[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I gave up riding a bike in TV a long time ago after almost being hit head on by a golf cart. He never even slowed down as he went by me.

Saw that the district representatives "might" start up the groups investigating safety and these types of incidents. Pardon my cynicism, but I can't help but comment that this sounds just like ALL government representatives: convene committees, investigate, advance money for "studies" to be conducted, and talk, talk, TALK until the interest and backlash subsides ! At least the residents ARE beginning to be concerned, and the lack of "enforcement" (whatever that means), is a sad sad fact here.

[Smalley]

Agree with the "low light" problem. We decided (after hearing about this death) to never ride until 2 hours after sunrise and be home 2 hours before sunset.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Geodyssey

Mistake? Like "oopsie, sorry you're dead old man"?

More like negligence. Failure to obey traffic laws.

No argument meant, but exactly WHAT ARE the "traffic laws" for the multi-modal paths ? I'm still confused about the "law" that covers how to reach the entrance of the tunnel that runs under 466 to the plaza which contains Publix, Ace hardware, Edible arrangements, etc. Previously, those in carts wishing to enter the tunnel, were to go to the end of Wedgwood, stop, wait for autos turning right onto Wedgwood, then proceed to turn left into the tunnel. Then some time ago, the left turn lane for golfcarts was eliminated, the area was was completely repainted with diagonal yellow stripes and a new sign indicated carts must go BEHIND the Edible Arrangements retail store, to the narrow incline that leads to the cart path, stop at the top of the incline for cross traffic, THEN enter the path with a left turn, stop before crossing Wedgwood's automobile traffic, then proceed across Wedgwood to the tunnel entrance. Now it appears to have changed once again. Carts now line up in the area with the diagonal yellow lines, and wait to turn left into the tunnel. but all signage to this effect has been removed. For people to obey the "laws", they do have to be made aware of them ! According to one source (Rules of the Road), areas of yellow diagonal lines on a road or street are VIRTUAL barriers, or medians, no vehicles are to enter. So it's very confusing now that carts are once again to line up in this area to turn left into the tunnel ! And, yes, I DO realize why the rule changed, it also became a bit hazardous when carts lined up on an incline and blocked parking lot traffic, behind the Edible Arrangements building ! No good solutions ? Many such examples all over the Villages... and the rules, it seems, differ depending on jurisdiction ?

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

"SUMTER COUNTY, Florida—An 80-year-old bicyclist was killed after a golf cart turned into his path Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Villages man was riding his bicycle westbound on the Hillsborough Trail shortly before 8:30 a.m. when a golf cart being driven by a 69-year-old woman of Rochester, New York, turned left at the intersection of Ichabod Way, directly in his path. The golf cart driver was unable to see the man due to the glare of the early morning sun, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a press release.

The bicyclist struck the golf cart, was thrown into the road and seriously injured. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries; the golf cart driver was not hurt, Gaskins said."

Just a reminder for everyone to be careful out there.

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

HA HA HA HA HA. Oh, you are sooo funny! An 80 year old can ride anything they are legally and physically able to.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

An 80 year old can ride anything they are legally and physically able to.

Exactly.

May the guy R.I.P., but more power to him when he was active at 80.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

Disgusting...

[LuvNH]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

I don't know where you "escaped" from, but suggest you go back. That is about the most stupid comment I have seen in a long time.

[jswirs]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

But the statement is mostly correct and you are out of line. A large portion of bicycle riders me included skirt the laws because stopping and restarting a bicycle is harder (especially for the quasi professionals with the shoes clipped into the pedals) sooooo they glance over their shoulders and proceed through intersections or stops signs. Everyone sees it so drop the indignant attitude.

The statement you are referring to said, " Bikes don't stop for anything, it seems" and you say that comment is mostly correct? Perhaps you need an explanation of the statement in question. What that statement means is that whenever a rider mounts his bicycle he mostly never stops until he reaches his destination. Sooo, if I am out of line, you are out of your mind. Drop the asinine attitude.
And, aside from all of that, the comment in question was thoughtless and inconsiderate, to say the least, because it was the golf cart drivers fault, NOT THE BICYCLIST. That comment IMPLIES it was the fault of the cyclist. So yes, I stand by original statement as being accurate.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by jswirs

The statement you are referring to said, " Bikes don't stop for anything, it seems" and you say that comment is mostly correct? Perhaps you need an explanation of the statement in question. What that statement means is that whenever a rider mounts his bicycle he mostly never stops until he reaches his destination. Sooo, if I am out of line, you are out of your mind. Drop the asinine attitude.
And, aside from all of that, the comment in question was thoughtless and inconsiderate, to say the least, because it was the golf cart drivers fault, NOT THE BICYCLIST. That comment IMPLIES it was the fault of the cyclist. So yes, I stand by original statement as being accurate.

Was not present or at the scene, but you are correct cyclist never stop, they may slow down, if they have their head up with full vision of what coming at them.

I no longer ride the road in TV, because of many reasons, one is you have to ride so defensively at all times, especially in TV where age of drivers is a great factor.

I always think that walker, bike, cart, car, or truck may not see ME. I don’t take a chance. I slow down when I see a vehicle that may or may not turn. So instead of carefree, biking many miles, it can be very stressful instead.

Yesterday while going over the Brownwood Bridge, there were orange cones clearly visible, around a mechanical lift with workers fixing the screening. Plus a worker, On the ground slowing, and directing traffic. The golf cart in front of me was either distracted or didn’t see the cones, the very large lift, or the guy (no sun involved) slowing down traffic.

The cart ran over the cones, and barely swerved away from the lift machine, then almost hitting the worker on the ground.

If I would’ve been riding my bike, I may have injured the worker since he had to jump out of the way of the cart. While it would have not been my fault, it would be in my waking, and sleeping mind 24/7.

The cart however never stopped to see if the worker was OK. He was, as were the workers on the lift.

So NO I no longer bike on the roads here, because I can’t predict what that person beside, behind, or in front of me will do, and if I don’t have my head in the game at all times, a dirt nap may come into play

[HORNET]

Got on Hillsborough that morning going east ( in an automobile), had to lower my sun visor and put on my sunglasses and use my hand to see the road ahead before turning onto Charlotte. It was terrible!

[Snowbirdtobe]

I am going to add my opinions to the thread, but before I do so I need to give my qualifications.
I am not a retired cop and have no real idea of the Florida laws.
I am not a lawyer but have served on juries.
I am not an insurance broker and hate insurance companies.
If I were a friend of the poor 80 year old this is what I would do.
Find out if the cart was owned by someone other than the driver and sue them too.
Find out if the cart was modified to increase the speed of the cart to turn it into a vehicle requiring a registration and insurance.
If the cart was modified ask the sheriff to charge the driver of the cart with a crime of driving an unregistered vehicle.
It may be a crime to rent a low speed vehicle to a person but I would let the civil courts decide the damages.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

(groan)

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Snowbirdtobe

I am going to add my opinions to the thread, but before I do so I need to give my qualifications.
I am not a retired cop and have no real idea of the Florida laws.
I am not a lawyer but have served on juries.
I am not an insurance broker and hate insurance companies.
If I were a friend of the poor 80 year old this is what I would do.
Find out if the cart was owned by someone other than the driver and sue them too.
Find out if the cart was modified to increase the speed of the cart to turn it into a vehicle requiring a registration and insurance.
If the cart was modified ask the sheriff to charge the driver of the cart with a crime of driving an unregistered vehicle.
It may be a crime to rent a low speed vehicle to a person but I would let the civil courts decide the damages.

Thought provoking for sure. Good chance the cart may have been tweaked. Many have been. Fair, not great, chance the owner was not the driver.

Apropos of nothing, Snowbirdtobe, would your name happen to be "Sue"?

[Gpsma]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

An 80 year old should not be on a bike unless it’s a stationary one.

No truer words hav ever been posted on TOTV.