[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Over the last decade and more, more than twenty people have died from golf cart accidents in The Villages, and dozens more were seriously injured. Who ever is in charge of keeping golf carts out from other communities has my support. I would have to guess that almost all of the households have at least one golf cart, many have two. We are hovering now at 140,000 residents. That is lots and lots of golf carts with the potential for many accidents.

I imagine the reason you can't get IN, is because you don't live here and pay fees.

That doesn't really make sense either ? This is far from a "private" community, (as around Orlando) I have friends in two of them, they are FAR above the financial ability of most (not all of course) of the people who live here. They pay nearly 10K a year for private roads ONLY, that is not their many other costs and fees. ALL of our roads are public, therefore why someone from S.Creek would have to live here and pay fees makes absolutely no sense to me, but, not on here to posture and pretend to be an expert ! I would think anyone could come in the auto or golf cart until such a day that this becomes some kind of private, exclusive, community.... doubt that's going to happen with the majority of "middle class" (?) people retired here. The "gates" are for optics only. At a private community, landscapers, appliance service people, EVERYONE stays OUTSIDE the gates, EVERYONE, until the home owner is called and present. If anyone has lived in one of these knows, this is true. In the block of my village, one half of the residents have golf carts, and exactly the same number of homes do not. Don't play and don't care to drive around in the open air or with roll downs or club cabs, prefer their own autos. There are no fees for carts unless one intends to run them ON the golf courses, so, don't think anyone has to live here or pay anything to come here. I think it's possible they just don't know the WAY to come from some of the nearby developments like Spruce C.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Nick Kelly

The rationale , as I understand it, is the Village residents pay a cart fee to use and maintain the extensive cart paths. Since I use to live in Spruce Creek South I can understand your frustration as you can drive your car there but not your golf cart. Your money is good there to support the stores, restaurants and entertainment centers ( tickets are sold to the public) but yet you can't ride your golf cart over there. Years ago I suggested, on this site, that the Villages sell gate passes to our neighbors who support the villages. That money would be used to maintain the cart paths. The card users would have prove residency in a surrounding community like Spruce Creek South or Stonecrest. Both communities have great residents ! I don't know if the southern villages (South of 44) this plan would be good.

What you say could be true, but I have neighbors behind, two doors down, and across the street from me who have also been here 12-18 years and have never paid any kind of cart fee to maintain cart paths. None of these people play golf and have never had to pay a cart fee ! I too found it strange the very first time I went to pay my annual cart fee, why (?) I was not given some kind of annual sticker for the cart (had that in other golf communities (not retirement communities) where we've lived during our working lives. But here, have always been told, no sticker needed because it only comes into importance when you check in to play GOLF....other wise, no fees have to be paid because the only time it is checked is when you check in at the started shack and it shows on screen if you are paid or not ! ?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Over the last decade and more, more than twenty people have died from golf cart accidents in The Villages, and dozens more were seriously injured. Who ever is in charge of keeping golf carts out from other communities has my support. I would have to guess that almost all of the households have at least one golf cart, many have two. We are hovering now at 140,000 residents. That is lots and lots of golf carts with the potential for many accidents.

I imagine the reason you can't get IN, is because you don't live here and pay fees.

Press the RED button, this is not a private community and you don't need a "card". At manned gates, they absolutely have no legal right to refuse to let you in ! YOUR tax money pays for "our" roads as does "our" tax money pay for yours. It's only to "slow" traffic down a little, and frankly, the way double tandem landscape trucks, furniture delivery vans, and others just finding a shorter way to work who use this a a "cut through" and regularly do over 40 mph, the gate "illusion" does not do a whole lot, seen so many close calls, trucks trying to pass at 40 on very narrow streets, huge rigs with landscape equipment, big mowers better suited to farms than the majority of small lawns here, but helps some I suppose.
I think that is why so many are killed in golf carts, NOT because people come from other retirement communities and over whelm so much that accident rate is so high. MANY years ago, there were WARNINGS posted to automobiles: Caution, you are entering a GOLF CART community, Golf Carts have the right of way ! That was when we were still in our careers and rented directly from The Villages. Once we bought a lot and built here, those signs (sadly) began to come down until all were removed. I think that might help cut down some on accidents and deaths.... don't think it's folks from other retirement communities. Bet all the stores like Barnes & Noble, Target, City Furniture, on and on would not be here if these streets and roads were "private" ! ?

[Footer]

There is a golf cart only gate leaving the historic section allowing people to get to Lowes. No red button so you need your gate pass to get back.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by KRM0614

True nothing is free here. In one form or another we pay for everything whether we use it ie not.Morse family needs as much money as possible

I wish people would take the trouble to learn about their community. Fees do not go to the Morse family.

[jwilkin558@aol.com]

Originally Posted by tlb50

Are you listening to yourself? What difference does it make how he enters the Villages? He can drive his car there, spend his $ at a business, avail himself of the entertainment, so why not come in on a golf cart? I am certain the merchants in the area would welcome his business, especially in these trying times.

That is exactly why I originally asked the question. I can drive our car everywhere in the Villages but at night it is very hard to find parking. It would be much easier with our golf cart. We spend money every time we go there. Giving access may end up being a good thing financially.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Parker614

Can resident's of The Villages use the fitness center or pools, etc, at Soruce Creek??? No!! We pay for our amenities. You pay for yours. There is no reason non-Vilkagera sgoukd used our golf cart paths. You already get to enjoy free music at 3 town squares, lots of shops and restaurants within The Villages, etc.

The “village police” have spoken.

[jwilkin558@aol.com]

You can take your golf cart to Stone Crest and Spruce Creek.

[jwilkin558@aol.com]

That’s the whole problem with the Villagers, you think you’re privileged!!!

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

What you say could be true, but I have neighbors behind, two doors down, and across the street from me who have also been here 12-18 years and have never paid any kind of cart fee to maintain cart paths. None of these people play golf and have never had to pay a cart fee ! I too found it strange the very first time I went to pay my annual cart fee, why (?) I was not given some kind of annual sticker for the cart (had that in other golf communities (not retirement communities) where we've lived during our working lives. But here, have always been told, no sticker needed because it only comes into importance when you check in to play GOLF....other wise, no fees have to be paid because the only time it is checked is when you check in at the started shack and it shows on screen if you are paid or not ! ?

Trail fees allow you to take your cart onto the executive courses. Your annual maintenance assessment (which everyone pays) pays for maintenance of lots of things in our community.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by jwilkin558@aol.com

You can take your golf cart to Stone Crest and Spruce Creek.

I have no reason to go to Stone Crest or Spruce Creek. We pay maintenance fees and amenity fees to live here. Outsiders do not belong on our multimodal paths.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by jwilkin558@aol.com

That’s the whole problem with the Villagers, you think you’re privileged!!!

The OP has spoken. Gives true meaning to the reason for the thread.

[Dgodin]

Originally Posted by Neils

Where is this back gate? Can I drive my cart to/from Spruce Creek if I have TV gate card?

The "back gate", sometimes referred to as the Lowes Gate, is between to houses on Paradise Blvd near the Boone Access gate (country club hills).
You can definitely get to stonecrest, but I dont know if theyll let you in.
The Lowes gate gives you golf cart access to Medical facilities, WaWa, Lowes, cracker barrel, Bealls outlet, Aldi's, Walmart, and some other stores and restaurants

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by jwilkin558@aol.com

I live in Spruce Creek South and I am able to drive my car everywhere in the Villages but can’t drive my golf cart there. Why? Because I would need a key card. Can someone please explain the rationale about this?

Are you allowed to cross 27/441 in your golf cart?

I don't think that anyone owes you an explanation. The Villages has every right to determine who can used their multi modal paths.

But one answer is that about seven years ago, people from outside The Villages were coming in their golf carts and playing golf on our executive courses after hours. The starters and ambassadors would leave at 7:00 pm. In the summer there is more than enough time to play nine holes after 7:00. That is why The Villages decided to put up a gate. Originally it was a solid wall but many of The Villages residents complained that they couldn't get to the retail stores and medical facilities in their golf carts. Some residents do not have cars and only have their golf carts.

I know one woman who, at the time was working at Aldi. She did not have a drivers license and would take her golf cart to work. She was surprised when one morning there was a wall preventing her from getting to work. She was one of the thousands that complained. The result was the gate.

The property on which the medical facilities, Lowes, Wawa, Aldi Wal Mart and all of those other businesses is not part of The Villages nor is it part of Stonecrest, Spruce Creek or any other development. The people that own it have allowed golf cart traffic. I'm sure that it's in their best interest as it probably increases sales from The Villages and Stonecrest.

I don't know if people in Spruce Creek South are allowed the cross 27441in their golf carts to get over there or not. I do know that The Villages went through a lot of expense to build a golf cart bridge so that out residence can cross safely.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

What you say could be true, but I have neighbors behind, two doors down, and across the street from me who have also been here 12-18 years and have never paid any kind of cart fee to maintain cart paths. None of these people play golf and have never had to pay a cart fee ! I too found it strange the very first time I went to pay my annual cart fee, why (?) I was not given some kind of annual sticker for the cart (had that in other golf communities (not retirement communities) where we've lived during our working lives. But here, have always been told, no sticker needed because it only comes into importance when you check in to play GOLF....other wise, no fees have to be paid because the only time it is checked is when you check in at the started shack and it shows on screen if you are paid or not ! ?

Cart fee? Are you rambling about the Executive Courses Trail fee?