I see more golf carts blow thru stop signs than bikes

PaulaJean - thanks for the laugh! Enough bitc#ing about bike riders - its really getting old.

Thread resurrected from July 2012.....

Bill :)

First, it is illegal by state statue (link was posted earlier) to wear headphones / buds while operation a bicycle on public roads. I doubt this would apply to the multimodel paths, HOWEVER it is a very bad and dangerous idea to be unable to hear golf cart traffic approaching from the rear.

Second all of the teeth gnashing about cyclists (and walkers, joggers and dogs in other threads) are a reminder of why I miss my beloved beach area so very very much. There; biking, walking, dogs, skateboarding, jogging, roller blading and in some cares crawling home from the pubs ;-) are a way of LIFE. Everyone understands and stops to let people on bikes ( or skates or jogging or crawling) .... "blow through" stop signs, because it is understood what a pain it is to stop and start on a bike. Everyone just slows down and gives all of these groups a wide berth because it is no big deal!!

Wow, so many strong opinions. The walkers hate the golf carts, the golf carts hate the bike riders, the bike riders hate the cars, the cars hate the trucks. Must be Florida's friendliest hometown, right?
I blame the sherriff. In two weeks the sherriff can fix all the problems by writing tickets for all traffic violations. Pedestrian, golf cart, cars, and bicycles. I have NEVER been out and not seen speeding, not stopping for stop signs, not stopping before turning right on red, stopping on crosswalks, illegal lane changes, not stopping for open gates, to name a few.
As soon as the tickets are issued the word will travel and everyone will be safer.

Great! When the sheriff starts doing his job, wait to see all the new threads about Speed Traps.

Nope. I cannot agree!

Agree 1000 % :bigbow:

Get out more,, you will see.
See it everyday. Sit here and read these boards and then sit back and think how many cars and golf carts are doing the same,,,, Heck there is a new post about a car running a red lite on 466 and BV this morning,,, It is everywhere. But if the Local Law Enforcement start patrolling more and handing out free invitations for a mandatory donation to the county, then there will be a thread on how they are putting up speed traps and so on............ :evil6:

I agree, and there must be at least 10 times more golf carts than bicycles in TV. And its not just blowing thru stop signs - how about speeding golf carts in general? The multi modal paths were designed for walkers, bikers, and golf carts to share the path. This was back when golf carts went about 14 mph. Now you get carts going 25 mph. No wonder there are issues.

Totally agree. :bigbow:

I think TV needs a drone to track bicycles

I think it's more noticeable when bikes blow through a stop sign. One golf cart blows a stop sign, not too noticeable. But with bikes, there is often a group of 10 or 15 riders.

more like in the range of 100's to 1

I think that is a great idea.

Some Good Reading on Cycling.

Group Riding Guidelines



Stop Signs and Red Lights
Lead riders should stop at all stop signs and red lights—always respecting the right-of-way of others

Stop in the right-most lane in the direction of the route:

When traveling straight, use the right-most thru lane—never travel straight in a right-turn only lane. Merge left from a shoulder or bike lane to prevent right-turning motorists from cutting you off.
When turing right, use a right-turn only lane (if one is available)—do not stay in a shoulder or bike lane, this can cause the group to be pinched in the turn by a right-turning motorist.
When turning left, use the right-most left turn lane, unless the group plans to make another left turn from the new road.
At a stop, bunch-up and take control of the lane. This allows the group to proceed through the intersection as rapidly as possible. When it is time to move, accelerate up to speed (cross the intersection before clipping into the other pedal). After the intersection, the group should move into a line to the right as appropriate. Lead riders should slow to allow everyone to regroup.

Generally, it’s better to stop in the line of traffic and not pass stopped motorists on the right. When passing a queue of stopped traffic, lead riders should consider the following:

Is it possible that a motorist could turn right across the path of the cyclists?
Will passing be easy (bike lane or paved shoulder) or difficult (narrow lane) for motorists downstream of the signal?
A lead rider who does pass on the right should not overtake the lead car in a stopped queue. Although stopped motorists preparing to turn right are supposed to signal and be positioned as far right as practical, some neglect to do this. At a stop sign or light, only pass a single motorist on the left if he or she is preparing to make a right turn.

Never lean on stopped motor vehicles.

Its over two years old and I still get a kick out of this one.Thanks JoeC1947 maybe I do have a unique sense of humor.

Bicycle riding rules
 

Manyfdays I see bicycle riders riding in either single file or two abreast in the middle lane of the road. The gfroups seem to feel they do not have to yield to traffic.

These are county roads, they need to obey the rules of the county. This is also true regarding the Golf Carts that are "street legal"

Hope you realize the law says bicycles can ride up to 2 abreast as long as there is another lane for cars to pass safely.
Street legal carts can travel on any road that has a posted speed of 35 MPH or less. By law these carts cannot exceed 25 MPH.
These are not The Villages rules, they are Florida laws.

I read the statutes on bike riding that was marked from a previous post. There was a lot of information in the rules that I didn't know being new to Florida. There were several rules that is more lenient for the cyclist than where I came from. I didn't see anything about wearing EAR BUDS while riding a bike. I'm not talking about the giant earmuffs like the older generation retirees wear. iPhone ear buds lets a person hear everything that is going around them. Provided that person isn't already half deaf anyway.
Before the hard core posters jump all over this, I want to say that I ride usually by myself. I ride about two hours a day on trails when available. I yield to carts. Ride to the right so carts can pass all the time. In the six months that I have been here, I have not had a negative situation but many positives ones while riding my bicycle. I've had carts and car yield to me many times when it wasn't required and vice versa.

Now I will get the:popcorn: out and wait.

Gee - all this time I was under the impression that cyclists in TV (especially those with their Lance shirts and pants) didn't have to obey ANY traffic laws. It sure seems so if you watch them riding on the streets of TV. I have yet to see one stop at a STOP sign :sad:

I know that I'm a contrarian much of the time but my opinion (after being here full time for 1 year now) is that traffic is too SLOW not too fast. I had a person yesterday on my way to work at 6 AM actually STOP at the roundabout instead of yield. It was obvious, very obvious, that no one was coming. It's a yield people, a yield. Look it up.

I agree Russ - and most of the time the slow drivers are in the left lane where the fast driver should be!

Those are the ones from Michigan. :wave:

Hey! I resemble that remark! :cold: :laugh:

Well, I love Michigan, but driving slow on the left seems to be an inborn trait!

Also, then I've probably followed you down I 96! :icon_bored:

Driving slow to avoid potholes.

Ha ha! You got that right!

I don't travel much on 96, but I am actually from NJ. I made a wrong turn on 75 and ended up in Michigan. :smiley: I too find people driving slow in the left hand lane.....well annoying. In NJ we had a nickname for such people, but I will defer on that name for obvious reasons.

Holy crap - I just told my wife the other day that most times I see a car like that it is either Michigan or Illinois. Honest!

WHOA! Please don't give the Bike Club an idea----can you imagine a cart trail with a pack of 20 bikes on it??? Why I would never get to my tee-time!

Absolutely wrong! The law is the law. Stop signs are for everyone. Bike rider packs are the most flagrant violators. Maybe there should be Bike Rider Parks just like there are dog parks where the rules of the road don't apply. That way they won't endanger others who get in their way!

We lived in NJ for three years, so I can probably guess what that nickname is! Good for you for keeping this forum clean :p

The bikers think they own the road I just - a half hour ago - had an incident with a man who cut me off on his bike as I was heading into my Village. I tapped my horn and he almost tipped over and started swearing at me. It is a big problem with the bikes in here - also they come to Panera Bread and sit for hours. I am grateful that I did not hit that man on the bike.

I don't live in the Villages yet and this thread is making us have second thoughts about even looking there since we're avid cyclists. I guess people aren't aware that many cities and states have passed laws that allow a bicycle to proceed through an intersection with a stop sign or a red light without fully stopping as long as it is safe to do so.

And what's wrong with sitting at an establishment for hours? I presume they've bought something so unless there is a line waiting for tables who cares if they sit there for days?

I know they have been "opening up conversation" about relaxing some of the cyclist road rules in some municipalities, but I had not followed through on where it has been passed. Do you have any specifics on where it has gone through? I'm thinking maybe it might have gone through in NYC.

Even the League of American Bicyclists' first rule of the road is:

1. Follow the law.

Your safety and the image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and duties as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.

There is an interactive map o that site where you can click on a state to view its bike rules. Can be found here League of American Bicyclists * Legal Program/Bike Laws

I rest my case.

The thing I don't understand is how some people are upset that the bikers are not stopping, one by one, for a stop sign. Is this actually bothering you in some way or you just the type of person who is upset when 'laws' are not followed. I say let the whole gang go through 'en mass'. It makes things a lot smoother. Imagine waiting for a gang of 30 riders to go through with each person making a complete stop. The wait would be interminable!

Here is what I know:
-Bicycles are vehicles by definition in every state vehicle laws in the country.
-Bicycles being designated as vehicles require the cyclist to obey all traffic laws, rules of the road or whatver you choose to call them.
-If a bicyclist failes to come to a complete stop where required
-In Florida it is where you find a stop sign or a wide white line.
-My wife stopped at the Lynnhaven gate and proceeded forward very slowly attempting to turn right onto Route 472. An officer stopped her and told her she did not come to a complete stop and issued her a ticket.
-Since bikes are vehicles slowing but not stopping where required is unlawful.
I suspect bicyclist especially in large groups may find it annoying to stop but then I am annoyed that their annoyance is placing us all in danger.
-Finally my personal experience with bicylists is that most practice safety. However like car or cart drivers some are just too cavalier for my taste