[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by tsmall22204

Welcome to the Villages, where bicyclists run stop signs, pull out in front of you, and ride down the middle of the lane. They do however complain that drivers must comply with the rules of the road because they dont.

And if you exchange the two word highlighted above, it is even more prevalent. In my <3 years of actual experience here in TV, I have seen dozens of bicyclists roll through stop signs and probably at least a couple thousand car/cart drivers doing so. That would include a dozen or more golf cart drivers who have looked me square in the eye & then ran, or pulled out from, a stop sign directly in front of me while riding my bike on a through street. These anti-bike rants are so one-sided...

To OP: I only ride on neighborhood streets as I feel there is way too much traffic on either multi-modal paths or shared roadways.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Windguy

…For those who think cyclists are stupid or foolish for riding on Morse and BV, who do you think has a better idea of what is safe? Someone who rides almost every day or someone who rarely or never does?

I’m one of those that rides every day…on the MMPs. And riding with the normal cautions I described earlier, I definitely feel safer…and much more in control of my own safety…on the MMOs.

Your sarcastic question implying one group of riders is so superior to another comes across as very elitist imo.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by brianherlihy

i was driving my golf cart to brown wood to day and stop to go over the street and a bike did not want to stop and hit the back of our cart

lol. Could that be because the cyclist had never seen a cart come to a stop to cross the street and was caught by surprise? Unless there is traffic, almost no one stops to cross the street, whether it’s a car, cart, or bike.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I’m one of those that rides every day…on the MMPs. And riding with the normal cautions I described earlier, I definitely feel safer…and much more in control of my own safety…on the MMOs.

Your sarcastic question implying one group of riders is so superior to another comes across as very elitist imo.

As someone who never rode on the highways until last year, I mistakenly thought the MMPs would be safer. Once I started riding with the club, I realized I was wrong. It was NOT a sarcastic question. Seriously, wouldn’t you expect someone who has done both would have a better idea of what is safer than someone who has not. What is elitist about that?

[hal195z]

Yes, the multi-modal paths are shared BUT the paths on the golf courses are for golfers only

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Windguy

As someone who never rode on the highways until last year, I mistakenly thought the MMPs would be safer. Once I started riding with the club, I realized I was wrong. It was NOT a sarcastic question. Seriously, wouldn’t you expect someone who has done both would have a better idea of what is safer than someone who has not. What is elitist about that?

Fair enough. But we will have to agree to disagree.

I have ridden both. A lot. I will never feel as safe with fast moving automobiles buzzing by me fully relying on them for my safety. I avoid that on the MMPs and am much more in control of my own safety. For me, nothing overrides that.

[carlr28]

Originally Posted by Windguy

I was riding on a neighborhood street recently when a driver coming towards me turned left towards her driveway right in front of me. She saw me at the last second and stopped, leaving me just a few feet to squeeze by. I couldn’t come to a complete stop without going over my handlebars, so I was lucky she finally saw me. I had a bright blinking headlight and very colorful clothes, so there was no excuse for her not seeing me.

The safest places to ride are the dedicated trails like the rails-to-trails paths. There are no safe places to ride in TV. There are a LOT of cyclist haters here too and they can be very aggressive. The motorists hate us on THEIR roads like Morse and BV. The cart riders and walkers hate us on THEIR MMPs. I’ve had more close calls on the MMPs than I have had on the roads. Even the diamond lanes aren’t safe. One of our club members was run over in a diamond lane.

For those who think cyclists are stupid or foolish for riding on Morse and BV, who do you think has a better idea of what is safe? Someone who rides almost every day or someone who rarely or never does?

New to the villages...how do I find these paths you suggest?

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by daca55

A few weeks ago I saw two kids skate boarding on the multimodal paths. Is that legal on those paths? They whizzed by me and scared the you know what out of me.

As I've posted before. Legal makes a likely false assumption that others know the law and more important will follow it.

The term accident is at best misleading. Over 90% of,"accidents," are avoidable.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I’m one of those that rides every day…on the MMPs. And riding with the normal cautions I described earlier, I definitely feel safer…and much more in control of my own safety…on the MMOs.

Your sarcastic question implying one group of riders is so superior to another comes across as very elitist imo.

Communication, by e-mail by posts, the same thing, has limits. To be honest communication has limits. It is sadly, reality, that people assume they are right and anyone that doesn't agree with them is wrong.

Perhaps, my current mood.

[Jeanne wilson]

I moved to the Villages mainly for the multi-purpose paths. I was hit by a car at 50 mph and 7 operations later bike riding is my only pain-free exercise. I own a very heavy stand-up bike and can no longer lift it to put it in or on my car. I ride several times a week and try to stay close to the right side of the path. I wave at the carts to pass me not to hold them up but here are a few things that scare me: a cart that beeps its horn when behind me, carts that take wide turns on the curves as they are going full speed, passing me so close I can reach out and touch them (written law gives 3' when passing). The Villages a beautiful place to ride, let's all enjoy our surrounding together and safely.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by DAVES

…
The term accident is at best misleading. Over 90% of,"accidents," are avoidable.

With all due respect, the term “accident” includes avoidable incidents. It just means it wasn’t intentional. Almost all accidents are avoidable…but it’s still accurate to call them accidents.

[stadry]

Originally Posted by brianherlihy

i was driving my golf cart to brown wood to day and stop to go over the street and a bike did not want to stop and hit the back of our cart

what ???a bicycle was following but, when you stopped it didn't?

[Keninches]

Originally Posted by VApeople

You can legally ride on the multimodal paths (i.e. golf cart roadways). The cart riders will decide how much they are willing to share the road with you.



No rules, to my knowledge.



The new areas south of Route 44 have beautiful walking/riding paths that DO NOT ALLOW golf carts.

Other than that, put your bike on a carrier and drive to one of the many bike paths nearby. We went to Gemini Springs last week and had a great ride. I understand there are nice trails around Lake Apopka. There is a long bike trail going thru Inverness and the part we saw was beautiful. A lot of the old railroad grades have been converted into bike paths.

It’s called “fin” for yourself around here. Good Luck.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by carlr28

New to the villages...how do I find these paths you suggest?

Here are some:

• Biking at the Cross Florida Greenway | Florida State Parks
• Withlacoochee State Trail | Florida State Parks
• General James A. Van Fleet State Trail | Florida State Parks

You can also ask your friendly bike shop or search online for more trails.

[LG999]

My advice is BE CAREFUL
I was riding a bike with 3 others - not abreast but in a line that was loose enough for carts or other bikes to pass thru so we were not interfering w anyone and we were adhering to all signs & protocols. We were on a MM path which went through a tunnel. In the tunnel carts purposely & maliciously drove me into the side of the tunnel where my arm was scraped badly against the cement wall. I was not in their way. They thought hurting me was fun. I am athletic enough that I didn’t fall or crash, which is what they probably wanted to see. I really could hardly believe people were being so nasty & vile towards me in TV where I was used to ppl being so friendly & nice. I do think the carts would have hurt me even more if I had been alone. It was February so these may have been tourists.