Bicycles vs. carts
 

While driving south on Buena Vista, a single bicyclists was peddling in the left lane and cars had to get into the right lane to pass him. I have also observed bicycle groups doing the same thing. I'm not against bicycles using the road, but why can't all carts have as much equal access on the same roads as bicycles

I'd love to take my cart to Seven Mile Drive, even if it's just to cross the 466A at Pinella's Place. It wouldn't be hard to do and would most likely increase business and revenues for Wildwood and the county.

Bicycles pre-date cars, so were on the roads ahead of cars. So the rules were written such that bikes have the same access to roads as cars. Bike access to roads is important to general commerce in the US, in some places people bike to work and provide services, think of a crowded city for example. The bike in the left lane is legal. Probably they were preparing for a 3/4 turn around a roundabout which is legally done from the left lane. Golf carts came after cars, when safety was a bigger concern in society, so the rule makers decided that unprotected carts could only be on roads with low speed limits to limit the damage of an accident and the speed difference between cars and carts would be less. These rules (and the multimodal paths, tunnels and bridges here) allow for cart access to (nearly?) everywhere in the Villages.

"Bicycles pre-date cars, so were on the roads ahead of cars." And horses & buggy's predated bicycles, and people predated horses. So does that mean horse and people can walk in the roadway?

No, the lone bicyclist and the bike group were not going to make a left anytime soon. Gas carts pay a road tax, bicycles don't. However, I have already stated that I have no problem with bicycles sharing the road. I also believe carts should be able to access certain roads and places of business where no cart path is available.

Why cant bikes stay in the golf cart lanes as speeds are similar.

i drive a golf cart/ and bike riders dont stop at stop sines and go on red lites so now i dont stop at stop sines and i go fast and i dont care about bike riders :bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::a040::a040::a040:

Actual dedicated bike lanes like how big cities do would be helpful.

I personally think people who ride bikes on roads like Buena Vista have a death wish.

Says the guy who doesn't own a cart.

Differences in speed on a highway or well trafficked road way can be deadly. Since bikes and carts go about the same speed would that not make sense to share road?

There are no golf cart lanes on BV.

When a similar thread arose about a year ago, I decided to observe golf carts coming to intersections. I stopped counting after 100 carts. Results - 86 carts did not make a complete stop at any stop sign. Of the other 14, there were golf carts coming down the intersecting path for 10. Only 4 people came to a complete stop without a golf cart near by.

I have to admit that I roll through intersections if I don't see any traffic - that includes both my golf cart and my bicycle. However, given what I see from cars and golf carts around here, I never assume someone is going to stop at a stop sign. I also don't go out onto Morse and Buena Vista south of 466.

But when there are what I think are called multi modal lanes why not have bicycles on that?

When I am driving into or out of our neighborhood of Osceola Hills, the cart riders are supposed to stop to let me drive through.

From my observation, 100% of them stop. If one didn't, I would have hit them.

Because it is legal for bicycles to be on the road an illegal for carts to be on the road.

There is nothing more to this discussion.

Bicycles versus Carts? I will put my money on the carts!

So when someone says jump...?

You answer, "How high Sergeant?":icon_wink:

Yes, however crossing at a light controlled intersection is also legal (north of TV on SR 441/27), so crossing at Pinallas to Trailwinds should be legal. (Not a state law, because it is done across SR 301 in Sun City Center, Fl also)

It is not the chicken or the egg, bicyclists do not comply with the very rules they whine that they want cars to obey. If bicyclists would take out their own trash, the car/bicycle relationship would be much better.

Actually, there IS more to the discussion.

I don't think the OP was looking for WHAT the law is, but rather WHY it is.

I'll bet that if you count cars that don't come to a full stop, the numbers will probably be similar.

Just because it is legal does not make it a wise decision. Lone bicyclists riding on Morse or BV creates the potential for deadly accidents due to the differential in speed and smaller profiles. I have seen at least two close calls in the roundabouts.

If you want to go on a long bike ride, then buy a rack for your car and travel to an area with bike lanes.

IMHO at least 90% of the stop signs in TV should be YIELD signs.
:clap2::clap2:

Stu you must be a professional cyclist to be at 20 MPH. The average is 12 MPH.

People and bikes and even thoes little scooters disables use can cross main roads at a light so why shouldn't golf carts be able too.

I also used to roll through stops if no one was near, but a cop stopped me on Rio Grande and Del Mar for not doing my full stop. Now I'm one of the very few who always do my full stop. I feel stupid, but definitely don't want a ticket. Beware the cops will stop you if you don't.

Uh, yes there are.

The e-bikes do 20 mph or more, would be nice if those riders used the diamond lanes when available.

Yes, bikes can be on the road and MUST follow the same rules as a car. Its Florida law not just a courtesy thing. No bike should be holding up traffic in the left lane and can be given a citation for impeding traffic. They also must follow all laws for vehicle traffic and can be given a citation just like a driver. They are supposed to ride single file on the right side of the road. Not 3 abreast blocking lanes. Drivers must give them 2 feet leeway when passing them. So, if us drivers have to be careful passing them and allowing more room , maybe they should have some care about their own safety. Anyone who bike rides and impedes traffic in any way can be cited and should be. Im an avid rider and these knuckleheads give us all a bad name. If you dont know bike laws and rules. Look them up. Its public record and not a secret the cops keep.

Just remember
 

Just remember that if you hit one of these bicycles it is always your fault. You will be crucified on this forum and the local press. The fact that they all abuse and ignore all traffic signs will never come up. IT IS YOUR FAULT.

Who are you talking to?

I guarantee there was a reason for the cyclists you saw for riding in the left lane on buena vista, probably to make a left hand turn or take the third exit from a roundabout. They saw a gap in traffic, they moved over into the correct lane while they had a chance.

As far as why you can't take your golf car on regular roads, my theory (just a theory!) is decades of lobbying from big auto and oil companies have made it damn near impossible to use anything other than cars for transportation in this country without risking lift and limb. It's better here than in most places in the US but it's still ridiculously difficult.

Be safe out there guys :)

Joe

I find the opposite. Numerous times the carts and bicyclists roll in front of me, without stopping, as I pull through the gate by Burnsed. They never stop, even when they see the gate arm has lifted and I need to pull ahead. It has become worse since they opened the bridge over 44. The traffic on that path has increased immensely. Recently, three times I have had to slam on my brakes when driving down Deskin Lane as a man on bicycle flys through the side streets never stopping. I rarely see bicyclists stop at the stop signs within our neighborhood. Many cars and carts don’t either. And as you know, Deskin Lane is a curvy, narrow, busy thoroughfare.

Except out Governor signed into LAW that ebikes are allowed anywhere bicycles are allowed unless specifically prohibited, effective August 2020. So again this discussion circles around to cyclists operating their bikes as our elected lawmakers intended.

What things do cyclists do that cars and carts don’t do? Name even one.

Do cars, carts, and bikes treat most stop signs at yield signs? Yes.
Do cars, carts, and bikes signal most turns in advance? No.
Do cars, carts, and bikes come to a complete stop when making a right turn on red? No.
Do most cars and bikes appropriately get in the left lane a half mile ahead of a left turn? Yes.

I’ll name one thing that is different. Is it dangerous for a car or cart to come to a complete stop? No, but it is for cyclists who clip into their pedals.

If you obey all traffic rules, you are one in 1,000. You don’t have the right to complain about others if don’t follow the strict letter of the law.

What’s really at issue here is that drivers don’t like being delayed for 30 seconds because cyclists are legally sharing the road.

You can already do that if you register your cart and add windshield wipers and seat belts. In other words make it street legal. You can then access roads with speed limits of up to 35 mph.

I am a high-miles bike rider who rides seven days per week. I put more miles on my bicycle than many people put on their car.

While I understand it is perfectly legal for a bicycle to be on the 35+ mph roads, if they are there for purely recreational riding, I think it's a terrible practice. When the roads are busy, every single car that has to go around the biker takes a risk merging into faster traffic on the left. I think one has to be a bit of a prima donna to inconvenience so many other people.

I ride a bike, drive a golf cart and a car.
Laws? We all know the chance of people knowing subtle complex sections of the driving code is slight. The chance of them following them is far slighter.

The term accident is not correct. Most accidents like 99% are avoidable.

Control of the situation. You have far more control over what YOU choose to do than the other driver no matter whether they on on a bike, a golf cart or a car.

Bikers should push the legislature to adopt the "Idaho Stop" law. It allows bikers to safely treat stop signs as yield signs. It is a safety issue. When bikes are made to come to a full stop, it takes them much longer to get through an intersection because of inertia. This law does not allow a biker to blast through a stop sign at 20 mph, but to carefully roll through when there is no traffic to yield to.

I ride tens of thousands of miles and have never had an accident.

Why would you clip into pedals if it's dangerous? Sounds like an unsafe practice.

More people are injured or killed on bicycles than carts. Probably because they share the road. If the law enforcement enforced the traffic regulations. Everyone would be safer. By the way did you know there is a 316 Fla. Statue that prohibits the left lane usage except for certain maneuvers. The person on the bicycle seems to have been in violation of at least 2 316 F.s. And should have been cited. Bicycles just no longer fit roadways in today’s traffic environment. Bike paths yes,,,,, golf cart path ???? Look at the hit and run statistics for bicycles. THINK SAFETY FIRST.