Trail, except to cross into the village of Lake Miona Shores and Lynnhaven at Lynnhaven Ln.
13. You cannot drive on Morse Blvd or Buena Vista Blvd south of 466, not even to cross. There are MMP's along these roads and a number of MMP tunnels to get from one side to another.
14. You cannot drive on 466A, not even to cross. There are 2 MMP tunnels under 466 (near Morse Blvd and near Buena Vista Blvd).
15 You cannot drive on 44, not even to cross. There are 2 MMP bridges over 44 (near Brownwood and near Morse Blvd).
16. You cannot drive on Morse Blvd or Warm Springs Ave, not even to cross. There are/or will be MMP tunnels under Warm Springs Ave to get from one side to the other.
17. You cannot drive on the Turnpike, not even to cross. There are 2 MMP bridges planned to go over the turnpike.

Remember, these are the rules for non-street legal carts. A cart must have a Florida license plate in order to drive on Buena Vista & Morse Blvd, or cross the 3 main east/west roads (466, 466a & 44) at the lights.

That is a very good summary except number 6 is wrong. You can cross 441 across from Spruce Creek. A special ordinance was made primarily for the residents at Spruce Creek and Stonecrest. There is a traffic light at that location thus the 441 traffic should be stopped before anyone crosses. Now if you live in The Villages you would use the golf cart bridge unless you were going to Spruce Creek. Then your advice of don't forget your gate key plays. You need a gate pass to get out of the Historic area and to head over to Wawa, Lowes , Walmart, Sonic, etc.

thanks
 

Thank you all for the information. Me and my wife are planning a month visit to check the place out for a possible future move. We would like to get around just using a golf cart if possible. My wife does not have a drivers license. Not set in stone yet but we are looking at the month of May. Two places we are leaning towards renting, if still available when we decide, one is in Woodbury and the other only describes itself as halfway between Sumter Landing Square and Spanish Springs Square. Being I have never been there just trying to figure out getting around when there. Again, thanks for all the info.

For renting I think you would enjoy a more central location just south of LSL (Lake Sumter Landing), look for a rental in Virginia Trace and then work outwards from there. Here's a map of the location of every village, Virginia Trace is #47 on the map.

Villages Location Map

Here's a website that has 1600 rentals in TV.

The Villages 4 Rent

Here's a website with all the Squares Webcams on one page, you can make each larger by clicking in the corner.

The Villages Webcams

You CAN cross 441 in a cart
 

You CAN cross 441 at the light at Spruce Creek

I recommend you get The Villages paper maps, both north and south ( got mine from gift store in Sumter Landing information center), or get the GPS golf cart app for your phone. It can get confusing when you're visiting here for the first time.

you can cross 441 at Walmart

You can cross over 441/27 at the traffic lights at Spruce Creek , this allows older people to go to Walmart..as far as I know that is the only crossing.

I had a street legal cart for a couple of years. When the insurance went up to almost what it costs for a car, I sold the street legal cart and went with a gas one.

The smart thing to do is stay on the cart paths and designated roads. There is no match for a car and a golf cart.
People have been killed in that situation. Good luck.

They might also be talking about the crossing at Spruce Creek South.

Can a STREET LEGAL cart cross 441 at Morse ? What is the rule for street legals ?

1. Max speed limit street allowable to drive on
2. Description of streets legal to cross

I wouldnt visit in May unless you want to enjoy Love Bug season

There are 2 golf carts tunnels under 466 1 on Belveder by the high school and one on the Morse Blvd golf cart trail.

There is a golf cart bridge over 27/441 that connects Spanish Springs with the historic district Orange Blossom etc.

Hope this helps

And Street Legal can cross 441.
And travel on any road with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or less.

And a third tunnel under 466 on the Buena Vista golf cart trail.

You can not legally operate a golf cart on any road with posted speed limit over 35mph. This means you can not cross them either.

State roads 441/27/25/42/466/466a/301/44 can not be crossed in a cart.

I think you must have a death wish to take a golf cart on a regular county road in the villages, street legal or not. It's not safe to drive a regular vehicle with all the "impared" drivers in the area.

Golf cart road use
 

You can cross 441 on the cart bridge in Spanish Springs behind Ruby Tuesday. You cannot drive on 466 or 42 but you can go under 466 at Morse Blvd and by Southern Trace shopping center. No license to drive gas cart unless you crank the speed much over 20 mph. Although most gas and electric carts are boosted to 22-23 mph.

great thread.

1st golf cart bridge
 

The only place you can cross 441 in a golf cart is at the bridge from the historic area to Spanish Springs.

Being able to use golf carts to get to so many places, is one of the top reasons we have chosen TV as the retirement place we want to (eventually) live. The others being the extensive choices of golf, high number of various clubs, choices of activities and the whole "Disney For Adults" allure. Even with the "kissing lanai's," high density housing and significantly higher purchase prices than similar communities in other locations - being the downside(s).