[Lone Traveller]

We’re starting the process of adapting my golf cart for the Villages. There is a question of speed. The people want to set the sped chip at 10 MPH. My concern is for the safety of others as well as myself. Will a golf cart traveling 10 MPH create a hazardous situation for everybody? I have been told a lot of people creep along slowly, but when I visited the Village it appeared everybody drove golf carts with the pedal to the metal. I looking at getting pennants with the handicapped symbol to fly on the golf cart, as a way to let others know the person in control of the golf cart isn’t the most competent driver in the world. From what I read here there are a lot of bad and irresponsible drivers in the Villages, so maybe I shouldn’t worry. I want to be a good neighbor, even if that means forgoing living in the Villages.

[Avista]

Speed limit for Golf Carts is 20 mph. If you go only 10 MPH, you may be a hazard as everyone will be passing you.

[duffysmom]

Lone Travellor, I'm happy to hear that you have worked out the many hurdles you encountered in being mobile in TV. You will love it here. Please do not worry about your speed. There are many bikers on the cart paths as well as walkers and we accommodate them so why not a slow cart. You will need to keep a positive attitude since some people are impatient and drive too fast but that is there problem not yours. Come on down.

There are a lot of areas in the Villages-- especially north of CR466-- which have very narrow golf cart lanes on the public streets along with many cars and/or trucks going over 30 mph. Morse Avenue for instance above CR466 has these quite narrow golf cart paths.

Slow golf carts would pose a hazard on many of these narrow golf paths with a heavy volume of street legal vehicles.

Many of the golf cart paths south of CR466 are wide and are up on the well manicured Villages community greens and would probably not be that much of a hazard to a slow golf cart.

If you move to the southern portions of the Villages --around CR466a-- and stay pretty much south of CR466 in your golf cart a slow golf cart could be OK.

[dadspet]

I never heard of anyone wanting to set the cart speed as low as 10mph. WOW thats slow.

I rented a cart from the villages for golf once and it was set to slow. n the shourt distance I dove to the golf course I felt like I was like a parade leader since ALL carts are twice as fast as that and will be behind you trying to pass creating a dangerous situation and it will make you fell uneasy with all those carts behind you.

[zcaveman]

I would have no problem with it as long as when you look behind you and see the parade, you pull over to the shoulder and let everyone pass.

[Talk Host]

You are going to find, in short order, that 10 miles an hour is half the speed that you will want to go. Around 20 miles per hour is the norm. That's what you should strive for.

At 10 miles per hour, it would take you over an hour to travel the current length of the Villages. Last week, my friend and I went from Chatham in the north to Havana Golf Course in the south. His cart travels at a little over 20 and it took us a full 45 minutes.

[Army Guy]

I totally agree about needing the 20 mph speed. The last several trips down we have gotten a loaner golf cart while waiting for ours to be built. They are SLOW! At times I felt like I could walk faster! Thank-god our cart is now in and will be delivered on our next trip down.

Army Guy

[Ohiogirl]

Lone Traveller - please correct me if I'm wrong, but I interpreted your post as saying you have some type of handicap and don't feel safe at driving more than 10 mph due to your driving ability. That's no different than some of the elderly (which we all hope we will someday be if not already are) drivers, or inexperienced golf cart drivers or just plain not good drivers.

If I live to be elderly, or develop a disability and don't feel safe going 20 mph anymore, I hope to still be driving around in The Villages at 10 mph as long as it is safely possible. That's one of the great attractions to a golf cart community! I think a well defined and visible handicap sign front and back (especially back) is a great idea and will alert others to be a little more careful and considerate when passing. Also, I agree that a good idea is to pull over when space allows to allow others to pass even more safely.

It's probably also a good idea to limit the areas you go to by golf cart and avoid the somewhat tricky/dangerous ones. Cabs are also available in The Villages, and I think you will find also that friendly neighbors might offer to drive (in their golf carts or cars) for errand running, etc. Once you join some clubs/activities you might also find drivers who would take you with them in their carts some of the time.

In short, I think there are ways you can be accommodated and live a much more active life in The Villages than on the outside. It's what appeals to many of us when looking at the long term (or should, at least IMHO).

I'm not there yet full time (but hope to be within 18 mos) but if there isn't already a volunteer group for assisting in transportation, then maybe there should or could be. Anyone? After all, probably the majority of the residents in The Villages are retired, many of whom are looking for some type of meaningful volunteer work and maybe could help out this way. Seems there could be lots of ways to organize it - by activities, neighborhoods, rec centers, etc. Is there some type of volunteer central that could help get this going?

[Lone Traveller]

For me safety comes before speed. So how long it may take to get somewhere is secondary.

Zcaveman: Of course I would always be pull over and let others pass. I would never want to impede others. Also there are probably periods of less traffic. I could take advantage of these.

Talk Host and Army Guy: I will have access to the speed so as I get more used to the golf cart I can increase the speed.

I know people who would move in and say, “I’m here. I’m slow. Deal with it.” That isn’t my way. I want to become a part of the community, not alienate everybody. That is one reason things are moving so slow. I want to make sure I’m a good fit in your community.. The question isn’t; is the Villages the right place for me? We know the answer to that is yes. The question is; I’m I going to fit into the Villages? The struggle continues to answer that question.

Some of you have offered to help me get around. I know the type of people you and that you mean that with every fiber of your being. I do appreciate the offers. We all know in the long run. You would eventually and properly so get tired of carting me around. I know I would very quickly get tired asking for rides. To me the Villages represents independence. If I can’t more around on my own there is little sense in moving.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by Avista

Speed limit for Golf Carts is 20 mph. If you go only 10 MPH, you may be a hazard as everyone will be passing you.

What about those people that have the flags on their motorized wheelchairs and travel around that way? The go to the postal station, grocery, etc. One lady that lived down the street from us used to take her little dog for a ride every afternoon on hers. (No, he was not a problem....her hubby did the walking and clean up duty at a different time.) I don't feel that they are the hazard...we are, if we are not patient, considerate, and watchful. Our golf cart is set to 19.6 mph and other carts fly around us all the time, but I don't think we're a hazard to them because we are slower...they are the hazard. Most of us here are retired and there's not that kind of need for speed....leave earlier or just be late. Kudos to the poster for wanting to remain independent and just come on down! Welcome!

[duffysmom]

Loan Travellor, another suggestion. Should you decide that TV is to be your home, I suggest that you look into the villages close to 466 where you have access to banks, grocery stores, walmart, restaurants, doctors and dentists. They are all a short cart ride away. I know that you are in the process of deciding whether or not TV is for you and I realize that you have a disability and are fiercely independent but from you notes I do think TV would be a good fit. Have you visited? Where else in the good old USA would you find so much available just a cart ride away? Come on down.