Originally Posted by Cooperthecat (Post 2062816)

I have a GoPro mounted under my handlebars. If I get struck by a careless driver I hope the video proves who was at fault. I ride as far to the right as I can and when someone wants to pass me I slow down when it's safe to pass me. I had a line of 10 golf carts passing me along Meggison rd coming from Southern Oaks one day. The 4th cart passed me at a road crossing with the white post divider at the end of the trail. He squeezed past me pushing me off the trail so he could avoid hitting the post and to stay with his buddies. He didn't stop at the stop sign either. Lucky for him he didn't crash into me or he would be financially responsible for the damages.

A lot of cyclists are using cameras specifically for bicycles and video evidence is hard to beat in court.

It's not hard to believe that most people act in a courteous manner and share the paths respectful of each others safety. The few that don't are heading for trouble.

Golf carts have the same problem with cars respecting their rights and safety. I've had a car cut in front of me making a turn into a mailbox parking lot. I had to slam on my brakes to avoid an accident. I followed them into the parking lot expecting an apology. They instead told me they have the right away over golf carts and that I was supposed to stop for them to make the turn. The passenger was a "Karen" and said I was harassing her as she walked 20 feet towards my cart. She proceeded to call 911. When the police arrived they told her that her and her husband were wrong in their understanding of the law. I have the video of this discussion because I knew it would be hard to believe.

Cars also believe that golf carts are not allowed to merge at the end of a diamond lane. I had a car speed up and slam the brakes on behind me after I merged. He blew his horn and rode my bumper for the 50 ft I had before my turn into the cart path.

Eventually these close calls get someone seriously hurt or worse. That's when they realize the error in their thinking or the lack of respect for others.

Originally Posted by Debra Freeman (Post 2062589)

Definition from the Villages:

The multi-modal paths are for use by NON-AUTOMOTIVE traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and skaters. ... nor is it smart…to drive vehicles such as smart cars, motorcycles, or mopeds on any of the multi-modal paths in The Villages.

Originally Posted by Cooperthecat (Post 2062816)

Cars also believe that golf carts are not allowed to merge at the end of a diamond lane. I had a car speed up and slam the brakes on behind me after I merged. He blew his horn and rode my bumper for the 50 ft I had before my turn into the cart path.

Eventually these close calls get someone seriously hurt or worse. That's when they realize the error in their thinking or the lack of respect for others.

Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 2062839)

Welcome to The Villages and to TOTV.
Carts are allowed to merge at the end of the diamond lane, but the merging golf cart does not have the right of way and will be at fault if there is an accident. Many drivers use caution at these merges, but there are a lot of carts that like to force there way in thinking that their out stretched arm will stop a car in it's tracks.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2062843)

Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!
The sign for cars at the beginning of a merge zone slows the car to 20 mph. So a golf cart going 20 with a safe lead of at least 100-150 feet has every right to merge. If there it is an accident, the CAR will be at fault, since it had to exceed the speed limit to even come close to the merging cart.

Originally Posted by Sandy and Ed (Post 2062602)

Thank you!!! I respect bicycling on the paths and on the roads but hogging a lane with a slower moving vehicle by riding three abreast isn’t fair play. Just ride in single file until the faster vehicle passes and then resume

Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 2062855)

The merging law says nothing about speed limits and half the carts are doing more than 20. I don't play chicken at the merges on either side, but the law is pretty clear: when merging, the driver who has the right-of-way is the one already traveling in the destination lane. When merging onto a highway, for example, the person doing the merging will have to yield the right-of-way to cars already on the highway.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2062862)

Sure. So your contention is that a cart has to wait at a merge point for a car that is 2 miles behind him because that car has the right of way?????? And while the "merging law" might not mention speed, a whole lot of traffic laws do. An accident is generally the fault of the last person with a reasonable chance to avoid it. The car driver in my example avoids it by following the posted speed limit.

Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 2062867)

You're getting silly about things. It's just basic traffic law 101. No, an accident is not generally the fault of the last person with a reasonable chance to avoid it. As you say wrong, wrong, wrong. An accident is the fault of the person who does not have the right of way.
Trooper Steve says this:
Some drivers in that right lane tend to sometimes speed up and close that gap available for a merger, ultimately eliminating the space for a vehicle to merge. Would this be considered following too closely? Or maybe even careless driving? Possibly.

There are a few traffic violations that could occur if someone had malicious intended to prevent someone from merging. But at the end of the day the roadway belongs to the person in that lane and the individual wanting to merge is obligated to yield right away.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2062875)

Sorry, but Right, right, right.

From HG law----"In most instances, any driver violating traffic law will be held largely responsible for a resulting car accident. If one of the drivers is issued a citation for speeding, running a light, or another violation, he or she will most likely be primarily at fault, and carry the heaviest burden of the resulting liability."

So, a car that is 150 feet behind a cart near the merge point where the speed limit is 20 that hits a cart was SPEEDING and therefore AT FAULT. PERIOD, no room for debate.

Next , the law does not assign a "right of way", it describes who must yield it

And third, if 2 miles is "silly" how far behind the merge point do you think a car must be in order to be required to yield?????