Something New and Different I Saw Last Night...Golf Car Strategy
 

Right about sunset, I was coming home from a friend's house in my golf cart. Traveling south on Canal, approaching the Bonita traffic light, as I approached the exit gate a cart zoomed up from behind me, got right on my tail. I made the right on Bonita, and rather than passing me, he stuck about 5 feet off my back bumper. I kept slowing down so he'd go around me. It took a while but eventually he passed me. No license tag, and he was using the diamond lane.

When we got to the Buena Vista roundabout, rather than taking the mandatory left onto the MMP in order to negotiate BV via the tunnel, he went through the roundabout, very fast, ( there was no traffic at that moment on BV or on the roundabout so he had a clear shot), and like a rocket was gone, down St. Charles.

I was torn between being incensed at his blatant disregard for the rules of the road, and being amazed at his daring and brilliance in shaving a good 45 seconds off of his travel time.

I felt like Mr. Magoo puttering along at my pedestrian 18mph enjoying the beautiful evening air.

Either way he broke the law. If his cart is street legal he broke the law by being in the cart lane on a public street. If his cart is not street legal he broke the law by driving on B Vista not in a cart lane and in the traffic circle.

LOL, just need to get out of the way off the fools, which is not so easy when in a diamond land.

I love it when they cut over early to avoid the crossing at the gate and zoom up the exit lane.

Not suggestion to do it but if the speed limit in a roundabout is 20 mph, is it illegal?

There's a residential street into a Meggison roundabout at Okahumpka Rec Center that does not have a "No carts past this point sign." Noticed Carts frequently crossing there to get to the rec center?

Maybe he is a secret agent on his way to save the world. But, more likely, just another self entitled "it's all about me" axehowl.

I loved watching Mr Magoo!

Always amazes me when someone speeds and ignores the rules of the road because they can't handle the slow speed of their golf cart. Here's a suggestion for them, IF YOU ARE IN A HURRY TAKE YOUR CAR.

I suspect that when he's in an automobile, 10 mph over the limit is not acceptable either, and he'd be doing 50 on BV.

Where's the Sheriff in the golf cart when you need him ?

Unless you live in the Historic Section, and want to get to Spanish Springs town square. It's actually quicker by golf cart. No traffic lights.

correction 10 miles over on BV is 45mph

I saw something different last night. On the other side of Meggison across from Sawgrass, golf carts were lined up on the grass up against the road. I guess you might need to drive on golf course to get there, but I could be wrong.

I figure Wingnut will be all over this soon enough.

who are correcting? did someone say otherwise?

Did you at least raise your fist and yell ‘Road Hog’! ;)

I'm tempted....
 

As a resident of that neighborhood, I am often tempted to bypass the cart path down to the tunnel and then back up the other side to get to Lake O Rec. The round-about route would save so much time.

Ah well, would if I could, but I can't so I don't... :sad:

It might be worth asking the question. Either they missed putting up a sign or it is permitted.

May be less risky compared to golf carts on the roads without diamond lanes around Colony Plaza and Moyer Loop by the Walmart.

Keep your head on a swivel and your eyes open there.

(broke the law by being in the cart lane on a public street). What is the stature that covers this?

i

I was waiting for this question. LSVs are registered motor vehicles and not allowed in the diamond lanes. Ref the ticket given to a villager last week from the on line "other" news feed. Many years ago I attended a golf cart safety program by the Sheriff dept and this question came up. The sheriff did indeed acknowledge this to be true. Do they regularly enforce this rule ? Do they regularly enforce the golf cart speed limit rule ? Not usually but we can was the deputy's answer.

"Villager caught improperly operating Street Legal golf cart winds up behind bars" April 11

where are the police when you need one? Actually, Rusty, it is NOT illegal for a street legal cart to use the golf cart lane. If you would go to the golf cart safety clinic given on May 15 at Colony Cottage, you will get the actual true correct answer.

The correct answer is in the FL statutes. Can anyone cite statutes that can confirm this one way or the other. Everything else is hearsay.

I already attended one. Please let us know how that turns out for you.

"The Michigan native “demanded” to know why he was being stopped. The officer pointed out that ----- had been traveling at 25 mph. ---- pointed to his license plate and said his golf cart was classified as a Low Speed Vehicle, also known as Street Legal. However, the officer reminded ---- that a Low Speed Vehicle is prohibited from traveling in the golf cart lane."

Doesn’t mean the cop was correct!

Concur. And this is also true for the MMPs. They're private property, owned by the CDDs, so TV can make the rules. Their own rules say

"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."

An LSV is a vehicle by definition. It may look like a golf cart, but it isn't. If you choose to make your golf cart "street legal" by speeding it up, adding a new windshield and wipers, seat belts, and the other required devices, then it's no longer eligible to go on the MMP or in the diamond lanes. But of course, then you can legally go through the 20mph roundabout...

Very true. Also true ignorance of the law will not nullify a citation.

He probably lost his license for previous driving crimes.

I have sent an email to The Villages and Sumter County Sherriffs office about the “no carts past this point” missing on both Richmond and St. John’s sides of the roundabout and if they were permitting carts to go back and forth through the roundabout…never received a reply from either.

LSVs ARE allowed on the MMPs as has been stated many times. There is a document linked from districtgov.org that specifically states this but I'm not interested in finding it again.

Still looking for the Florida statute that speaks to diamond lanes.

I worked in public safety for over 31 years in another state. Most local jurisdictions are able to take state law and make stricter local laws if necessary but not relax state laws.

~

They rarely catch the obnoxious law breakers, only the guy that rolls through stop sign when there nothing in site except LEO behind bush :police:

Shouldn’t be allowed on MMP paths either. :shocked: :D

Might be wildwood city ordinance?

Interesting, thanks!

I would like to know the speed limit on MMP? What I read Florida statues state that only golf cart can NOT exceed 20 MPH. So that means bicycles, unlicensed electric (bikes) scooters, LSV’s can go as fast as they want? :icon_bored:

Maybe he had an urgent need of a bathroom. That might explain why he was driving like he was full of you know what.

Maybe, but that would not cover roads north of 44 such as Hillsborough or Pinellas.

I haven't found anything in Florida statutes or Sumter County ordinances though it's certainly possible that I missed something.

Diamond lanes are lanes designated for a particular purpose. Usually (should be always?) they are marked with what that purpose is: HOV lane, bicycle lane, etc. Ours are not marked at all as far as I can tell.

Some might argue that they are clearly for golf carts as most begin or end at an MMP. If I travel along an MMP and reach a road such as Pinellas, the MMP funnels into the diamond lane so clearly that is where the golf carts are intended to remain. Okay, that's fine, but then since LSVs are allowed on the MMPs it would only make sense that they are also allowed in the diamond lanes that the MMPs funnel into.

There might be a law/statute/ordinance/whatever but it is not easy to find and it is not clearly marked on the roadway.

You are incorrect. Street legal vehicles can legally drive in the cart lane. They just have to adhere to 20 mph speed limit.

Every state has different laws about e bikes and how fast to go. Mine CAN go to 60 but if a cop sees that I'm getting a ticket.

My electric golf cart is limited to a top speed of 22mph, which (I know) is 2mph over the legal speed limit for a unregistered motor vehicle. There is no reason to pass me. Yet, it happens every day, usually by jacked up gas Yamahas. I would love to see more of these required to pay the Judge a visit in Bushnell.

I saw something different this week also. A lady was driving a golf cart in Brownwood. In the golf bag well in the back was a 5 year old sitting with her legs dangling over the bumper.
Real nice.

?
 

Probably just a tourist i have seen a few driving down the middle of buena vista happy as a lark