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.