Walkers
 

Florida law states;

“Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the shoulder on the left side of the roadway in relation to the pedestrian's direction of travel, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction.”

So, why some walkers walk 2 or more abreast when walking in diamond lanes, MMP, and streets? Clearly not walking with safety in mind when traffic coming.

Walkers are responsible for their own safety walking single file and on left side edge of road. Not strolling down two or more abreast when traffic coming with the I am special attitude.

I see some like challenge oncoming traffic by walking in diamond lanes right up to white line. IMO this dangerous when vehicles in both lanes and walkers meet at same time.

Now I sure some going to say MMP and diamond lanes are not roads as stated in regulation. But, I sure smart enough to realize the intent of regulation when vehicles and pedestrians are mingling on roads. Diamond lanes are extension of road and MMPs are roads.

ROADS;

“road is a thoroughfare for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians ...”

Yep, walkers should be responsible for making the situation as safe as possible. Unfortunately, while the walker will lose a battle in the street they may very well prevail in a battle in court (even if they shouldn't).

Are there diamond lanes where there are not sidewalks? It's certainly possible, I just can't think of an area right now. If there is a sidewalk then the walkers should be on it.

As for pushing their luck with the white line... Cars should stay on their side of the line so as long as a walker is not close enough to be hit by a mirror then theoretically, they should be fine. Reality is drivers don't stay on their own side of the white line whether than line marks an MMP or the shoulder of the road. I certainly wouldn't be walking side-by-side or right up to the white line if there was any other option.

I walk 4 miles plus a day. I don’t hesitate to get off path or street when traffic meets. Bottom line it’s my responsibility to keep me out of harms way if I see it coming. I don’t trust drivers approaching me or walkers coming towards me. In some cases I had to bring my vehicle to stop while car passed in opposite lane due to walkers straddling white line walking abreast ignoring Florida’s regulations.

Most, if not all, of those groups of walkers are here visiting and they do not think of TV as being a dangerous place to walk. The message sent out by TV is have fun, fun, fun in the sun. They give no thought to the fact that most of us are residents not visitors. It's a TV thing and it sells. When you think about it, most of those walkers are coming to visit from very cold northern states and they just cannot wait to get out in the warm sun.

I am a defensive driver/walker. Good thread for safety.

My wife and I are avid walkers, and in all the years in TV we never really had a problem with cars, carts, bicyclists, et al.
We looked out for ourselves and let the rest go by.
We found the most dangerous areas to navigate were the large store car parks.
Needed eyes in back of your head, plus in the store with the 'ankle rapper' cart leaner pushers!

Its the walker's responsibility to obey the law.
Nothing to do with selling anything...............................

Yes. and sections of 35mph roads with no sidewalk or diamond lane.

East bound Walkers on the north side of Reagan Rd have to walk in the street or in the grass when walking from MMP.

Seen this other places South of 44 at intersections.

Bottom line to this at least need walk single file when traffic approaches. IMO if walking abreast you are hogging the lane and putting safety at risk.

I would not walk in street, far off in green for me! 35MPH means 45 to 50 MPH hard telling when vehicle may cartwheels off road?

IMO that would be second most dangerous place to walk. Postal stations between 4 to 6 pm would be the first IMO:icon_wink:

unlike where I live the other 8 months of the year, Rhode Island and Singapore, which have sidewalks everywhere and are walker friendly, The Villages is not. I’ve waited standing in crosswalks, while cars and golf carts go speeding by, totally ignoring me.
Its the way here,

Singapore lol

singapore
 

singapore , a blue zone, where people live a lot longer,and are healthier than the villages.

Were you at a crosswalk or at an MMP crossing by a gate? Unfortunately, they look the same but are treated differently.

At the MMP crossings by gates the direction given is that this area is not a crosswalk. The automobiles have the right of way and the cross traffic on the MMP (carts, bikes, peds) are supposed to wait until the automobile traffic has cleared. I know this causes confusion on both sides.

Walkers
 

I stay on the side streets. Oncoming traffic is no problem to avoid.

Looking back, everywhere I lived that was not out in the countryside had sidewalks except here. Some months back, there was a thread on here of people complaining about the sidewalks being built along 441/27. I guess one main difference is there were children in those areas.

The Villages is not "walker friendly"? Give me a break! This is the most walker-friendly place I have seen on Planet Earth! The only streets without sidewalks are neighborhoods -- where the speed limit is 10mph!

Those "diamond lanes" ARE the sidewalk! Walkers have a right to use them as such. You -- the one steering a 2-ton vehicle -- have the responsibility to stay out of them. I walk my dog daily -- him on the curb, me on the gutter -- and I couldn't tell you how many times I've been forced to leap to safety when I came around a corner to find some idiot straddling the line, yakking on their phone -- which wouldn't surprise me if that was the cause of this thread in the first place.

As with every other whine I read on TOV, it could all be solved with an ounce of common sense and a teaspoon of courtesy. For instance -- I always yield the lane to golf carts, so they don't have to merge with car traffic to avoid me. I don't have to do that, but it's much easier for me and much less dangerous for everyone if I simply step off the lane for a moment. The only walkers I've seen who don't attempt to yield the lane, simply aren't that agile anymore. Seriously, the only place in the Villages I haven't found to be full of friendly, courteous people who would do that is TOV.

Nobody has a "responsibility" to walk single-file on a sidewalk that you're not suppose to be driving in. If two people enjoying the morning, walking side-by-side in the diamond lane bothers you, the sun rising every day must really get your goat!

You're retired! Slow down, and relax! Wave at your neighbors instead of flaming them on TOV!

“The multi-modal paths are designated for use by non-automotive, non-vehicular traffic such as bicycles, golf cars and pedestrians.”
< https://www.districtgov.org/PdfUploa...pdf?v=20230706 >
MMPs include the “diamond lanes” on Villages streets.
Perhaps the rules of navigation on the sea or in the air might well be applied on the MMPs. Yield right of way to the least maneuverable mode of transport. Autos yield to pedestrians and bicycles. Bicyclists yield to pedestrians.
Be nice.

So you encourage disregard Florida regulations walking side by side putting safety in danger cause after all walkers are entitled and can walk out in front of speeding train and claim it train fault.

A few years ago, The Village of Sunset Pointe tragically had a pedestrian death under those circumstances. The cart driver was cited as the cause because of inattentiveness, which can never bring solace to a grieving family. Also, please tell your visiting young relatives to jog on the left side of the paths and roads. They seem clueless to the danger older cart/car drivers present.

Wrong link.

MMPs do not include the "diamond lanes" on Villages streets. MMPs are private, multi-modal paths. The diamond lanes on Villages streets are sections of public highways.

You have your maneuverability backwards. Pedestrians are more maneuverable than bicycles which are more maneuverable than autos.

Your "Florida regulation" refers to streets without a sidewalk -- i.e that diamond lane, designated for pedestrians and golf carts.

Florida regulations require you to keep your car off that sidewalk. But how the pedestrians on that sidewalk choose to walk on the lane designated for that purpose is neither any of your business or any concern to the "Florida regulation" you keep referring to. If they choose to walk single-file, it's a courtesy to the golf carts who are authorized to use that lane, not you.

Instead of harassing your neighbors on TOV, you will be happier here if leave your big city attitudes at whichever big city you retired from and try just getting along with your fellow retirees, many of whom enjoy a morning walk with their neighbors on the multitude of designated sidewalks in our retirement community.

Instead of grumbling at them, try waving!

The diamond lanes ARE NOT sidewalks. The diamond lanes are lanes of the roadway designated for a particular purpose - in this case golf carts. It is only reasonable that pedestrians and bicyclists would also use this lane as they are normally required to stay near the edge of the roadway but that does not make the lane a sidewalk.

No it’s pretty plain it’s road. If walking abreast you hogging the path not sharing it.

Not harassing anyone just stating Florida regulations. But I see you have you own special interpretation.

it’s road. how hard is that to understand?

Totally agree, that’s why as walker including me have to ready to get out of road. Vehicle have several blind spots if you can’t see the head of driver they can’t see you.

That's funny! I guess The Villages is "walker friendly" if you are able to "leap to safety" on occasion.

I can see that the OP has trouble figuring out roundabouts, also.

So you’re one strolling down the diamond lane walking on white line looking for getto lottery.:coolsmiley:

From my home to Buena Vista up north is over a mile on shared roads. There are always many walkers and carts. When I’m driving I do my best to give every one of them a wide berth. I drive the speed limit when they’re present and move toward the center of the road when I can. When there is oncoming traffic, I slow down until I can move toward the center. BUT to allow myself the freedom to do this, I have to leave early if I have an appointment. This shouldn’t be a hard concept in a 55+ community.

So what's your point?
I can guarantee you in the state of Florida if you hit a pedestrian with your golf cart you are going to pay dearly through your insurance company and maybe even beyond that. Unless you can somehow prove that pedestrian jumped out in front of you and you were not able to stop your cart in time you are liable. As far as criminally the first thing a police officer is going to ask you is "did you see that pedestrian or not?"
You attempt to define MMP's under Florida law. Unfortunately your analysis is incorrect. The Community Development Districts (CDD) is a governmental body in the state of Florida. They define MMP's separately from roads, and their language is controlling.

The multi-modal paths are for use by NON-AUTOMOTIVE traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and skaters. It is not legal… nor is it smart…to drive vehicles such as smart cars, motorcycles, or mopeds on any of the multi-modal paths in The Villages.
Multi-Modal Path Information and Safety.

Actually Mo spent time in UK during his military service.
He learnt the proper way to negotiate a roundabout from the experts.
I always found serving and ex-cops were the main problem in roundabouts!:p

[QUOTE=Vermilion Villager;2280806]So what's your point?
I can guarantee you in the state of Florida if you hit a pedestrian with your golf cart you are going to pay dearly through your insurance company and maybe even beyond that. Unless you can somehow prove that pedestrian jumped out in front of you and you were not able to stop your cart in time you are liable. As far as criminally the first thing a police officer is going to ask you is "did you see that pedestrian or not?"
You attempt to define MMP's under Florida law. Unfortunately your analysis is incorrect. The Community Development Districts (CDD) is a governmental body in the state of Florida. They define MMP's separately from roads, and their language is controlling.

The multi-modal paths are for use by NON-AUTOMOTIVE traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and skaters. It is not legal… nor is it smart…to drive vehicles such as smart cars, motorcycles, or mopeds on any of the multi-modal paths in The Villages.
Multi-Modal Path Information and Safety.[/QUOTE

Hitting someone has nothing to do with following guidelines. You hit some one it on you or them? .

MMP fits description of road. Florida has rules for walking on road. Walkers need follow rules also for their own safety. I could add bikers must follow traffic laws when on road, MMP road, just like golf carts have to drive on right side and follow traffic laws. Why should walkers be any different?

Again I walk 4 miles day, I don’t hesitate to get out of road regardless if I’m in the right. It’s my responsibility to stay out of harms way. Also if golf cart approaching and vehicle close behind it I get out of diamond lane to remove possibly of accident when golf cart has to avoid me.

Unless they trying to make their third tee time? :gc:

I don’t hesitate to leap, jump, or dive.:D

Then why did you leave?

Might be the ME,ME,ME attitude that is mostly out of control in todays world and many times includes myself.

I’d just be happy if they wouldn’t walk in the dark, while wearing dark clothes, and not having any sort of reflective device or light…..

So what’s you saying they’re no rules right. So I can drive my golf cart down the left lane on MMP? NO! It still considered road by Florida definition regulations and that should trump minimum local unincorporated Opinion.

Might way read all rules on walking on streets/road/private roads

ttp://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.130.html


Definitions of roadway: Roadways means surfaces on which vehicles travel. This term includes public and private highways, roads, streets, parking areas, and driveways.

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine