Bikes on the road
 

Just curious but I’ve noticed there are always bikers riding on the main road. IE Morse, or Buena Vista, when the Multi paths are literally running parallel. Why do they do this? :MOJE_whot:

Cause they can.

When bikes stop they lose momentum. On multimodal paths you stop, a lot.

On multimodal paths there are many types of vehicles and walkers which travel at different speeds creating obstacles. Walkers are generally unaware that bikes are behind them no matter how much you signal, speak, or yell. They fail to yeild

Golf carts are unaware of physics, that on four wheels you take corners very slowly and bikes do not. Many golf cart operators are rude and operate their carts in dangerous ways.

Roads do not have tunnels. No tunnels mean you can maintain cadence. Pedal cadence is important to cyclists.

Finally, and some what obvious by now: multimodal paths are dangerous for cyclists. It is legal for cyclists to operate on the road, not so for most golf carts, and not so for walkers when a sidewalk is available.

I hope this answers the question.

Many golf cart operators are rude and operate their carts in dangerous ways.

Really, biker’S are little angels.

That does answer it, thanks. i don’t drive my golf cart anywhere, as I’m in a newer section and there’s no place to go yet. I do however ride my bike and agree about momentum and really agree about walkers never knowing I’m coming up behind them. But I only ride my bike so much here because they have so many bike baths. I love it. No golf carts allowed. Thanks again.

Wow, I'll address just a couple of the misconceptions conveyed here. I am a long-time bike rider in TV. I ride almost daily and I use the multimodal paths (MMPs) exclusively.

On my average 10-15 mile ride, I encounter a few stop signs. Other than that, it very rare I have to stop. My ride is almost non-stop riding the whole way.

Even more important, the MMPs are NOT dangerous for bikers. In my opinion, the streets are far more dangerous. When I ride on an MMP, I am totally in control of my own safety. On the street, a biker's life is in the hands of every driver of a car or truck going 40+ mph as they drive by. I will not yield my control of my own safety. I have a couple basic rules I abide by on the MMPs to maintain that control...

I ride a hybrid bike, so if I see a cart or pedestrian that I think might be a conflict somehow, I exit onto the adjacent grass as needed. A piece of cake. Almost all areas have those grass exit areas. If I approach an area without an exit area, I search for approaching carts and adjust my speed as needed if necessary to avoid any conflict. Again, no problem at all.

I have ridden my bike on streets in my previous lives. Now riding my bike on the MPs in TV is one of my favorite parts of living here. Safety is a big reason for that. All the beauty and nature in the environment I ride in is just icing on the cake.

Let’s just all agree that there are bad car drivers, cart drivers, bicyclists, and walkers. No matter where you ride, drive or walk you have to think defensively and look well ahead for potential issues (and behind for bikes and walkers). I am south of 44 and I also exclusively use the MMP’s when I bike. However, I am out at 5 am and there is very little traffic anywhere. I use 3 lights to be seen along with reflective clothing and always give a verbal warning to any pedestrian I come up on (though many never hear it because of ear buds). Personally, I like my chances to avoid a golf cart more than avoiding a car in the street. But I understand why bikers ride in the street to not have to stop all the time at tunnels or street crossings. I just don’t trust the car drivers. Let’s all just be a little more considerate of each other and it will be a much more pleasant place.

Not to mention that everywhere in the U.S. bikes are street legal and golf carts usually aren't. Bikers have a legal right to use the streets if they please.

You guys keep saying that golf carts are not allowed on the street making it sound like it is safely. But excuse me, cars are on the street. They are bigger, faster and there are alot more of them than golf carts. I don't see how you can say that it is safer on the road. Just this past year there were three accidents that bicyclists had with cars, not golf carts.

Real bike riders can maintain speed and RPM on roads ,not possible on multimodal paths. Casual bike riders should use multi paths occasionally.

Obviously, and no place else has MMP’s like here. There is no questioning the legality of it, but as a biker, I much prefer to use the MMP’s so was just curious the reasoning behind preferring the roads. Now that I’ve heard some reasons, I’m still convinced the MMP’s are much better for bikers. They might be legal on the roads but they certainly take up an entire lane at 10 mph so every car has to move over into the other lane to get around them. I bet that’s fun come jan. :MOJE_whot:

You answered nothing. Bicycles should only be allowed where golf carts are allowed

Should and are are two different things...

Most of the people in TV have only had one life....
And I really prefer them to ride in the street. Don't want to encounter 10 to 20 bikes on MMPs.
:bigbow::popcorn::ohdear:

It's really nice to cruise along on your bike without constant stopping for sharp curves into tunnels and road crossings. Plus the speed limit on BV and almost all of Morse is 35 so a biker or group of bikers going 20mph is only going 15mph slower than the speed limit. All of BV and most of Morse have 2 lanes in each direction so it's easy for cars to just move into the L lane to pass. If there is traffic I would hope that going 20mph for a few moments vs. 35mph isn't too much of a burden for the automobile drivers....it is definitely appreciated by the cyclist so thanks in advance :)

Joe

Pain
 

just to be a pain in the ass. They whined until they got the path then they complain about the path so they ride on the road just to hold up traffic mainly because they are ********

This isn't the fault of the bikers. It is the fault of the fool community planners that build the bike paths to begin with. This same thing happens in every city where bike paths are created and yet the fools keep using money to create more. Don't waste money on bike paths that bikers have the right to and WILL refuse to use. Use the money on something else and BAN them from any 'paths' you do create for golf carts or pedestrians becuase you CAN'T ban them from the streets.

I see a major problem with the bike riders, especially on Buena Vista. They take up the whole right hand lane and block traffic from using that lane. Sometimes, they are 2 or 3 across. They SHOULD be single file about 3 feet from the edge of the road.

It's really nice to cruise along in my car without having to stop/slow down/change lanes for cyclists. ONLY 15 mph slower than the speed limit?????? That's like a car doing 55 on the interstate. <sarcasm>

In reality, I have no problem with cyclists on the roads with one exception-----they ARE REQUIRED to follow vehicular traffic laws, but frequently do not. The best example is blowing through the yield signs at a RB in a pack of 20. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO YIELD. PERIOD. I don't care if it disturbs your "pedal cadence". Too bad. When I have to yield in a car or cart, it disturbs my rhythm as well. What disturbs me more is coming around a RB and having to brake as 20 cyclists continue to blow through a yield sign. And I mean come to a complete stop for these clowns. You are NOT a funeral procession. You have no special privileges. If you want to exercise your "right" to be on a main road, then you should obey the rules that accompany that right. And then God forbid you lean on your horn----note the one finger salutes en masse.

I'd say many car drivers can be rude as well .

When there is a shoulder then bicycles are fine. But for roads like BV and Morse it is dangerous especially with all the circles.

Riders should get a bike rack and travel to a proper starting point if they desire to go on long rides on streets. Sort of like going to the gym. Cars should not have to change lanes for bicycle going a small fraction of the speed limit.

You do not see bicycles on interstate because it would be near suicide. As the speed limit is decreased the differential in speed makes it less dangerous but it is still a significant risk.

You do realize that they are the same drivers?

Catmandu
 

In my first two months in the Villages I wouldn't want to ride a bike on the rode. Drivers here pass people in the roundabouts, drive like they are going to a fire. They do what they want, doesn't matter about anyone. Bikers also do what they want. I pulled up to a stop sign yesterday along with a cyclist, he never slowed down or stopped just went on through like wasn't there. My rant is over and this is just IMO.

Cyclists have and will always have a legal right to any road. Why? Because it's the law. Any interference, intimidation, or reckless driving by motorists is a violation of the law. Considering motorists don't give that right of way, leading to a cyclist being hit or losing control leading to death or injury...these motorists can be prosecuted for vehicular murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault.

Embrace cyclists being on the road as part of your daily driving experience just like stop signs, traffic lights, and traffic. We live in The Villages, why is anyone in such a hurry not to respect the life and legal right of others to use our roadways if they wish? RELAX!

Bikers that want to ride on the road ways should be required to have a license plate (so they can be identified) and insurance to cover their massive injuries and damage to the other vehicle. The bike groups ride aggressively and blame the larger vehicles. Backing up traffic due to slow speed is dangerous.

Bikes on road
 

Most likely because the bikers trust the cars more than they trust the cart drivers. From experience I will note also that a bike in Florida cannot go on the grass to get around a dicey situation, the grass here stops a bike and you immediately fall off.
Many bike riders also go faster than the carts

Because it's their legal right. It's the law. Motorists actions leading to cyclists injury or death are fully prosecutable as felonies, including vehicular homicide.

Cyclists have to stop at stop signs and yield at yield signs. Why?. Because it's the law. Considering cyclists don't yield the right of way, leading to them getting hit by a car, who are they going to "prosecute" then. Besides, prosecuting drivers for an accident is a pipe dream unless they are impaired, speeding, or acted intentionally.

So how about cyclists embrace cars as part of their "daily driving experience", but don't ignore them like they ignore stop signs and yield signs, and not be in a "hurry" and respect the rights of other vehicles instead of maintaining their "pedal cadence".

Death wish!

Dream on. You hit a cyclist that blew through a stop sign and you think the car driver will be charged with a felony? Well, Disney did open Fantasyland again.

Perfect accurate answer

I know of 3 motorists prosecuted for major felonies including vehicular homicide when the motorist "close shaved" a group of cyclists leading to one's death. The motorist is still in prison. I've witnessed the arrest of a motorist who injured a cyclist during a ride.

Yes, cyclists should obey the laws like anyone else. That goes without question.

Respect others with right to the road. RELAX ..we live in The Villages!!!

Thats your opinion. Not the law

If the cyclists are in the roundabout first, they have the right away as any car does. That is the law. Motorists actions (no matter how frustrated they are the cyclists are using the road) leading to a cyclist injury or death can be prosecuted as a major felony.

If a motorist had the opportunity to stop to prevent hitting the cyclist...regardless of fault...yes, they can be prosecuted. It happens every day.

I live in a happy world of fact. I don't let emotion rule my interpretation of right vs wrong. Enjoy your day!

What you're seeing is mainly road bikers. There the bikes with skinny tires that are designed to go fast. These bikers don't want to be on trails where you have walkers, runners, golf carts and slower bikers. Please keep in mind they have a right to be on the road.

Third hole? (That’s a joke, son. I say, that’s a joke)

First of all you calling these bikers CLOWNS tells me you don't like them and don't want them there PERIOD. Which makes you the problem. When a group of bikers goes through a ROUND
-ABOUT the WHOLE group has the right away until the WHOLE group goes through. That's the law!!!! Get a grip BOZO!!!!

No kidding. I'm referring to cyclists in packs blowing through the yield sign to ENTER the RB. I hope you are stating that any individual cyclist already in the RB has the right of way, NOT that the first cyclist in a RB gives the right of way to the other 30 cyclists behind him.

I've spoken to several serious bikers (not the road racer ones) and the main reason seem to be that it is safer for them on the main road. Was told that the multimodal path was much more dangerous. They'd all been almost hit & some run off the path by carts while those driving autos (for the most part) were more considerate.