[newguyintv]

Originally Posted by twoplanekid

I can appreciate District Manager Jane Tutts arguments against letting outside transportation companies from picking up or dropping off passengers at the squares or recreation centers. Her statement that “The purpose of my communication to you is that if you have a group planning a trip (whether for a day or longer), the bus companies need to explore pick up location options other than the downtowns or recreation facilities.” has me wondering if there is any place inside The Villages that could be used for this purpose. She doesn’t suggest one.

While I am not yet full time in The Villages, I have heard of many exciting day trips that I would enjoy taking in the future.

There are Bus Stations at Spanish Springs and at Lake Sumter Landing. What's the big deal about allowing Bus Companies using them. A lot of nonsense.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by DougB

You drive over in your golf cart?

My car and parked it in the Rec center lot all day. Maybe there should be resident stickers on all vehicles and a time limit on others.

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[ukbill70]

Originally Posted by bargee

You hit right on the head $$$$$$$$$$

It's only a matter of time before 'The Powers That Be' announce the purchase of a new 48 seat bus for day trips at a reasonable price. Parking NO problem.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ukbill70

It's only a matter of time before 'The Powers That Be' announce the purchase of a new 48 seat bus for day trips at a reasonable price. Parking NO problem.

YOU may think that, but I don't agree. I am guessing that they are establishing some kind of precedent to keep some kind of bus business from using our parking lots as public lots and advertising for outsiders to park here..

They have sold out all kinds of businesses including entertainment, transportation, The Lighthouse, Cane Garden, the restaurant where Panera is now,and Southern Lifestyles, the furniture store, keeping the buildings to rent to new businesses.

I am fully aware that the Morses are capitalists which I fully support, and in my opinion are astute business people, but getting into a niche business like tour buses just doesn't seem plausible.

I don't use tour buses regularly, and none of the people who I know well except for CFrance do...so I have to wonder just what percent of the population here do use them. I wouldn't think many, as I have never seen droves of people boarding a bus. Usually some club or another are begging you to go along so they can fill a bus.

There is a good reason why this is being done and I think it is for our good here in The Villages.

But I have been wrong before.

And I am sorry for those who are being inconvenienced by this decision. They obviously enjoyed this very much. And I may want to do it too someday and will rant about it not being convenient.
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[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

YOU may think that, but I don't agree. I am guessing that they are establishing some kind of precedent to keep some kind of bus business from using our parking lots as public lots and advertising for outsiders to park here..

They have sold out all kinds of businesses including entertainment, transportation, The Lighthouse, Cane Garden, the restaurant where Panera is now,and Southern Lifestyles, the furniture store, keeping the buildings to rent to new businesses.

I am fully aware that the Morses are capitalists which I fully support, and in my opinion are astute business people, but getting into a niche business like tour buses just doesn't seem plausible.

I don't use tour buses regularly, and none of the people who I know well except for CFrance do...so I have to wonder just what percent of the population here do use them. I wouldn't think many, as I have never seen droves of people boarding a bus. Usually some club or another are begging you to go along so they can fill a bus.

There is a good reason why this is being done and I think it is for our good here in The Villages.

But I have been wrong before.

And I am sorry for those who are being inconvenienced by this decision. They obviously enjoyed this very much. And I may want to do it too someday and will rant about it not being convenient.
.

I agree with most of that--not all of it. The only thing I would add is that the term "tour buses" is a bit misleading. They're really day trips to different club-related activities for the most part. The Juliets do trips because that's what they do--plan fun activities for members. The various city/state clubs do things related to their cities, such as spring training games, etc. I think it's that which should be allowed, and will become harder to do, as opposed to a company set up to do gambling trips and the like, for their own financial benefit.

I don't think TV will be buying buses. However, I don't buy the parking dilemma excuse, and I do feel that in the four years we've been here, some of the conveniences have been taken away.

And don't tell me to move! We're allowed to love it here while still being critical of certain aspects. Everybody gets a say.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I agree with most of that--not all of it. The only thing I would add is that the term "tour buses" is a bit misleading. They're really day trips to different club-related activities for the most part. The Juliets do trips because that's what they do--plan fun activities for members. The various city/state clubs do things related to their cities, such as spring training games, etc. I think it's that which should be allowed, and will become harder to do, as opposed to a company set up to do gambling trips and the like, for their own financial benefit.

I don't think TV will be buying buses. However, I don't buy the parking dilemma excuse, and I do feel that in the four years we've been here, some of the conveniences have been taken away.

And don't tell me to move! We're allowed to love it here while still being critical of certain aspects. Everybody gets a say.

CFRANCE....if you moved the sun would be not so bright or the sky not as blue and the fun would be gone from this forum. We all treasure your wit, humor, intelligence and just plain common sense...and we just love you.

[skip0358]

The club I belong to has a committee that plans the trips, charters a bus, sells the tickets and makes little to no profit after the tips are paid. The trips are for members and their guest only not outsiders. After this parking issue came up we contacted an authorized bus company that wanted $17.00 per person more then we were paying for the same trip. We're still looking for a parking space. In the past we've had NO issues even when we had 3 bus loads of members going. We knew how & where to park to conserve spaces for the businesses.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by skip0358

The club I belong to has a committee that plans the trips, charters a bus, sells the tickets and makes little to no profit after the tips are paid. The trips are for members and their guest only not outsiders. After this parking issue came up we contacted an authorized bus company that wanted $17.00 per person more then we were paying for the same trip. We're still looking for a parking space. In the past we've had NO issues even when we had 3 bus loads of members going. We knew how & where to park to conserve spaces for the businesses.

The club isn't making a profit. The bus company and the tour director are which is fine. I am all for free enterprise. I still say that they are stopping this for some good reason. Such as a bus company who may advertise that anyone from nearby towns can park in our parking lots and take a shuttle to Disney or the gambling boats, that would be my first guess. As that would be a coup for a bus company and tour directors.

I may be wrong. You certainly are not wrong.

[CFrance]

"They" could quietly let the club buses go, as in the way they handle complaint-driven deed compliance issues. I can understand not wanting tours to come in from outside and having that built up so much that it really does cause parking problems. But the clubs are supposed to be here, and all the parking is taken up by Villagers who otherwise might be parking at the squares or rec centers anyway.

There could be a compromise in there somewhere.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by skip0358

The club I belong to has a committee that plans the trips, charters a bus, sells the tickets and makes little to no profit after the tips are paid. The trips are for members and their guest only not outsiders. After this parking issue came up we contacted an authorized bus company that wanted $17.00 per person more then we were paying for the same trip. We're still looking for a parking space. In the past we've had NO issues even when we had 3 bus loads of members going. We knew how & where to park to conserve spaces for the businesses.

Would the $17 per person additional be charged if the pickup was at one if the local churches on or just off property? Several of us have suggested working with churches for parking on non church days as a viable option. Have you attempted to contact a church? If the $17 goes away, the club could donate $5 per car. Would or could be a win win.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Would the $17 per person additional be charged if the pickup was at one if the local churches on or just off property? Several of us have suggested working with churches for parking on non church days as a viable option. Have you attempted to contact a church? If the $17 goes away, the club could donate $5 per car. Would or could be a win win.

I thought what he meant was the bus company that is authorized to pick people up on Villages property was going to charge $17 more per person than their normal bus company. In other words, the total cost of the TV company was much more.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I thought what he meant was the bus company that is authorized to pick people up on Villages property was going to charge $17 more per person than their normal bus company. In other words, the total cost of the TV company was much more.

They could be protecting the businesses they rent to.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I thought what he meant was the bus company that is authorized to pick people up on Villages property was going to charge $17 more per person than their normal bus company. In other words, the total cost of the TV company was much more.

Sorry. I'm in a carb coma. Had breakfast at Darrell's Diner at Pinellas. I will re-read the post after my nap. What a way to go.

[xNYer]

Originally Posted by mulligan

I feel the need to point out that the rec centres are owned by the district, and are actually private property, not"ours". District property, district rules. Just like the exec golf courses.

Many recreation center properties were purchased from the developer by the central districts. Tax free bonds were issued to purchase the properties using amenity money from all of us to fund the bond repayments.

The whole private property issues seems quite convoluted given that tax free bonds which must serve a public purpose are the funding mechanisms.
It would seem that clubs run by villagers that charter busses should have some say about the issue.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by xNYer

Many recreation center properties were purchased from the developer by the central districts. Tax free bonds were issued to purchase the properties using amenity money from all of us to fund the bond repayments.

The whole private property issues seems quite convoluted given that tax free bonds which must serve a public purpose are the funding mechanisms.
It would seem that clubs run by villagers that charter busses should have some say about the issue.

Not quite correct. And I am not a believer in the lawsuit stuff either.