[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Abster

Yes, I am breaking the law and a lot safer for it. I see more and more people doing the same. Years ago, the law was actually to ride against traffic. Not sure why it changed.

It was never the law where we came from up north. Cyclists always had to obey traffic laws in order to claim their right to the road, and that included riding with the flow of traffic. Where was it lawful to do that? You may feel safer, but you are creating a hazard for everyone else on the road. This is the kind of arrogance that ticks motorists off. You have no right to break the laws any more than a motorist does.

[rubicon]

As a "get to the store" kind of guy these are the facts that have to be dealt with by officials
Many of the highways and streets such as Morse, Rio Grande, Delmar, etc in TV due to increases in traffic along with trying to serve the safety needs of auto and cart drivers, and bicyclists have exacerbated these already poorly designed highways. There simply is not enough room and any movement and in areas such as at the intersection of Morse and Rio Grande too many distractions, one way or another this spells danger. This is complicated by the fact that we have people from all over the world, many of them seasonal residents that are use to driving conditions/situation in their home states/countries Example in many metro areas traffic is a challenge to your driving acumen, use to the rythmn of their local traffic and as they say in those areas making your move. Well TV roads are not made to make your move, have a different rythmn causing many of these folks to become impatient, these same folks also have that attitude on the multi-modal paths. Now add to that this very high homogenous population of people who are not as fast on the trigger as they use to be and well...we have the perfect storm.

As a side bar without the gates and LOE it would be worse.

[gatherer47]

For the fourth time here,I SAW this accident with my own eyes.The driver of the car was driving in the golf car lane,then in the right hand lane with other cars,then he moved over and was driving head on into traffic heading north.He then weaved back into the golf cart path where he from behind hit the cyclist.She was doing nothing wrong.She never knew this vehicle was approaching her from behind.The driver of the car would go slow,then speed up,and then slow and then fast.The key is he was veering from lane to lane continually on Morse for probably at least a mile.

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by gatherer47

For the fourth time here,I SAW this accident with my own eyes.The driver of the car was driving in the golf car lane,then in the right hand lane with other cars,then he moved over and was driving head on into traffic heading north.He then weaved back into the golf cart path where he from behind hit the cyclist.She was doing nothing wrong.She never knew this vehicle was approaching her from behind.The driver of the car would go slow,then speed up,and then slow and then fast.The key is he was veering from lane to lane continually on Morse for probably at least a mile.

SCAREY!!! There could be any number of reasons for that guy to be driving that way...a medical event, medications, too old to drive, trying to text on his phone, alcohol. It doesn't matter "the why"....what does matter is this was a horrific accident. Praying for the both of them and their families and ALL who are affected by this event!!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by rubicon

As a "get to the store" kind of guy these are the facts that have to be dealt with by officials
Many of the highways and streets such as Morse, Rio Grande, Delmar, etc in TV due to increases in traffic along with trying to serve the safety needs of auto and cart drivers, and bicyclists have exacerbated these already poorly designed highways. There simply is not enough room and any movement and in areas such as at the intersection of Morse and Rio Grande too many distractions, one way or another this spells danger. This is complicated by the fact that we have people from all over the world, many of them seasonal residents that are use to driving conditions/situation in their home states/countries Example in many metro areas traffic is a challenge to your driving acumen, use to the rythmn of their local traffic and as they say in those areas making your move. Well TV roads are not made to make your move, have a different rythmn causing many of these folks to become impatient, these same folks also have that attitude on the multi-modal paths. Now add to that this very high homogenous population of people who are not as fast on the trigger as they use to be and well...we have the perfect storm.

As a side bar without the gates and LOE it would be worse.

Bingo.

Having learned to drive in a good-sized city with traffic jams and ancient, narrow city streets, then moving to NYC area, I know the "making your move" issue. In NJ & NYC, I found the drivers to be assertive, know where they wanted to go and how to get it done efficiently so as not to impede the flow of traffic. Then moving to West MI was an eye opener. People driving down the interstate slowly in the passing lane, sitting forever when the lights turned greet, etc. etc.

You have to change your mindset here in TV and allow for differences in driving habits. I think the big city drivers need to slow down and realize that they don't need to drive so assertively, and the country drivers need to speed up a little and be more alert so as to not impede the flow of traffic. Unfortunately, it's probably not going to happen in our lifetime.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by gatherer47

For the fourth time here,I SAW this accident with my own eyes.The driver of the car was driving in the golf car lane,then in the right hand lane with other cars,then he moved over and was driving head on into traffic heading north.He then weaved back into the golf cart path where he from behind hit the cyclist.She was doing nothing wrong.She never knew this vehicle was approaching her from behind.The driver of the car would go slow,then speed up,and then slow and then fast.The key is he was veering from lane to lane continually on Morse for probably at least a mile.

Gatherer, I don't think anybody said or even thinks it was in any way the cyclist's fault. We just kinda got off topic a bit about cycling. There had to be something going on with that driver, like another poster said--alcohol or medications or too old to be driving.

I'm sorry you had to witness this. Praying for recovery for both of them.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Bingo.

Having learned to drive in a good-sized city with traffic jams and ancient, narrow city streets, then moving to NYC area, I know the "making your move" issue. In NJ & NYC, I found the drivers to be assertive, know where they wanted to go and how to get it done efficiently so as not to impede the flow of traffic. Then moving to West MI was an eye opener. People driving down the interstate slowly in the passing lane, sitting forever when the lights turned greet, etc. etc.

You have to change your mindset here in TV and allow for differences in driving habits. I think the big city drivers need to slow down and realize that they don't need to drive so assertively, and the country drivers need to speed up a little and be more alert so as to not impede the flow of traffic. Unfortunately, it's probably not going to happen in our lifetime.

precisely. Based on the eye witnesses account the auto driver appeared impatient based on the side to side movements he made and supported by the amount of damage that would indicate speed above 35mph. Perhaps the speed up was a result of the impact with the cyclist.

In my view if you want to cycle around here join a spinning class. I know I know its a different kind of ride

[Abster]

Originally Posted by CFrance

It was never the law where we came from up north. Cyclists always had to obey traffic laws in order to claim their right to the road, and that included riding with the flow of traffic. Where was it lawful to do that? You may feel safer, but you are creating a hazard for everyone else on the road. This is the kind of arrogance that ticks motorists off. You have no right to break the laws any more than a motorist does.

I'm from Virginia. I am safer and not interfering with cars, cyclists or walkers. We have sidewalks and bike baths and both sides. I can see (for quite a distance) cars, cyclists and pedestrians. I also see several LE officers each day. They've never said a word. I don't ride my bike when at The Villages. I see too many people that shouldn't be driving - anything.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by gatherer47

For the fourth time here,I SAW this accident with my own eyes.The driver of the car was driving in the golf car lane,then in the right hand lane with other cars,then he moved over and was driving head on into traffic heading north.He then weaved back into the golf cart path where he from behind hit the cyclist.She was doing nothing wrong.She never knew this vehicle was approaching her from behind.The driver of the car would go slow,then speed up,and then slow and then fast.The key is he was veering from lane to lane continually on Morse for probably at least a mile.

I feel so bad for you. I wonder if he was sick or under the influence?

O.K. let me say I was hoping this wouldn't turn into a discussion about why was this poor woman cycling on a road that's scary & that any sane person wouldn't be. Let me tell you all from personal experience how I came to be one of the cyclists in the villages that feel it's safer then the mm paths. First when I started back some 5 years ago pedaling in the villages I started out on the mm paths but soon found out that golf cart drivers didn't have much patience and voiced it loudly as they passed me in a very unsafe manor. Next I started out pedaling on the roads but just on the shoulder. This was an accident waiting to happen. As an example I had just crossed 466 on Buena Vista south when a landscape trailer came within a foot of knocking me off my bike . I caught up to them at the Belvedere gate and asked them why they had to cut it so close & his response was the car in the left lane wouldn't let him in. I asked him if he had brakes & that maybe if he used them to slow down then he might have been able to get in the left lane when he had a chance. He just shrugged as if to say he didn't have time to slow down.Then there's the folks that feel the right lane is the only lane that exists on Buena Vista and Morse south of 466. So now I pedal mainly on these roads and take the whole right lane leaving the drivers of motor vehicles no choice then to slow down & go around me.Sorry if it's an inconvenience for you all that are in such a hurry but now I feel much safer because I can control how close someone is to me when they're passing. I do get honked at and cussed at but this is the only option I've found to be safe out there. Let's all share the road!!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Abster

I'm from Virginia. I am safer and not interfering with cars, cyclists or walkers. We have sidewalks and bike baths and both sides. I can see (for quite a distance) cars, cyclists and pedestrians. I also see several LE officers each day. They've never said a word. I don't ride my bike when at The Villages. I see too many people that shouldn't be driving - anything.

It is very disconcerting to me as a driver to see someone coming down the street toward me on a bicycle. There is a blonde woman around the Tamarind Grove area that does this frequently. Someone is going to hit her eventually. You may think it's okay because the traffic cops don't stop you, but they very seldom stop any cyclists. They have stated that they have neither the time nor the resources to go after cyclists.

But you can be sure if you are in an accident and riding on the wrong side of the road, the fault will be yours. You are putting motorists in danger.

[Bruiser1]

Originally Posted by KathieI

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I'm sitting here in shock about this horrible accident and thinking I'm so glad I didn't witness it. Such an awful thing, those poor people. That car is destroyed and I wonder if we will ever find out the cause and correction that will need to be done to avoid this in the future.

Lately, I'm driving around much more during the day and I'm aghast at the street legal golf carts and bike riders riding along the main roads next to big SUV's (like mine) and other very large construction trucks, taking their lives in their hands and possibly becoming a victim in a terrible accident. Not me,,, I'm a 100% chicken, I'm in my SUV, driving the speed limit, avoid riding next to large trucks and stay far away from carts and bikes. I still don't get it, if there is a MM path (or whatever its called), WHY ride in the main road and take chances?? Maybe some one could enlighten me?

But in the meantime, I am saying many prayers for those people to hopefully recover in good form. Such a tragedy!![/F ONT]

is

At this location there isn't a (separated) multi modal lane. Even worse as you go south toward 466 you must cross the lane into on coming traffic and HOPE the traffic allows you to cross.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Abster

I'm from Virginia. I am safer and not interfering with cars, cyclists or walkers. We have sidewalks and bike baths and both sides. I can see (for quite a distance) cars, cyclists and pedestrians. I also see several LE officers each day. They've never said a word. I don't ride my bike when at The Villages. I see too many people that shouldn't be driving - anything.

You seem to be making stuff up to fit your opinion. Here is a reference from 1977 looking at the causes of auto/bike accidents. It very clearly (p229) states
"Riding facing traffic is presently unlawful throughout the entire United States"

A study of bicycle/motor-vehicle accidents: identification of problem types ... - Kenneth D. Cross, Gary Fisher, Anacapa Sciences, inc, United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Google Books

Perhaps you can find an older link showing where it ever was the law that bikes should ride facing traffic.

Here is a link to Floridabicycle.org
http://www.floridabicycle.org/resour...7-31-08web.pdf
in which it states than in auto/bike accidents 70% of the time the bicyclist was in violation of a law whereas in 45% it was the auto. Further it states, contrary to your assertion, that
􀁌􀀀A cyclist is safer riding with traffic than
facing it.
A cyclist who rides facing oncoming traffic increases
his risk of being hit by a motorist by two to four
times.

[red tail]

two thirds of the stuff on here is hogwash....people rambling and praying

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by red tail

two thirds of the stuff on here is hogwash....people rambling and praying

I guess there are worse things than rambling and praying. I think I will continue.