Dangerous => New Marsh Bend golf cart trail
 

I don’t know if many of you have been on it yet, but the new Marsh Bend Golf Cart trail is a bit dangerous.

The path has many 90° turns that are very tight and have serious blind spots. I have already witnessed one very bad (day time) golf cart crash at a blind turn.

There are no reflectors in any part of the path, it’s extremely dark and there are zero lights anywhere close to the path.

Is there a specific department where I/we can express our concerns to the villages?

Thanks

Single cart accident, or multiple cart accident. Since you were a witness, was speed involved or did it look like misjudging of path. Haven’t traveled new path yet, just wondering.

Is that a reflection of poor design or poor driving skills? There are plenty of "blind 90 degree" turns on other MMPs, and plenty of drivers who don't bother to slow down or pay attention.

But question: Is the Marsh Bend MMP open all the way down to Central Parkway now?

I drove the new path on Christmas Day. It was fine and people were driving sensibly.

However I believe TV should put reflectors into the center line of the pavement on the curves as they do on the other MMPs.

It’s probably a mix of both, but poor design is definitely a factor in my opinion. Yes, I believe it’s open to Central Parkway.

Multiple cart. I didn’t see it happen, I arrived just after.

Yes it is. took it down last week

So, someone cut the corner. That is not uncommon, unfortunately. The path is not dangerous, just some drivers.

Is it too hard to stay on your side of the road. Maybe it’s time for dash cams on carts.

To answer your specific question, contact your CDD with your concerns.

We have lived here for over 8 years. We do not own a golf cart and have no plans to buy one.

I have noticed that some golf cart drivers do not like to make sharp turns and they often swing wide into the lane in which I am driving. Maybe it is because the golf cart seats do not give enough lateral support or something like that.

Even a straight path is dangerous for a careless driver. I was on the path on Wednesday and had no problems. Not buying the hype.

I agree with the fact it's more likely the result of poor driving skills. Golf cart or automobile, it seems everyone wants to blame poor road design or the cart paths have too sharp of a turn versus common sense. Slow down and pay attention to what you should be doing. Allow adequate time to get where you need to go without possibly causing an accident.

No. It's because they don't like lifting their foot off the accelerator.

This is what happens when you have people whose eyesight is failing, their reflexes aren't as good as they were 30 years ago, and they've given up their driver's license because they're just not safe drivers anymore. And put those people into a golf cart community in a state that doesn't require them to have a driver's license to operate a golf cart.

Pro-tip: if you can't drive a car anymore, you probably shouldn't drive at all. For the safety of everyone ELSE.

Marsh Bend golf cart path
 

Yes

Ain't that the truth. I haven't been on this particular stretch, and probably won't ever since it's a long way from home. Going southbound on the MMP as it runs between the homes along the executive course (Turtle Mound?) the MMP takes a turn left to run parallel to 466A. Traffic in the opposite direction has a long straightaway from the tunnel and often hits that corner too fast to stay in the proper lane. This is not a unique design. But it's a dangerous one. I travel it fairly often and have learned to slow down and be defensive.

These MMPs are designed for speeds closer to 15mph, but everyone juices their carts up to closer to 25mph and then drifts off into Lala Land, making what was a sufficiently careful design dangerous.

You can't make the other dude slow down, but you can control your own speed, and be defensive.

Yep, I love that curve also. Especially when someone crossing from the 1st green to 2nd tee thinks they have the right of way to cross in front of both oncoming carts.

Agree the "Stevie Wonder" turns on that path are no different than others in The Villages. The edges are hard to see at night, especially when carts with bright center after market lights approach.

People need to slow down and be prepared to go off road to avoid accidents. But it does seem worse on that path and there are some distinction in that area.

Maybe a result of more than normal new drivers utilizing the Lifestyle homes and from Middletown who are unfamiliar with how things work. It's not unusual to see carts on Marsh Bend Trail.

We're seeing many "Lowes/ Kandi" 4-6 passenger "mini-van" sized carts that seem capable of speeds significantly exceeding 20 mpg . And some of the drivers don't look old enough to be behind the wheel alone.

If you don't own a golf cart and have no plans to buy one, how are other drivers swinging wide into your lane which you are driving?

Good question. The answer will be interesting.

Yes, the path is open all the way to Central Pkwy. Yes, it's curvy, but actually a pretty ride. Yes, there are no reflectors.....yet. I went head to head with the Infrastructure Dept about reflectors and center lane strips on the Meggison cart path when it first opened because it was so dark. It can be done if you push and keep on them. But it really all comes down to safe driving and paying attention!!!

Inside our village of Osceola Hills there are many places where the cars and golf carts share the same roads.

Pro Tip
 

Pro Tip, slow down! No different than driving a car on the street or highway. I don’t understand why people are compelled to speed!

I grew up in country were roads didn’t have marking or gravel. Never had problem staying on my side of road. In my area we have center markings And reflectors but people still can’t stay on their side of road especially on corners. markings and reflectors may help few IMO it won’t help solve problem due to road hogs or types that just don’t pay attention or have little driving skills.:shocked:

I got answer? They don’t know how to drive safely.

IMO age has nothing to do with it. It’s drivers. Sure some maybe over hill and shouldn’t be driving at night. But IMO mostly all driver age problem and that problem is bad driving or me me attitude.

I didn’t notice anything that made this MMP any different than others around TV. I definitely wouldn’t call it less safe.

Any issues are problems with golf cart drivers, not the path.

Almost every turn into a tunnel is 90 degrees but I guess you’re prepared for those. An unexpected 90 degree turn on an unlit path at night with no reflectors might give you a scare. I agree they do a better job of marking the paths in the northern sections.

Or, and this is just a thought, possess the driving skills necessary to navigate a MMP at night or not drive at that time.

Or putting their phone down.

Slow down, !

Some people have never driven cars or carts, before moving here

Yes it’s open all the way ……

Oh stop it already …..there’s nothing wrong with that new path. Don’t speed , pay attention and drive defensively and you won’t have any problems ……

Yes, the landscaping is Beautiful. It is good that they slow carts down.

True! I was driving along Bexley Trail south of the bridge coming from the Eastport area. There are two tunnels quite close at that “intersection”. Two carts were moving quite rapidly coming out of the tunnel east-bound under Bexley and were in my “lane.”
I had not driven this section of the MMP so I was being overly cautious perhaps. As many have already pointed out…slow down. Expect someone to come around the next blind corner at a higher than prudent speed.
I have driven my car along Marsh Bend and there are curves…sharp ones…but they are far from being blind corners like the one I describe at the south end of the Bexley Bridge. Be safe!

They may be swinging wide because they haven't slowed down enough to make a sharp turn.

:ohdear: :ohdear:

:bigbow:


:popcorn:

Keep the tires properly inflated and curves shouldn’t be a problem.