What about free community travel in the villages for seniors that cannot drive
 

I would think Since this 55+ plus community which has Hundreds of amenities and life styles it would have free or reduced priced travel to the amenities center for owners over 55 that live here that cannot drive. I hope I am wrong because if I am wright How can an owner get around without being able to drive.

I hope you are not "wright" because I'm not paying for that. When I can't drive, I will find a way to get around and pay for it myself or move to assisted living.

That's why God created senior apartment living and little passenger vans.

. I know it could be a hard situation for some, and hopefully a person would have friends or family to help. Some agency would have to be in the business. Now then you could buy the van, pay the high liability insurance, maintain the van, pay a licensed driver $15 an hour. Then what would be your charge for the people that can’t get around? Just curious is all

As you know what good is all the amenities if you can't get there to use them. What I said is what can do so seniors can afford to PAY THAT will be able to make available to seniors like myself to get to these amenities. I will take this into consideration when looking AT THE VILLAGES AND WHEN BUYING, TO ME THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND TO MANY FUTURE BUYERS AT THE VILLAGES. If they won't or can't we will move on to communities that will or do have community transportation. Thank you for your time.

It would be close to impossible to live here without a golf cart or car. We have both because I am not fond of the cart. Getting to a supermarket and back would be extremely difficult. I have not read or heard of any plans for TV transportation.

If you aren't capable of driving a golf cart, then what activities are you trying to get to? Sitting in a rec center and knitting or playing cards? If that's what you're looking for, you would be wasting your time in TV. This community prides itself on "active" seniors and if you aren't physically capable of driving a cart, then you won't be able to enjoy the golf, pickleball, softball, water volleyball, ... and you'd be better suited going to a small community where you can walk to the rec center to play cards.

One of the biggest draws to TV is being able to drive your golf cart to more than the golf course, Walmart, Publix, the rec center, the pool, just about anywhere within 35 square miles. There are limitations, how long do you do you want to ride in a bumpy golf cart in 90 degree heat with the wind blowing. Some people like myself, don't take the cart out of the garage unless I'm playing golf. I like A/C and a radio and getting to my destination in 20 minutes or less. For many more, golf carts are everywhere. Of course there is always Uber cars that can be summoned with phone. However, as others have said, TV is ringed with assisted living homes and I see their vans everytime I go to Walmart or the grocery store.

I don't know the limitations of your disability other than you can't drive a car. However, if you able to do activities at rec centers, handling a golf cart is not that hard and you don't even need a driver's license.

Plus parking lots and streets can accommodate a lot more carts than cars.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/58/ea...5ba7d85c89.jpg

Churches have free transportation to church. How about some of them expanding that service to other places besides Sunday Worship. That would be a great community service. Just a thought...

I’m many cities there are things like the RIDE in Massachusetts, if you are low income or disabled , it will take you to appointments or shopping for a very minimal price. If something like this is what your looking for by all means move on to a place you can find that . I suspect there are not many here that would qualify for something like the ride here or in other adult communities that are higher ended, the other poster was right about many senior apartments and independent living places already here and more coming on line geared to all different levels of income with vans to take you places good luck in finding a place you’ll feel comfortable. I myself at 82 in great health have always planned that if I slowdown or have trouble driving I will move back to Boston where you don’t even have to own a car , yes it’s cold but I value my independence more then the cold and I want to be able to go out on to a street and see every day life with all the sounds and sights rather then some sterile but beautiful independent living place here

If you live in the Sumter County section of the Villages, you can take advantage of this system -> Transit | Sumter County, FL - Official Website

If you live in one of the Villages-based assisted living centers, they have "handivans" that bring their residents to Publix and the Library and other places on a weekly schedule.

But because the Villages is 70 square miles of residential and commercial property, there's no way a couple or three vans/buses can accommodate everyone living throughout the entire community. And creating a network of "public resident-only transportation" is cost-prohibitive, since MOST people are still self-sufficient until they go into those assisted-living centers.

What I would absolutely love-love-love is if the Villages tour trolleys were turned into a transportation network. It'd have limited stops, so you'd still have to find a way to get to the stop nearest you, and if it's not going exactly where want to go, you'd still have to find transportation from its closest stop to your final destination.

We don't have that presently though. And again, the Villages is vast, and takes up significant chunks of three different counties, each with their own transportation rules and regs. We do have Uber drivers and Lyft drivers though, and there are volunteer groups to help out on infrequent trips away from home. But nothing on a regular schedule.

Your best bet would be to find a pre-owned home within walking distance to the nearest Town Square or shopping plaza, so you never have to walk for normal weekly things, and only have to arrange rides for doctors' appointments and similar.

If one is not able to drive, due to vision, or loss of DL, most are very capable of driving a golf cart. If you aren’t able to get to an amenity, you most likely will need assistance in your home, (home healthcare is easily obtained here) or an assistant living, so in-house care. We do however have private transportation for a fee.

Have you visited yet? The southern part of the villages and even most of the preowned are drawing younger residents, who come for the biking, hiking, and so on.

It’s ok to move on, as you must have great concern for your ability to care for yourself. TV is not for everyone, and new and preowned homes sell here easily, even for those children who inherited the property. I for one would never pay for amenities to supplement your lifestyle. TV is not inexpensive, and if your concerns that someone need to help you pay for transportation, the monthly expenses might be overwhelming for you

Nothing is free. This is an important concept to know. Someone pays for everything and when a community offers free something on a continuing basis like transportation, right off the top of my head I think of vehicles, insurance, drivers, insurance, salaries, maintenance on vehicles, scheduling, etc. These little "kind" things soon add up to all of us being sent the bill and soon people who have carefully planned out their money and budget can no longer afford to live here. There is no big benevolent mother who is going to handle this. Frankly, I do not see it as a need. We have transportation that can be hired. And if that doesn't work, then individuals need to move to other areas and make other plans.

P.S. Joel, I have just read through your previous posts and it appears you are on Long Island thinking to relocate to Florida. If you have not done so, please come here and stay a week and ask questions of folks on the squares and in restaurants. We are used to it and you will see the opinions are strong in admiration of this wonderful place.

PLUS most people who cannot or don't want to drive cars choose to get around in their golf cart and if they can see clearly and have their full functioning mind, that is a good choice instead of public transportation. Golf carts can get you to the doctor and the stores and to other peoples homes and to the squares....

I'm in favor of a taxi or other transportation service in The Villages. But, why should it be free or at a reduced price? Just provide the service and charge an appropriate price.

No car?
No golf cart?
The money you save on them, you will be better off financially just using taxis to get around.

If you move to say Gainesville they have plenty of public transportation. The only public transportation in TV starts in Spanish Springs near the square and goes down near Leesburg. More people out of the bubble use it than those in the bubble.

Nailed it

Right.

UBER.

Taxi rates UBER in The Villages, FL

Who would you like to pay for it? Your neighbor? I like the idea of public transportation but I have never been anywhere in the world where it was free.

Bicycle.

If that is too much physical exertion, ebike.

Balance issues? E-trike ideally a recumbent.

We are literally just back from a 19 mile run to Lowe's on an ebike and e-trike. We even passed an amputee who was powering a recumbent trike by hand.

Surely your problems are less to overcome than that, right?

Sorry op this place is not really built to rely on public transportation.

As I stated in a previous post, if you live in the Sumter County section of The Villages, public transportation is available here -> Transit | Sumter County, FL - Official Website

That seems to be rather limited as you have to go along their routes with a maximum 3/4 mile deviation for door to door. That seems to be more for medical and grocery shopping, nice to know it's available though.

I would mention that we have tenants that moved here from out of state ages 92 and 85 and the very first thing they did was to buy a golf car.

You know, it really is none of our business as to WHY he wants the information he wants. So putting him on the defense with suggestions that have nothing to do with what he's asking for, is not very nice, even if it's well-intended. He's not asking for alternatives to driving a car. He's asking about transportation options for people who don't drive, period. Not "don't drive cars but can drive other things." Suggesting a golf cart or e-bike to a blind person is - just not nice. But we don't know WHY he isn't a driver. We know only that he isn't one, and that should be enough information to recommend, or not recommend, any transportation options that involve "someone else doing the driving."

Uhhhh, this is TOTV ... virtually everything. ;) Even dog poop, Costco and Trader Joe's turns political somehow and usually gets blamed on mask wearing. :1rotfl:

I think all of the available options have been noted and additionally the golf car and bike recommendations were added, this should not put him or her on the defensive. A trike of example may not have been something he though about and it just might fit his lifestyle, who knows. He or she received a lot of good replies in addition to the limited public transportation that is available here.

There comes a time in everyones life when they just have to accept...
 

that as they get older and less able to cope with everyday issues that they have to accept that their diminished abilities will shrink their world and their place in it. You won't be able to make your way to various amenities then you'll either have to make friends with those who can take you there and back, live somewhere else that does provide transport(it is never free but figured into costs you pay to live there), or take up activities which don't require travel.

If the villages isn't your cup of tea because of this one issue then you are in for extreme disappointment as most 55+ communities that do provide transport do so to libraries, museums, parks and dr. appt's. Now it seems to me that if you can afford these other places you can find a friend willing to drive or just fork over some of your money for Lyft, uber or a taxi.

Expensive. From my Uber APP, $29 (+tip) from my house in Amelia to TV Hospital (6.2 miles, 13 minutes per Google Maps) just as an example. They also now have a $5.50 cancellation fee! All assuming they actually show up. According to that chart about $23. Also varies depending how busy they are and time of day.

Exactly, I think a very compelling reason to live here is that you are NOT burning up one tank of gasoline after another like in the working years, and can get to most anything with a cart, dentist, barber, groceries, vet, name it. So nice, if well heeled, can even have AC or at least a nice fan in the cart, can have doors that allow for nearly all weather, some even have a heater. These carts are pricey but, if you don't have the expense of a car.... pretty good deal. Go back and figure what you spent in a traditional community when you had to drive an auto to get a loaf of bread, plus driving to work (if you did) and the savings in fuel, insurance, registration, etc. is mind boggling ! You can pay for all your transportation and.... have money to pay for a vacation too ! Down side is the HOA fees, or amenity fees as they call it here, since if you don't play golf or swim it's a lot to pay each month when the other classes, clubs and activities are pretty much what you can find for free anywhere, hobby clubs, dance clubs, card groups, exercise classes are all just volunteer residents. You do not get any lawn services, leaf removal, nothing really if you are used to your HOA covering a lot of your expenses, so something to think over. It's a LOT if you don't use "amenities" like golf courses. Pretty pricey for those who don't do these things. In that case a smaller community with one pool and rec center where people gather to chat, play cards, etc. might be more cost effective, or where you get some services for your HOA. BTW, while the villages claims they have no HOA fees here, if you use Zillow, they DO list the "amenity" fee as a HOA fee as you must pay it even if you don't use them.

Depending on you frequency of use it's most likely cheaper than owning a car.

My opinion, no free transportation for anyone here. TV was designed as a golf cart active lifestyle community. When one buys in through the new home ownership method, you pay for the development, the infrastruture included, as well as the activities, and the active lifestyle, as advertised. unable to drive is not an active lifestyle, and am not willing to pay others to join the lifestyle as an exception for free.

Sorry, and I am not insulting the OP by making alternative suggestions which is not the question posed.

sportsguy and coachK

IMO the OP's "question" is not really a question posed for the sake of getting an answer. The answers are as obvious for TV as they are for a suburb of Cleveland, or somewhere on Long Island. The question is a rhetorical one, wrapped inside a criticism of TV. Another question, or a statement, it's a bit confusing to me, that the OP asks in a subsequent post is "What good are the amenities if you can't get to them?",,,fair question, but an easy answer: "not much". I didn't come here expecting free transportation, and when the day comes that I can't get myself around one way or another, it will be time to consider an alternate living arrangement. If I were unable to get myself around, I don't think TV would have had much appeal for me.

Is anyone responsible for themselves any more?

If they can't get around on their own they need to provide for some alternative form of transportation. If they can't do that, then that's what families are for.

After retiring I drove for a medical transportation company. There is a national program for free medical transportation. there are requirements for its usage. how many villagers will qualify I have no clue.

The website for the service

Home | Welcome to LogistiCare

I just re-read the original message. OP does not say that he is disabled or currently unable to drive. He could be thinking about "down the road" when/if that might be the case.

I also just perused his previous posts. He has a lot of ... concerns ... about retiring to TV and to FL in general. He never says he has visited TV in person. Yet people were nice enough to fill up three pages with suggestions about whether TV might work for him. Seems like this place has a lot of very nice/helpful folks. I think that is worth a couple of points in the "PRO VILLAGES" column. :)

kathy

There are senior communities that provide transportation all around those communities. I remember visiting my grandparents at Century Village in Deerfield Beach when they moved there. They had a "tram" which was basically a tractor that pulled an open box trailer behind it, that was fitted with bench seats. It went in a loop all throughout the community, stopped at the clubhouse, and went through its own special path around to a small strip-mall outside the gates (this is an actual gated community, not just a community with gates).

So that's where my head was, when I read the OP's first post in this thread. I assumed he was hoping to find something similar - because it's not a novel idea, it's been around at least since the 1980's, which was when my grandparents moved there. I'm guessing there are lots of places these trams are used.

My grandparents lived there as well many many years ago however it's land area was not larger than New York City as it is here in T.V.. The only way around that would be centralized picks up at, for example, rec centers but that would create the same problem as people would still have to get to the rec centers. Also, here, unless they had dozens of vehicles it would take hours to get around to each rec center. Doubt anything like that is even remotely possible here due to the size and layout of this place.