I've seen them quite often and have wondered if they are out of their minds. I ride a bike and would always use the multi modal trails when they are available. Way would you put yourself in that kind of danger.

On the roads cars do not like sharing space with bicyclists or other slower moving vehicles. On the multi modal paths golf carts do not like sharing the paths with walkers or slow moving bicycles. People do not like to slow down or move over for other people. No one likes to be inconvenienced. You might think that people would be pleased to see older folk staying in shape by walking and bicycling. Just look at your average bicyclist or walker. They are usually in great shape. Why not just slow down a little, and move over a lane to get around them. It isn't really that much of a hardship is it?

Where do I start with this one,,, other than like 1-2 years ago when the old feller in the golf cart ran over the cyclist on the MMP by Bridgeport @ Lake Sumter Landing. Not only ran over, but then backed over him and stopped on top of him. Friend of mine was the Trooper on scene. He told me more accidents with carts on MMP than on the streets. He said the MMP are like a race track,, He had just stopped a cart for doing 34mph on the MMP on El Camino the week before.

Or when my daughter and wife got ran over from behind on the MMP by a golf cart across from Lakes and Live Oaks. Had to call 911. Daughter had to go to the ER. banged up. WIfe scraped up all because we were doing 20mph down the path and the cart wanted to pass. Luckily we had a good attorney.

I could go on and on when it comes to cyclist riding on the MMP. I ride the roads all the time. I merge into the round-a-bouts like all vehicles. The problem there is most people do understand how to navigate the circles. Thus it is a Cluster you know, trying to go around them.

As I have always stated on here, Cyclist have the right to the road as all do. I see as many cars, motorcycles, and Golf Carts break the rules as much as any. Take it as you like, but this is a retirement community. A place where you would want to take your time and enjoy the roads and life. Not drive like a bat out of **** to get your spot at Starbucks, or happy hours at the square.

The other things with the MMP, they are private property and SCSO does not like to police them, and ticket on them. But the FHP sure can when property damage or bodily injury happens.

Everyone relax,, enjoy The Villages. The roads are only as dangerous AS YOU MAKE THEM. A wise man once said that, Just cant think of his or her name right now. Heck could of been me. Or my favorite Gracie Girl.... :beer3:

I have no problem with the bikers riding in the roads, even though I don't bike on main roads in The Villages. Yes, they have every right to. My biggest complaint with bikers, is that they don't yield or stop for stop signs. In order to stop, they must dismount. I see that so often at gates, and streets with a stop sign. Cars have to stop at stop signs, and so should bikers. Other then that, its great to see people exercising by riding bikes.

You will see many bikers roll through STOP signs if it is clear and safe to do so. In some states this is legal - a so called "Idaho stop". It is not legal (yet??) in Florida. Many riders use "clip-in pedals", sort of like a ski boot, and it is generally safer and easier not to have to unclip and then clip back in. Typically cyclists will roll through stop signs at a pretty slow speed.

Regarding the golf cart paths, I tried riding on them once and never again - it is way too dangerous with a lot of traffic, blind turns, tunnels, cars crossing at the gates, etc. The roads, in my opinion, are actually safer.

From what you're describing the bikers were doing the right thing. The fact that you say you had to swerve around each biker worries me a bit. Maybe stay in the left lane until you pass all of the bikes.

I think the law should take second place behind common sense on the bike vs car vs golf cart vs walkers issue.

Exactly. You should treat bikes as slow moving cars. You pass them on the left when it is safe to do so and they are just as entitled to occupy a lane as you are.

The need to "swerve" out and around the biker often occurs because a driver suddenly comes up behind a biker they could not see in advance, in the dusk or in their clothing that's not reflective or neon colored. It seems like they have no fear of a 3,000+ vehicle hitting them accidentally.

Most bicyclists wear bright, neon colors. Many bicyclists have flashing lights on their helmets or on the back of their bike. You bring up a good point, though, that bicyclists should do everything they can to increase their visibility. I, personally, think it is important to have a flashing light in operation on all main roads. It is the first thing I notice when I come up behind a bicyclist, especially on Buena Vista and Morse Boulevards.

Best thing to do when driving a car around The Villages is to slow down, realizing that you are in a retirement community, and stay tolerant of all the people out doing healthy exercising such as walking and bicycling. Another suggestion is to get out of your car or golf cart and join the others who are enjoying exercising and losing weight! No one ever got in shape by driving around in a car or a golf cart.

thank-you, thank-you, thank-you

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Best thing to do when driving a car around The Villages is to slow down, realizing that you are in a retirement community, and stay tolerant of all the people out doing healthy exercising such as walking and bicycling. Another suggestion is to get out of your car or golf cart and join the others who are enjoying exercising and losing weight! No one ever got in shape by driving around in a car or a golf cart.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, if cars would slow down instead of speeding there would be little need to always be taking evasive actions. I find that when cars are going 35-40mph in a 30, things get out of sync. Say that you are pulling out of a side street in a cart or bike onto a road where the speed limit is 30 and someone is coming that's going 40. You think they are going 30 so you pull out and he is immediately up your but.

Follow the speed limits, use the circles as noted, stop at stop signs but don't stop with no stop sign to let someone go that has a stop sign.

Prefer Roads
 

Bike ride 3 days a week. Prefer to stay off cart paths. Have had many more close calls from carts than cars. Cart drivers appear very impatient.

Generally stay on roads with a cart lane and then in that lane. Even here cart drivers give less attention to passing distance than cars.

When I do go on Buena Vista or Morse, it's never more than 2 - 3 blocks and always early morning. There is not much traffic and therefore no problem with cars easily passing in the left lane. I can pretty much anticipate a doofus driver now that I have some experience.

Cart drivers are definitely the worst offenders. Some drive blind around corners at full speed and have no idea about what is around the corner. I saw one guy have two wheels lift off the ground as he barely made the corner around Turtlemound. He did however take over the other side of the path, but I was OK as I had hit the brakes when I saw him. People who have altered their governors are very bad as well. They pass you when you are going 20MPH. My wife walks on the multimodal paths each morning, and she has had many cart drivers swear and yell at her that she and her companions should not be walking on the "golf cart paths," even though they walk facing traffic. It is unfortunate, but The Villages has a number of immature older adults who think only about having 'fun" and getting to wherever they need to go in a hurry. Get out of my way!

Bicyclists are not mandated to take the multi-modal paths.
You said that there were eight individual bikers at different intervals along Buena Vista in the right lane.
Since bicyclists are each legally entitled to a three-foot clearance, perhaps driving in the left lane would have been easier for you, rather than swerving in and out to remain in the right lane.

I biked NYC, Newark for a while and Philly for a while. Compared to those places, this is heavenly. No dogs chasing me or worrying about a car door opening. The roads are alway perfect and clean with no potholes.

I wear a helmet and don't understand why everyone doesn't. Someone said there were 3,000 bike accidents. I wonder if they know about helmets accidents vs no helmet accidents. I started wearing a ski helmet too. When I was a kid no one wore a helmet unless you were playing football.