Another bicyclist almost killed
 

A bicyclist was hit by a car this AM. He had done nothing wrong and could have been killed because someone was probably in a little hurray.
I am appealing to the selfish side of the hurray up people to think about how long they may be delayed if they have to stay at an accident to finish the police interview and wait for the medical transport to leave. Not to mention how they might feel after killing someone's grandma or grandpa.
Roundabouts - 20 MPH before you enter
Most streets - 30 Mph or LESS! (Yes 30 MPH is very slow)

Deep breaths please, Tzangrilli, the tone of your posts sounds as if you think all of us are careless and don't care.

What happened and where and how could this accident been avoided?

More facts. I understand your being upset...but help us here. We are mostly careful and caring people.

A perceived tone of the OP's statement does not apply to ALL OF US; only if you're a "hurry up" and selfish person.

As you state...most of us are careful and caring people but we do have speed limits for a reason. This is the consequence when people are careless and speeding.

The exact reason I don't ride my bikes on or near the main roads in the Villages.

After re-reading his post, you are right.

But what happened?

This morning around 9:00 there was a tremendous backup on Buena Vista that look like it extended past the next roundabout heading north. I was coming from LSL on Stillwater. I guess the accident caused the backup.

John

Dangerous roadways
 

Personally, I would like to see bicyclists ride on the golf cart path. I think it would be much safer. When I see cyclists on the main roads/in the round abouts I think of how dangerous it is for them. They aren't a motor vehicle but some of them act like they are and I find it sometimes problematic to navigate around them, especially when the roads are so busy. I would much rather encounter a biker or a pack of bickers on the golf cart path when I'm going much slower.

Actually--I believe virtually every residential street in The Villages has a 20MPH limit ( other than Morse and Buena Vista ). Next time you drive down your own residential street make it a point to go no faster than 20MPH. You wll find that is plenty fast enough in a residential area--and you will fnd that MANY of your neighbors are exceedng the limit. What we need to do is to bring this subject up at our monthly neighborhood meetings!

Nope. Actually streets with cart/bicycle paths separate from the roadway (Morse south of 466, Buena Vista, parts of Stillwater) are 35mph. Streets with dedicated cart/bicycle paths on the roadway are 30mph. Neighborhood streets are 20 or less.

I agree bikes on the cartpath.

As a solo biker I ride on the road but on the side and signal my moves. When I first started I tried the GC trails holy crap those early morning GC drives did everything but crash me, I got cussed at ,flipped off, dam near hit twice that was it for me. I watch my mirror on the roadway, have front and rear lights as well as bright tops or my vest and helmet on at all times. The roadway is a lot safer. As for those that ride in groups they should read the bike rules because they certainly don't abide by the rules

Doesn't surprise me !!!
 

I ride a Honda Goldwing Motorcycle which is a BIG lunker of a touring motorcycle, if you didn't know and it scares me to death to ride into, around or leave our community. I've ridden all over the United States and have never experienced drivers as I have experienced here in this community. I've had drivers look right at me then pull out in front of me, try to change lanes into me or merge into my lane and golfcarts attempt to make u-turns not more than fifteen feet in front of me... :22yikes:

So that is why I say "This doesn't surprise me".....

Like has been said.... "SLOW DOWN, THINK" because you are NOT the only driver on the road and besides what "you" may think "YOU DO NOT OWN THE ROAD."


(Flame suit installed)

I consider this to be a very sensible suggestion.

Certainly, it is not a cure-all, but if someone has to overtake you in order to go faster then he/she may well be happy to remain at your speed instead.

And if we can slow down the average speed of traffic in our residential areas (without being silly about it) then the roads will be safer for everyone.

Speaking of bicyclists...MOST seem to know the rules of the road which I appreciate.

That being said...yesterday afternoon around 3, on Odell there were 2 women who were riding together. One was in the diamond trail while her companion seemed to want to ride tandom (along side of her) but was trying to stay on the outside white line---BUT would weave! I think they were chatting so she didn't have complete control of her bike. We were in our golf-cart and trailed them until we could pass them. It seemed as if she had a death wish!!! Just think if a car-driver whose depth perception isn't what it once was could have collided with her.

About 4:00 this afternoon I was in my cart at a stop sign waiting to cross St. Charles westbound. Two bicyclist were headed north on St. Charles and moved from the cart lane to the car lane to make a westbound left turn at my intersection. The bicyclist looked to be a father in his 30's and a son about age 10 on a bicycle that was way too big for him. They stopped for oncoming southbound traffic, well at least the father stopped. The son appeared to not want to stop and put his feet down, maybe because the bike was way too big. Instead the boy veered to his right back into the golf cart lane where a northbound EZGO cart going about 20mph had to make a drastic move over the curb and up onto the sidewalk. Fortunately no one was on the sidewalk, the boy startled by the cart suddenly swerved back toward the center of the street crossing the yellow line causing a southbound SUV to slam on his brakes.

The father sitting on his bike still in the middle of the road, tried to grab his kid twice as he rode by and I sitting in my cart about 30' away as a helpless bystander, yelled out 'Stop'. The boy finally realized all was not well as his father grabbed the handlebars of his bike. Just another day at the intersection of Tamarind Grove Blvd and St. Charles, the site of numerous accidents and a fatality in June 2011.


.

Wonder what the exact circumstances were? Does anyone know that the cyclist did, or didn't, do something wrong? Let's not jump to conclusions without facts. I've already seen comments regarding where and how cyclists should ride in TV, or how bad our motor vehicle drivers are. Regardless of how fervently held those beliefs may be, they don't add to the understanding of this particular case.

Unfortunately, we will not likely ever know the details of the case, unless one or more TOTV members actually witnessed the event.

:agree:

I almost witnessed a bicycle-cart accident this afternoon. We were on the cart path of Buena Vista approaching Old Mill Run heading south. Two cyclists were on OMR approaching where the golf carts cross to the other side of the cart path. A golf cart coming across the road heading north, either didn't see the riders or didn't care. It was a near miss and the cart driver's fault. Yelling from all parties could be heard all the way to Fruitland Park...;) If there had been a collision, I'm sure injuries would have been severe. Hope all parties realize how fortunate they were that no one was hurt and they all are more cautious.

Not just people hurrying........
 

As much as it pains me to say, and with the potential for being "piled on", it is not always people hurrying who are the cause of, or involved in accidents. I would submit that there are people who are still driving that really need to surrender their license (or if they need the license for ID, should sell their car/stop driving). My mother recognized that she was losing depth perception when she was in her early 60's and had already stopped driving at night. She sold her car and surrendered her license. I am thankful that she did this not only for removing the potential for her hurting someone else, but also possibly hurting herself.

Hopefully if anyone recognizes themselves as possibly being in this "pool" of people, they will consider the harm that can be caused by their erroding abilities. Is killing someone worth the price of perceived independence? Remember that driving is a privilege and not a right. (Time to get off my soapbox.....)

Just asking for some caution, that's all. Cars, carts, walkers, cyclists.

, was struck by a car while going around the Buena Vista and Old Mill Run traffic circle on Monday, March 18th on his way to the Barnes & Noble ride start. Xxxx was transported to the Villages Regional Hospital, treated and released. He has plenty of road rash, but no fractures or serious injuries. Xxxxx understands the car driver was issued a citation. Xxxx credits his helmet for saving his life.

member, was struck by a car while going around the Morse Blvd. and Old Mill Rd traffic circle on Wednesday, March 6th. Xxxxx was transported to the Villages Regional Hospital, treated and released. Xxxxx has a broken scapula and two broken ribs.

:agree:

Whose fault is it?
 

Problem drivers in The Villages.

You take your life into your hands when you drive around this town.
The roundabouts are full of nuts, the squares are full of clowns.
The golf cart drivers go too fast and swerve around the bikes.
Bikers waive and wobble and give car drivers all the frights.

Contractors don't give a care, don't even live right here.
Young vistors zoom around in carts sending olders the Bronx cheer.
Some people dodge and weave and race and zoom all down the roads.
While others just drone along likes snails and jump around like toads.

Car drivers blame the bikers, and the bikers won't take the blame.
Cart drivers blame them both and say "ain't it all a shame?"
That they don't know how to drive and I am so danged good.
I wish they had more who drove like me in my new neighborhood.

Boomers blame the older folks from the greatest generation.
And those sweet folks think the New Yorkers are the worst in the whole nation.
Ohio folks think drivers from both coasts could learn a lot from them.
And California newbies say it's Southern folks causing alll the mayhem.

Most came to find a perfect place and looked forward to a cart.
To whiz them here and take them there and to the grocery mart.
They arrive to see that there are thousands with the all the same fine plan.
And all surmise they are the best drivers, every girl and man.

They tell the others they are wrong, not our fault, the traffic jams
The accidents, the fender benders the awful screeching slams.
If you would change your ways, not mine than a fine place this would be.
I kinda think that each of us needs to look at our own selves carefully.

Clever
 

Very clever Gracie. :mademyday:

Skip,
I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I also commend you for following bikers rules of the road. So often I've seen groups of bikers blowing right through stop signs or signals. What are they thinking??!!

We were on the ninth hole of Sand Hill when fire engines and rescue arrived at the roundabout at Buena Vista and St. Charles near the St James Gate.
It was about 9am. Lots of Villages maintenance people working on the landscaping on the rotary at time so we thought something happened to one of them. Second fire engine and second rescue arrived but we couldn't see any car accident. This may have been the bicycle accident.

Once again, the car driver is vilified and presumed "guilty" of speeding/being in a hurry.......when MAYBE....JUST MAYBE.....the bicyclist was negligent and riding hazardously!!!!!

AND, this was probably an ACCIDENT....a concept many refuse to admit exists.

Raynan, I believe the bicycle accident on Buena Vista was up by Lake Sumter. Hubby works for Community Watch and it came across this radio. He called me, as he knew I was headed that way and told me to take Morse. Within about 10 minutes he called back to say it was clear.
I only hope whoever was involved in the accident, no matter who was to blame, are okay this evening!

And that is the bottom line. I know you speak for all of us.

I rode my bike, along with 700 others, from Seattle, WA to Washington, DC all of it was on roads. We were required to wear helmets and ride single file. Roads are really the safest places to be and cyclists have the legal right to be there. Watch out for cyclists as you would for pedestrians.

Hate to hear of any accidents, but I have always wondered WHY any bicycle is allowed on the road when I am not allowed on the road in my golf cart (unless specifically marked). I have more protection in a golf cart than a bicyclist does. If I drive on a road in my golf cart that is not marked for golf carts, I will get a fine, so in MHO bicycles belong on the cart path, not on our roads.

Riding a bicycle on a road is a state law not a Villages rule. How would one ride to a destination, say Ocala, if there is no bike path to get there. The law does state you must use a bike lane when available. The only designatied bike lane in The Villages is Morse Blvd. North of 466, although a bicycle is allowed on the multi modal trails, they are not required to use them.

As an avid cyclist, I have "retired" from cycling in TV. After almost being hit twice (not in traffic circles). I have always preferred to ride on the road and even tried riding on the paths to the same experience of an earlier poster.
I was riding the white line down Buena Vista and a car passed me so close that if I had bobbled at all I would have been taken out. I do not believe the driver EVER saw me. I think too many drivers believe that they should not have to slow down to pass a biker and that two cars and the biker can fit safely on the roadway...it is just not the case. Though I have the legal right to be on the road in TV I choose to live a longer life.

A big part of the problem with bicyclists on the roadways here is that 9 out of 10 do absolutely nothing to make themselves more visible to car/truck drivers.

All bike riders, especially the low recumbent ones, need to wear bright orange/yellow/hot pink shirts, and put flourescent orange safety flags on the back of the bike. Often, if a person does have a flag or two, it's faded and useless...not any more visible than the pavement.

Awesome accomplishment, Richard!:22yikes: Good points on road riding and safety, as well.

Along those lines, how about All vehicles need to pay attention to the road and others on the road and obey the speed limit. I wish I could count how many times I have people come beside me and shake their fist and swerve into the lane closer to me. I know they could see me, so must have been other reason.........

It is not all the cyclist. I have never in my 49 years of living here seen so many retired folk in a hurry to get somewhere to do nothing but play golf, drink coffee at starbucks before it gets crowded and just be in a hurry for no reason. I am talking to the ones that drive like they are 2 hours late for a important date.

Now this post is to those that it applies to. Most people here are the friendliest in the world. I have had many fine people ride up beside me and tell me come on you can do it and so on. But to the couple in the red Mini-Van this past Saturday Morning about 1130am going north on Buena Vista turning right onto Stillwater, There must have been a divine intervention that made you take off after what you did. That was down right wrong and do not think it went unnoticed. :grumpy:

Gary, I always know I can count on your posts for validity and from the perspective of a younger person. You have added so much accurate information over time and I know when I see your name that you will be fair and give excellent information.

It saddens me to say that there are those in this world who don't care about ANYONE but themselves and have some very thinly veiled cruel tendencies. They never ever try to control their impulses and enjoy hurting others and never try to see anything from another's point of view.

You see in on this forum, from folks who NEVER allow anyone to really KNOW them and come in and jab at most of the things the rest of us love.They enjoy trouble and they start things. They really do not know how to live peacefully among their fellow men (and women) on this earth. They DON't WANT to live peacefully. They thrive on trouble making.

Those are the people who are uncaring on the roads. As you say, most of us try to drive very carefully but that can't undo the harm done by the others. Unfortunatly, there are still nasty, bad, even evil people in this world...and I don't use the word evil very often.

Be very careful Gary. There are those who do care.

Oh My! Not on the golf cart path please! Those bike people ride 2 and 3 abreast in the street and never move over when cars approach. It;s bad enough on the paths with walkers who walk together and don't budge.

What we need is to have police out there ticketing people going over the speed limit.

It is NOT a golf cart path, it is a multi modal trail meant for all to share.
No more than 2 abreast is the FL bicycle law which means if 2 cyclists are in a lane on a 4 lane road the car should move to the other lane if it would like to pass.

Good point. The applicable law is 316.2065(6) which allows cyclists to ride up to 2 abreast within a single lane and when not impeding traffic. In a substandard sized lane (under 14 feet wide) a cyclist and a motor vehicle cannot share the same lane and still afford at least 3 feet of clearance for the cyclist, as required by Florida law 316.083. To lawfully pass a cyclist on such roads, the motor vehicle driver would have to pass using the next lane, if otherwise lawful. Therefore, cyclists riding 2 abreast cause no additional impediment to traffic. Please note that many of the lanes in TV are well under 14 feet wide.