[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Have you ever investigated a traffic accident? I didn't think so. End of story.

Have you ever studied Newtonian physics. End of story. Well not really, so I'll explain it to you:

1) A car going 20 cannot hit a cart going 20 that is ahead of it even 1 millimeter, but since that is a bit close, I used 100-150 feet.

2) A car that does hit a cart under those circumstances was going in excess of 20

3) The speed limit for cars in the merge zone is 20

4) ERGO: A car that hits a cart that was ahead of him in the merge zone was speeding, violating the law and therefore AT FAULT. Get it now?

[Speedie]

The drunk bike riders are a real risk !!

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Have you ever studied Newtonian physics.

No, but I investigated accidents and wrote tickets. You can come up with all the scenarios you want, but the onus is on the merging vehicle. Chapter 316-085(2).

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

No, but I investigated accidents and wrote tickets. You can come up with all the scenarios you want, but the onus is on the merging vehicle. Chapter 316-085(2).

Fine, then we are right back to the waiting for a car 2 miles back scenario. There has to be a distance at which a cart can merge even when a car is somewhere in the vicinity. The standard might be "safely", but that is open to interpretation.
If I cite the statute you referred to, 316.085(2)---
"(2) No vehicle shall be driven from a direct course in any lane on any highway until the driver has determined that the vehicle is not being approached or passed by any other vehicle in the lane or on the side to which the driver desires to move and that the move can be completely made with safety and without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the same direction."
That seems open to interpretation as well. It would seem from that wording that a cart is entitled to merge safely ahead of a vehicle in the through lane as long as they don't "cut him off" or perform an otherwise unsafe merge. I'm not disputing your expertise or experience as a traffic investigator, my point was only directed at those who felt that a car ALWAYS has the right of way. A car cutting across the cart lane to make a right turn is a perfect example of the cart having the right of way (or better stated, a car required to yield the right of way)

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

Why is it that People driving a golf cart on a golf cart path think they can run bicyclist off the path and swear at them?
I almost seen two carts hit bicyclist today. What are these peoples problem and why do they think they rule the golf cart paths?
Is this entitlement or just complete AHOLES ?
Lets see how much trouble this post causes?

It may cause problems. It already has 5 pages of comments. I notice golf carts speeding by on my residential street. It appears that a lot of golf cart owners have illegally increased their vehicle's governor or jacked up their injector pump to attain higher speeds. I don't see any Police monitoring Golf cart speed and ticketing them. That may be happening in other neighborhoods? Yesterday we had pictures of the small alcohol bottles strewn around TV Land.
.......When I ask myself - how and WHY this general attitude of recklessness has taken hold of the US and especially in an older gated community of conservative people? People seem to be recently prone to ALL forms of reckless behavior including speeding. In this case, they seem ENTITLED to own the community trails in a childish, "we don't stop for nobody" regression to 1st-grade egotistic philosophy. Other known statistics on reckless behavior are crime and murder increase, more physical confrontations with flight attendants, more drug and alcohol abuse, and many others that I won't bother to list. So WHY is this happening now?
......."The answer my friend" IS in looking at the BIG PICTURE!

[toeser]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Wouldn’t electric bike be same as moped or motorized electric scooter. Licensed mode of transportation not allowed on MMP. O wait I forgot about LSV, we must excempt them.

Under the laws of virtually every state in the nation, including Florida, ebikes are to be considered bicycles in almost every situation. Many places do limit speeds for ebikes, generally 20 mph.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Fine, then we are right back to the waiting for a car 2 miles back scenario. There has to be a distance at which a cart can merge even when a car is somewhere in the vicinity. The standard might be "safely", but that is open to interpretation.
If I cite the statute you referred to, 316.085(2)---
"(2) No vehicle shall be driven from a direct course in any lane on any highway until the driver has determined that the vehicle is not being approached or passed by any other vehicle in the lane or on the side to which the driver desires to move and that the move can be completely made with safety and without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the same direction."
That seems open to interpretation as well. It would seem from that wording that a cart is entitled to merge safely ahead of a vehicle in the through lane as long as they don't "cut him off" or perform an otherwise unsafe merge. I'm not disputing your expertise or experience as a traffic investigator, my point was only directed at those who felt that a car ALWAYS has the right of way. A car cutting across the cart lane to make a right turn is a perfect example of the cart having the right of way (or better stated, a car required to yield the right of way)

Florida Traffic Law is the vaguest there is. That could be why there's so much litigation here, and commercials.

[Jeanne wilson]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

Why is it that People driving a golf cart on a golf cart path think they can run bicyclist off the path and swear at them?
I almost seen two carts hit bicyclist today. What are these peoples problem and why do they think they rule the golf cart paths?
Is this entitlement or just complete AHOLES ?
Lets see how much trouble this post causes?

A crazy golf cart driver passed me as I was riding my bike over the Sumter Landing bridge which has a solid yellow stripe. The path is very narrow and has a 10 mph speed limit. There was on coming traffic (golf cart and a bike rider) , the bike rider was waving his arm frantically as he was heading straight for the passing cart. I was peddling the speed limit and was shocked and frightened when a golf cart passed me, he came within 3” and almost side swiped me! I caught up with him at a traffic light and lost it!!! I came to The Village’s, bought a home, solely to bike ride…I’m so tired OF THE AHOLES WITH THEIR BETTER THAN THOU ATTITUDE. Never in my 70 years of biking have I heard so many grunts and groans.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Florida Traffic Law is the vaguest there is. That could be why there's so much litigation here, and commercials.

Somebody has to pay Dan Newlin

[Toymeister]

Back to the topic of this thread which is aggressive cart drivers playing chicken with cyclist on MMP

My experience today from a ride that I just completed. Four uses of an automotive horn over 18.3 miles of MMPs, bike paths, bridges, tunnels and quiet surface streets where the only option for anyone is the road.

I was operating a cargo bike (it is designed to carry weight). Cargo bikes are not trick bikes, designed to climb mountains, gravel roads, or win any speed race. I took it grocery shopping. That is a pretty low risk endeavor by any measure.

I sounded the horn to two cars which I could not confirm the driver was aware of me and I feared they would hit me.

The other two were situations where I communicated my desire that the operator STOP what they were doing because they were placing ME in immediate danger by their actions.

One was a car backing out of a parking spot and not checking their surroundings. Result: driver heard me and stopped.

The second was a cart passing recklessly. This idiot decided the second sharp 90 degree turn after crossing behind a village entrance was an excellent place to pass. Result: the idiot gritted his teeth and continued on passing but the cart being passed slowed to allow him to pass. It's a good thing as I was leaning into that 90 degree turn at 17 mph and in no position to maneuver around the idiot on my bike that doesn't do quick turns.

I am pleased with my horn. This is JUST ONE bike ride. Just ponder how tired you get of this when you ride thousands of miles a year.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

Golf cart path as in a path on a golf course or multimodal path, not on a golf course? If you are talking about the former, bicycles are not allowed on golf cart paths. Only golfers.

I found out about that the hard way when I 1st got to TV Land. The ambassadors descended on me as if I were a Terrorist intent on exterminating a golfer (I guess that is illegal). I went back and looked to see if there was a LARGE sign saying no bicycles. That was many years ago so they may have put up one since?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Jdburns11

My experience is more recent on the bike but generally speaking - I’ve found the large majority of golf carts to wait for an appropriate time to pass or follow behind relatively respectfully for such an opportunity on the MMPs. I will generally stay well right on the path or just stop off to the side if I feel uncomfortable with the situation. I refuse to ride on main thoroughfares Morse, Buena Vista, etc., or without designated lanes except if I was with a large group.

The problem for me is it only takes one distracted or other driver to ruin the biker’s day, week, month or worse.

As a golf cart driver, I also afford generous space and consideration for the others… knowing that there but by the grace of god goes me and I wouldn’t someone passing close. Sometimes the scare of it can induce the biker into an incident without any contact at all.

Long story short - it’s not been my personal observation or experience but it doesn’t surprise me and only takes one incident for serious injury. Let’s all be safe.

Respectfully, DB

Being in a large group may improve safety, but it doesn't guarantee it. I recall somewhere in Florida where a car driver had a heat attack and hit about 10 bicycle riders in a pack.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Being in a large group may improve safety, but it doesn't guarantee it. I recall somewhere in Florida where a car driver had a heat attack and hit about 10 bicycle riders in a pack.

Aha!!!! A weapon of mass destruction.........(Not really funny but couldn't pass it up either. Sorry.)

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Jeanne wilson

A crazy golf cart driver passed me as I was riding my bike over the Sumter Landing bridge which has a solid yellow stripe. The path is very narrow and has a 10 mph speed limit. There was on coming traffic (golf cart and a bike rider) , the bike rider was waving his arm frantically as he was heading straight for the passing cart. I was peddling the speed limit and was shocked and frightened when a golf cart passed me, he came within 3” and almost side swiped me! I caught up with him at a traffic light and lost it!!! I came to The Village’s, bought a home, solely to bike ride…I’m so tired OF THE AHOLES WITH THEIR BETTER THAN THOU ATTITUDE. Never in my 70 years of biking have I heard so many grunts and groans.

Good for you! We plan on biking a lot when we're there as well. I won't put up with those unsafe idiots either. We all have the right to use the MM lanes safely. I'll have no problem telling them to F**k off.

But that said, bikers, walkers and runners need to courtious too.

[asianthree]

I bike here, but load up my bike and go south, not a fan of riding on the roads. Today in my cart, I stopped at end of tunnel looked both ways, waiting for a bicycle to go by. Path goes up slight incline, bike was 10 feet in front of me, the women fell over. I stopped immediately as did the other 3 carts behind me, with no issues.

The bicyclists still staring at her bike just stood there, not try to pick it up, or move out of the path. Now traffic is stopped all the way through the tunnel, and oncoming lane, due to bike in the middle of the path.

Since all carts were at a standstill and not in danger of exiting my cart, myself and cart behind got out to help. She needed someone to pick up her bike, and walk it up the hill, because she usually falls over going up hills. Her words, not mine.

Some should not be out alone.