Watch for bikes
 

While riding my bicycle at 7:00 tonight, I was compromised by a gray SUV who was in the left turn lane at a stop sign, while I was in the straight lane at Too Jays. I took off and then he took off going straight forcing me to brake to avoid an accident. Going into Paddock Square, I was in the right lane at the corner of the theater when that same Gray SUV was in the left lane and then just drifted in front of me again. Good thing I am defensive and was watching in case he did it again. Did I mention my two red blinking lights on the back and the white headlight and white strobe on the front? I presume this was a snowbird or someone new to the Villages as I have not seen this since last winter. I applaud the regular car and truck drivers for their courteousness whenever I am on the road. The person driving the Gray SUV was not one of them. Please, Please, watch out for bicyclists and do not race around them as if you are a fire truck on a run. Look and signal before you change lanes to warn others.

I am a Snowbird and I am always respectful of cyclists and let my People know to be mindful too!

Never "presume"...

Riding a bike in this place is dangerous. After two years of many near misses I am getting a Peloton bike.

Riding a bike at 7 at night might not be a bright idea.

One thing many people might not know is that when passing a bicycle while driving a motorized vehicle, that includes golf carts, the motorized vehicle MUST be able to clear the bicycle by at least three feet per Florida law. That clearance is not possible on the MMP's where the MMP splits into two separate lanes.

Won't stop drivers overtaking though, unless cyclist claims the center of the path.
Then wear ear defenders against the horn, and be prepared to hear what should have been done to you at birth!

bicycle dont stop at stop sines and drive right in front of golf carts and cars y dont you bicycle stop

Every day I see bike riders ignoring stop signs and speed right thru intersections.
The law requires bike riders to follow same rules as cars on the road.

I have noticed that most golf cart drivers patiently slow down behind the bicycle on those split MMP lanes.

But I also overheard a golfer at a golf course parking area telling his buddies how he had clipped the handle bars of a bicycle while passing it and sent the bicyclist flying into the shrubs. He was laughing as he was telling his story as if it wasn't a dangerous act. But there is always someone who disregards the safety of others.

Every day I see golf carts and cars ignoring stop signs, so I guess the bikers are just following your example.

Why would you automatically presume this was a snowbird? Are you assuming snowbirds just got their driver's licenses yesterday and are still learning to drive? This and other threads are describing fundamental driving errors, and snowbirds have just as much fundamental driving skills as anyone else, on average. There are many, many other hypotheses one could list as to why this was an idiot driver that made fundamental driving errors.

How about we all do a quick grammar, punctuation, and spelling check before hitting the "submit reply" button?

But do they stop at cosines or tangents??? Or was that supposed to be stop SIGNS????. And what language was that anyway?????:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I’ll look for the ignore button for ge

I think cyclists are by far the rudest of the bunch out on the roads and paths. Yes, that’s a broad brush statement, but it reflects my experience. Walkers come in at a close second.

If I’m walking or riding a bike on a street with 3000 pound vehicles, or on a path with carts that routinely top 25moh, I consider it up to ME to watch out for my safety, not them. Ymmv.

My final bike ride in the Villages was today. So I thought how about a nice ride to Lake Sumter and back (I live south of 44). It just reaffirmed my decision to get off these paths and roads and get a Peloton, delivered on Monday. Two incidents that really are not that unusual for this place. First was a cart going about 25 or so racing to get past me before the MMP split in two. He missed me by about 4 inches. Funny thing was he then slowed down and I was on his tail until he turned off. Second one was a speeding cart coming out of a tunnel with a sharp right turn for him. He was halfway in my lane coming out of the tunnel around the curve. Luckily I know to stay as close to the curb as possible. This guy probably missed me by a foot.

My point is you can be a defensive bicyclist and still be killed on these roads. So for me I am not taking any more chances with some people in carts that obviously don’t care or don’t have any common sense.

Yet to see a bike obey a stop sign. Falls on deaf ears

My usual thought on these matters. Assuming people know the law is a reach. Assuming they know the law and will follow it, you only need to read the posts from some.

I drive a car, drive a golf cart and ride a bike. Sadly the we are good they are bad mindset seems to be everywhere. Many, many years ago I took a statistics course you were supposed to ask 25 people a question with a yes or no answer. I was working full time and carrying a full course load. I decided to do cars stopping for a stop sign. Confession I watched over 100 cars, no one stopped for the stop sign. To make it work I lied and said two stopped.

Back to a bike. I bike does not accelerate as your 200 plus horsepower car or your 12 plus horse power golf cart. On a bike I do slow down. I do not stop unless I see a car or a golf cart. As far as a stop sign there is no shortage of people in cars and golf carts that do not even slow down as the approach a stop sign. By their body language there is no indication that they will stop. I do wonder how many drivers could or would pass a driving test.

Contrary to how many drive the goal is not to teach others a lesson. The goal is for all to arrive safely. That is in the control of everyone. The term accident is according to me a misnomer. Almost every accident can be avoided.

A pleasent intelligent response from a biker!

What's that saying, "Two wrongs don't............."

But three rights make a left!

How about paying driver's attention to cyclists who own the road as much as you do...that's the law.

That's so funny! Cars rarely stop or yield...but you point a finger at cyclists. Learning to spell would be nice too.

Every day... almost every minute of driving, I see cars drive through stops or intersections. That's pot calling the kettle black isn't it?

If bicyclists took responsibility for running stop signs, red lights, and making illegal turns, not to mention riding in the middle of the lane when even their clubs say to ride on the right side of a lane for easy passing.

I admit when I ride my bike I sometimes cruise through stop signs but only after slowing and looking in all directions to make sure it’s safe. I’ll take the very limited risk so as not to lose momentum.

Bloody Marys?

When riding a bike, I always pay attention to other vehicles and do my best to be seen and be safe.
When driving my car, I put bike riders in the same classification as "picnic ants".

Joe, was that you in the gray SUV

When riding my bike on the path, I find myself saying, those crazy cart drivers. When riding my bike on the road I find myself saying, those crazy auto drivers. And when I drive my auto I find myself saying, those crazy bike riders.

IMHO , carts, autos and bikes have their share of dangerous traits that will, someday cause an accident. Be as defensive and as tentative as you can so everyone can enjoy their chosen mode of travel.

Prezactly!

Riding at dusk is hazardous no matter your lighting

Yes bikers are dangerous they think they on the road and do not have to follow any laws

!!!!!!hat ! W!!!!. Can someone please decipher??!!!:ohdear:

You apparently never watch other drivers...unless a car HAS TO COMPLETELY STOP for traffic too close to consider moving forward...none stop!!! IMHO 9 out of ten Villages drivers can't even stay in the same lane they enter a RB without crossing into the other's lane of travel! If you are too old to drive and stop, not speed, and can't see 100 ft in front of you, please get someone else to drive you! But, don't blame your bad driving on cyclists.

Bikers are seemingly getting worse the longer I love here

But you are willing to risk life and limb to get on your bicycle and get out on the road with these incapable drivers.

I'm a bit skeptical, no a lot skeptical, about these stories claiming nearly all cars never stop at a stop sign. I drive quite a bit and very seldom see a car bust a stop sign.