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

RUSS: Some just don't have the ability to have any common sense. Of course it makes sense for 30 bikes to go on through a stop sign after the first one sees it's safe to do so.

In your scenario, is the first bike stopping, or just cruising through while checking to see if it's safe?

Guidelines from cyclists websites indicates they should bunch up at traffic control signs/lights, then go through en masse when it is safe or they have the right of way, rather than in a string of single riders. Yes, to have each of 30 riders stop seems excessive, but what is the limit? What if there are 50 riders? How long should other traffic defer while they stream through?

If it's OK for bikes, then maybe the second or third car at the stop sign should just follow on the tail of the first car to stop if no one's coming. After all, stopping wastes gas and increases emissions. LOL

The fact is these roads are for everyone's use. Everyone needs to expect that different vehicles will be on the road at the same time and drive appropriately. That means following established rules of the road and guidelines.

I repeat, has there been an ACTUAL problem. Or you just 'annoyed'? Do you really want to wait behind a line of 15-30 of them stopping completely each time? Really? Instead of citing law answer that question if you may.

One thing I would say is that the total length of a pack of riders is not much more than say 2 or 3 cars. Since they are riding together they should be bunched at the stop sign and proceed as one unit. Seems to make logical sense to me.

My personal opinion is that if there were 30 of them, I'd prefer the first one to actually, really stop, and then have them go through as a group. But that rarely happens. And then you have the single ones who zip up beside a line of cars waiting at a red light and turn without stopping. And the single ones that breeze through stop signs without stopping. There is nothing wrong with the single riders obeying all traffic laws.

Also, it's a shame there aren't more serious bicycle trails in this state. For instance, you can bike from Pittsburgh to Washington DC on a bike trail. the cyclists lobbied for it, and the states and communities made it happen over a number of years. I'm sure others could name more.

the stop sign means stop. not slow down. cyclists break the law all the time and are the first to say someone else is.

And people still think it is funny.

Lisa,
Despite the venom of some posters towards cyclists, TV is a great place for avid bikers. The Sumter landing club has great rides. Don't judge biking by the posts here, come and try it out.

Be safe
 

There are times the roads are safer than the paths. Agressive golf carts passing at speeds above 19.5. Neighbor lady on her bike was hit head on by a cart in the wrong lane coming at her around a corner. People never stopped left her maimed in the path.

Bike's should stop. They are often cleated in and un cleating a foot and coming to a stop is sometime dangerous and more difficult than a non rider might think,

Bikes are no longer required to stop at down gates but they must slow down and yield. I believe this literature is at all gate opps? I said slow thru the gate not blow through in a 30 mph tour de france pak

Lets all slow down be safe drive defensive and enjoy this paradise. To much stress hate and anger lately.

:agree:

Not a bad place at all, just as anywhere else, someone will always think they are correct and everyone else is wrong. Last year had to take my daughter to hospital, she got ran over on the MM Path between laurel Manor and Morse right by Laurel Valley. Cart tried to pass us where the divider is,, Knocked my wife off the bike and ran over my daughter. Grabbed him by his shirt collar, threw his cart keys away and waited for the SCSO.
It does not matter where a cyclist rides, someone will complain. But it is alright for cars to do the same, or carts to race up and down the MMP because they can not be ticketed due to private property deal.

If you ride bike here, just got to watch for everyone. Yesterday on Rio Grande approaching Del Mar at the new stop sign. I was riding around 27 mph. As the lane came to the merge spot for carts and bikes to merge in with regular traffic, I starting to merge over. A car comes around me in the wrong lane and tries to slide back in, one problem, I was already in the lane and did not move for them. Just then a car tried to make a right turn from Del Mar onto Rio Grande and could not because the car was blocking their lane trying to move me out of the way. The lady in the passenger side of the car yelled at me telling me to learn the laws of the road and the bicycles are not allowed in the lane. Imagine that!!! I told her she needed to read up on the laws and the lane was merged into one lane for the stop sign.
So it is not just the cyclist. As I said on another post, Everyone needs to know the laws and drive respectful of one another. This is a retirement community, what is the big hurry. You would think this is NYC or LA in rush hour sometimes.

To the poster complaining about cyclist at Panera's. What are we not allowed to sit down in there and spend money???? The Cyclist spend alot of money at that place daily. I have never heard anything like that.... Got to be kidding right??? :shrug: