Golf Cart Access Via Woodridge
 

Does anyone remember when we use to be able to go to Walmart ( 466 ) in our golf carts via Woodridge and enter the Walmart parking lot from the back entrance? That was such a safer route versus using the tunnel that we have to currently use right there at Steak & Shake to get to Walmart. Wedgewood Lane is generally quite busy and of course it surely increases during season. The area after exiting the tunnel to cross into Walmart can get pretty congested. Does anyone agree with me? I would be interested in learning the protocol for the right steps to see if golf carts could legally continue straight thru on Woodridge instead of using the tunnel afterall it is only one more block of travel & crossing over 103 which surely has less traffic in that area. Who do I contact regarding this? Thanks in advance for any opinions, suggestions, thoughts, or ideas on this.

I can't remember ever being able to access Walmart by using Woodridge Road, crossing CR 103 and going in the back entrance. :22yikes: I don't think that has ever been legal. It's always been a requirement to take Wedgewood Lane and use the tunnel under CR. 103. Otherwise you'll be getting a hefty ticket. :police:

To the best of my knowledge, no golf cart can ever cross a Country Road unless it is a licensed Street Legal Golf Cart. I think you'd find it a lot easier to buy a Street Legal than to change the policy on Country Roads!

There has never been access from Woodridge.

At one time I also entered Walmart from the road behind the store. It was prior to Bealls being built and when the buffalo still roamed.

I believe it has never been legal to cross CR 103 in a golf cart. Just because many people did, it just means they never got caught!

And some people continue to drive across CR 103 today! Please drive to Wedgewood and take the tunnel. Otherwise you may be complaining on TOTV about the fact you were ticketed and paid a hefty fine.

Oh, and by the way, I often see golf carts on both Wedgewood and Woodbridge, zooming across CR 101. And they're not Street Legal carts. Either they don't know about the tunnel, or they just can't be bothered using it. CR 101 is extremely busy, and it's a very dangerous thing to do.

I am not saying I crossed 103 illegally..I am not saying I want to do it illegally.. I don't want to buy a street legal cart and I am not talking about crossing 101 I;m talking about 103. I simply was asking for opinions & suggestions of how to go about the proper procedure to see if it could become permissible. When Walmart was first built and maybe as mentioned until Bealls was built, traveling to Walmart was done on Woodridge and crossing 103 was permitted. Some or many may not remember that but that's how it was. After some time there appeared a sign on Woodridge near the Hair Academy "no carts beyond this point". The tunnel was complete and that became the legal route. Since permission has been granted to cross 441 somewhere near Stonecrest I thought it could be a possibility to get permission granted to legally cross 103 as I feel the current route is quite hectic. Didn't think my original post would get so misconstrued.

I agree with you, kaydee. CR 103 is a relatively low traffic road and I personally don't see what the problem would be if they allowed crossing through that intersection any more than any of the other intersections on Wedgewood or Woodbridge. Maybe it's because the developer doesn't want it to seem like they wasted their money building that expensive tunnel and then not having to use it.

Kaydee, I don't think the intent of your original post was misconstrued. We were just chatting about the fact that none of us can remember it ever being legal to cross CR 103 in a golf cart.

Perhaps Janet Tutt could steer you in the right direction. She seems to know a lot about Village business, and how to get things done. If permission was granted to cross CR 441 by golf cart, could it be that there was already a stoplight there, with a crossing for foot traffic?

Kaydee, I'm with you on this. The tunnel route by Steak and Shake is unsafe on both sides of the tunnel. During the season, it is congested and scary.

yes, as soon as you exit, you have to cross that busy street in front of Walmart.

Thank you for suggesting my contacting Janet Tutt. Not sure if the crossing on 441 has anything to do with the existing stoplight or not but surely a possibility.

The law that was passed last year about GOLF Carts crossing main roads does not apply to US27/441. It is NOT Legal to drive across this main street with or without a signal. If it was why is Stonecrest CRYING about the new wall/gate the villages is erecting on Paradise and NE 134th st preventing their seniors from getting to the medical buildings on the west side of US27/441. Better be careful where you drive your golf cart or a nice police man will give you a present you won't like. Some things in life are a little inconvenient but in the long run MUCH safer than the alternative. Are you really in that big a hurry. But with that being said I agree after you coming out of the tunnel trying to get to Walmart it is a dangerous street to cross BEWARE of OLD people driving. As I am ONE of them I can say that. LOL This is where some type of change should be made. What is the solution?

personally speaking, one solution to what I think is a dangerous area trying to get into walmart on 466 after coming out of the tunnel is, to do what use to be allowed and cross 104 and enter walmart from the back. It is by far safer, no blind areas and far less traffic.

I'm not sure the back route to Walmart is entirely The Villages property. But if it is, I love the idea.

KayDee First of all the road is CR103 not 104. As I think about it your idea would probably work OK. I have traveled down Woodbridge going to the Urologist on CR103 with my golf cart ...wife had car... not knowing I couldn't go all the way to CR 103 according to the sign. But I had no choice so I did it anyway and went up CR103 to the Urologist. After that I needed to go to Walmart so I traveled left to the back entrance.... went fine no issues. As you have said the traffic was very very minimal...more traffic on my own street than was on CR103. I don't know why Sumter can't allow traffic to cross CR103 and still restrict carts from going right or left on CR103. It doesn't really matter if The Villages owns that property or not does it? It's a public road and we all pay our taxes to keep it up. Interesting to see if there is a solution to this issue???? Tunnel will still be available to those that want to go to the businesses to the left side of the road.

I think that crossing any County Road is illegal in a golf cart, unless it's a street legal cart.
That's why there are tunnels under CR 466, CR 101 and CR 103.

I think what you're suggesting would merit a hefty fine if Danno catches you.

Many Florida cities and towns allow golf carts on public roads. It is up to each municipality to establish rules about the proper crossing of major thoroughfares.

The crossing of county roads is allowed at other intersections. Golf carts cross Rainey Trail/472 between Bridgeport at Lake Miona and Lynnhaven. I previously had a street legal cart and could enter WalMart from the back entrance. This is a far safer route.

There is a sign on Woodridge "No golf carts beyond this point" which prohibits crossing CR 103. It may be safer in your opinion, but it's illegal. I wouldn't risk a ticket, or worse, being involved in an accident while being on the road illegally. :eek:

The tunnel under CR 103 on Wedgewood was built to give access to Walmart, High Five Yoghurt, etc.

Yes we know WHY the tunnel was built but someone needs to figure out a way for the golf carts to cross Wedgewood safely to get to Walmart. The traffic coming from Walmart and both ways on Wedgewood makes it a "Take my chances and go now attitude....it's not safe. As I said earlier in a post if your going to the businesses on the left High Five Yogurt and NYC Pizza & etc it's great. You take your chances going to Walmart in a golf cart....sometimes it's even tough getting out of Walmart's with a car.

The answer is:

You can operate a golf cart on (or across) a public road ONLY if the appropriate governmental agency approves it.

County Road? Contact County government.
State Road? Contact State government.

An excerpt from the State Law regarding golf carts on public roads reads:

The 2013 Florida Statutes


Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
View Entire Chapter
316.212 Operation of golf carts on certain roadways.—The operation of a golf cart upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohibited except as provided herein:
(1) A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road that has been designated by a county, or a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality, for use by golf carts. Prior to making such a designation, the responsible local governmental entity must first determine that golf carts may safely travel on or cross the public road or street, considering factors including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the road or street. Upon a determination that golf carts may be safely operated on a designated road or street, the responsible governmental entity shall post appropriate signs to indicate that such operation is allowed.

The full text is at: Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

As this post indicated, ALL types of golf carts are allowed to cross Rainey Trail/ Country Road 472. There isn't a light or any thing else at this intersection, but carts can cross a Sumter County road. That probably was because when TV built the new section for homes, they had to provide some method for crossing the county road and a tunnel was too expensive. And Rainey Trail is MUCH more traveled than CR103 by Walmart.

So the question I have is "if regular golf carts can be allowed to cross one county road, why can't they cross another with the same level of controls"? In this case, there is a stop sign to force carts to stop before crossing CR103.

If anyone is even thinking of taking a chance and crossing 103 to get to Walmart, please please think twice. This road is becoming a short cut from 301 through to 466 and beyond and traffic is increasing every day. The traffic on 103 is not Village traffic, it's very often big four wheel pick ups and they coming steaming through that intersection - they do not have a stop sign so they just go straight through. If you drive 103 you will find there is a very nice housing development and some beautiful homes built through there, they are local people who drive mainly pick up trucks and they are moving!

Yes I know there is a sign there " no golf carts beyond this point". I do not ignore the sign and proceed across CR 103. I absolutely would not risk getting a ticket. I originally started this thread asking if people remembered at one time being able to cross CR 103. This was before the "no golf carts beyond this point" sign. I was merely stating my opinion and seeing if any one agreed with me in regards to that area of CR103 being safer due to less traffic and a clearer view of oncoming traffic versus the tunnel area leading to Walmart. Again in my opinion, I personally feel & wish golf carts were legally permitted to cross CR103 & enter Walmart from the back. Currently I avoid Wedgewood while driving my golf cart due to traffic and careless drivers. I always use Woodridge, turn left just prior to the infamous cart sign, would prefer to continue across CR 103.

I agree with you Kaydee. I wish we could take Woodridge and legally cross CR 103, rather than taking the Wedgewood tunnel. It's a zoo on Wedgewood and will only get worse.

Kaydee for President!

I'd settle for Kaydee for Police Chief. And then he could station an Officer on CR 103 to wave golf carts through.

In my humble opinion, I think this matter needs a lot more thought. For instance, golf carts in TV are being driven alongside vehicles most of which are being driven by Villagers who probably give some level of consideration to the golf cart. However, once you get outside the actual Villages and into an area such as 103/Walmart/Bealls etc., you no longer have the protection of driving alongside Villagers, you are at the mercy of local drivers who really do not care whether you are in a golf cart or not and will probably not give you much consideration or clearance. I have used my golf cart only once to shop through that area, once was enough, now I prefer the safety of my car.

I have recently seen police cars positioned under the large oak trees just before you get to Walmart's back entrance, pushed back into the intersecting lanes and they are regularly parked at the postal station on the right hand side. They also favor what looks like a parking area at the side of Bealls store.

You rock, Kaydee! Great idea!!! :BigApplause:

Crossing 441 had not been approved yet. Still waiting on DOT to sign off and it is my understanding they have not done so yet.

Help me understand what is wrong with the tunnel?

Bogie, there nothing wrong with the tunnel. The area of concern is attempting to get into Walmart which surely is possible of course but it is a busy and sometimes conjested area. I just feel it is safer due to less traffic to be allowed to cross CR103.

:agree: