[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

If someone is following too closely for too long, I simply slow down until such time that they decided to go around me. Or on the extremely rare occasion that I'm not keeping up with traffic because I'm going too slowly...I might speed up a bit.

The last thing I would ever do, per the comment above...is to slam on the brakes and come to a stop.

Which makes absolutely no sense...if anyone of even average intelligence thinks about it.

You're worried about someone being too close and hitting you if you have to stop...so you "stop dead" anyway?

That isn't what POLAR BEAR posted. That is what Blue Eagle posted. (stopping dead) Do not lose sight that most of us are reasonable human beings. I can't remember being tailgated here more than once or twice in ten years. I have been passed a few times each year, usually at high season. Stay Calm and Carry On.

[Chatbrat]

After seeing the videos of all the golf carts whacking the DelMar gate-IMHO its time for TV to require some for of ID on all golf carts-@ a cost of $250/per gate arm--the cost to TV- has to be in excess of $250K/year

also/ when the shield of anonymity is removed--maybe some drivers would drive in a responsible manner

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

After seeing the videos of all the golf carts whacking the DelMar gate-IMHO its time for TV to require some for of ID on all golf carts-@ a cost of $250/per gate arm--the cost to TV- has to be in excess of $250K/year

also/ when the shield of anonymity is removed--maybe some drivers would drive in a responsible manner

Chatbrat, I wish you owned a golf cart and drove around here a lot. It really is doable and safe if you are careful and use common sense and stay calm. It is much more crowded on the cart paths during January, February and March and there are many people unused to the place and the procedures and many who come from large metropolitan areas, used to public transit who don't drive much so we all have to drive as if everyone is out to get us. People are going to do astonishing things so stay ready.

And every step we would make in enforcing I.D. on golf carts and keeping them current would be highly expensive just as every bureaucratic step is, and also fraught with it's own issues. Someone must pay the bill.

[PennBF]

I guess my question is why the OP takes pleasure in violating the rules of The Villages which is for each car to wait until the first one has cleared the gate. Per the stated reasons for the gate is to (1) alert each driver they are entering into a golf cart community and (2) to be able to identify traffic in and out of the village(s). What pride does anyone have in being able to abuse these rules and goals of the Villages.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

But if you're being tailgated and just proceed on like nothing is amiss, you're making a mistake and asking for trouble.

Why would I be asking for trouble?

Since I am a slow driver, I often get tailgaters following too closely. I just keep driving at the same speed and the tailgaters either lose their nerve and back off or manage to pass me.

On Morse and Buena Vista, I drive 35 mph and almost never have a problem with tailgaters, but on the two-lane roads around places like Pedro or Floral City with speed limits of 55 mph, I sometimes do not have the nerve to drive that fast.

If you do not know where Pedro is, you haven't lived.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I guess my question is why the OP takes pleasure in violating the rules of The Villages which is for each car to wait until the first one has cleared the gate. Per the stated reasons for the gate is to (1) alert each driver they are entering into a golf cart community and (2) to be able to identify traffic in and out of the village(s). What pride does anyone have in being able to abuse these rules and goals of the Villages.

OP here......I suggest you haven't taken the time to read all the posts in this thread. You will realize I don't take pleasure at all in violating the rules when exiting some of these villages. Not all villages have a sign posted at the exits that the gate comes down after each vehicle. Folks who frequent the St. James gate have the same issues with the exit gate not coming down in a timely manner.

I have tried to allow the gate to come down as I exit Mallory but the darn thing remains up. My car approaches the gate after another car has gone through and I'm at least two car lengths away from the gate. The darn gate stays up. I said that already a few posts ago. I guess you either ignored that post or you haven't read all the posts in this thread.

Maybe TPTB will be made aware of this thread and fix the Mallory exit gate to come down quickly after a car goes through, even if another car approaches the "eye".

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by VApeople

Why would I be asking for trouble?...

Because you're one unexpected emergency stop from getting rear-ended.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

OP here......I suggest you haven't taken the time to read all the posts in this thread. You will realize I don't take pleasure at all in violating the rules when exiting some of these villages. Not all villages have a sign posted at the exits that the gate comes down after each vehicle. Folks who frequent the St. James gate have the same issues with the exit gate not coming down in a timely manner.

I have tried to allow the gate to come down as I exit Mallory but the darn thing remains up. My car approaches the gate after another car has gone through and I'm at least two car lengths away from the gate. The darn gate stays up. I said that already a few posts ago. I guess you either ignored that post or you haven't read all the posts in this thread.

Maybe TPTB will be made aware of this thread and fix the Mallory exit gate to come down quickly after a car goes through, even if another car approaches the "eye".

Must be a constant emergency I guess....everyone needs to hurry up, drivers, those that determine gate speed, why can't everyone understand I am in a hurry and they should be too.

[Mikeod]

There seems to be confusion regarding the entrance and exit gates. The entrance gates require the use of the gate pass to raise the gate. Tailgating through the gate to avoid using your own pass is unsafe as carts crossing have to depend on that short delay to cross the street.

The exit gates are controlled by a sensor buried in the road surface that detects the presence of a vehicle to raise the gate. The gate will stay up as long as there is a vehicle present to trigger the sensor. For the exit gates, you do not have to wait for the gate to come down from the vehicle in front of you to pass through. In most instances, carts waiting to cross can see the traffic exiting the gate and know when it is sage to proceed.

Stopping to wave a cart across instead of proceeding creates an unsafe situation. Even though it appears courteous, it sends the wrong signal to cart drivers who may expect this is standard procedure and pull out in front of a vehicle. It also creates a surprise for vehicles behind who don't expect you to stop when there is no obvious reason to.

I can understand that when the exit lane is backed up from the roundabout through the gate that it may be courteous to allow cart traffic to cross rather than block them, but that is the only time it may be appropriate to do so. Remember that the cart is still at risk from traffic entering the gate.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by Mikeod

There seems to be confusion regarding the entrance and exit gates. The entrance gates require the use of the gate pass to raise the gate. Tailgating through the gate to avoid using your own pass is unsafe as carts crossing have to depend on that short delay to cross the street.

The exit gates are controlled by a sensor buried in the road surface that detects the presence of a vehicle to raise the gate. The gate will stay up as long as there is a vehicle present to trigger the sensor. For the exit gates, you do not have to wait for the gate to come down from the vehicle in front of you to pass through. In most instances, carts waiting to cross can see the traffic exiting the gate and know when it is sage to proceed.

Stopping to wave a cart across instead of proceeding creates an unsafe situation. Even though it appears courteous, it sends the wrong signal to cart drivers who may expect this is standard procedure and pull out in front of a vehicle. It also creates a surprise for vehicles behind who don't expect you to stop when there is no obvious reason to.

I can understand that when the exit lane is backed up from the roundabout through the gate that it may be courteous to allow cart traffic to cross rather than block them, but that is the only time it may be appropriate to do so. Remember that the cart is still at risk from traffic entering the gate.

This makes so much sense, clearly written and specific. Thank you. I know this cleared up a lot of the confusion for me. Hope it does the same for others. Again, thanks for taking the time to post.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Mikeod

There seems to be confusion regarding the entrance and exit gates. The entrance gates require the use of the gate pass to raise the gate. Tailgating through the gate to avoid using your own pass is unsafe as carts crossing have to depend on that short delay to cross the street.

The exit gates are controlled by a sensor buried in the road surface that detects the presence of a vehicle to raise the gate. The gate will stay up as long as there is a vehicle present to trigger the sensor. For the exit gates, you do not have to wait for the gate to come down from the vehicle in front of you to pass through. In most instances, carts waiting to cross can see the traffic exiting the gate and know when it is sage to proceed.

Stopping to wave a cart across instead of proceeding creates an unsafe situation. Even though it appears courteous, it sends the wrong signal to cart drivers who may expect this is standard procedure and pull out in front of a vehicle. It also creates a surprise for vehicles behind who don't expect you to stop when there is no obvious reason to.

I can understand that when the exit lane is backed up from the roundabout through the gate that it may be courteous to allow cart traffic to cross rather than block them, but that is the only time it may be appropriate to do so. Remember that the cart is still at risk from traffic entering the gate.

I didn't know there was a sensor in the road to detect cars that are exiting at the gates. I thought there was an "eye" that sees a car approaching. Either way, the gate stays up at the exit when a car is present. Thanks for the insight.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by VApeople

Why would I be asking for trouble?

Since I am a slow driver, I often get tailgaters following too closely. I just keep driving at the same speed and the tailgaters either lose their nerve and back off or manage to pass me.

On Morse and Buena Vista, I drive 35 mph and almost never have a problem with tailgaters, but on the two-lane roads around places like Pedro or Floral City with speed limits of 55 mph, I sometimes do not have the nerve to drive that fast.

If you do not know where Pedro is, you haven't lived.

The point was tailgating thru gates.....not on Morse.

[CWGUY]

This thread is hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

OP here......I suggest you haven't taken the time to read all the posts in this thread. You will realize I don't take pleasure at all in violating the rules when exiting some of these villages. Not all villages have a sign posted at the exits that the gate comes down after each vehicle. Folks who frequent the St. James gate have the same issues with the exit gate not coming down in a timely manner.

I have tried to allow the gate to come down as I exit Mallory but the darn thing remains up. My car approaches the gate after another car has gone through and I'm at least two car lengths away from the gate. The darn gate stays up. I said that already a few posts ago. I guess you either ignored that post or you haven't read all the posts in this thread.

Maybe TPTB will be made aware of this thread and fix the Mallory exit gate to come down quickly after a car goes through, even if another car approaches the "eye".

Here you go. Send you concerns to District Property Management. Maybe they can adjust the gate to your satisfaction.
The District Property Management Department is responsible for upholding the aesthetic, physical and environmental assets of the District by maintaining the District’s physical assets and infrastructure.
Sam Wartinbee, Director
sam.wartinbee@districtgov.org

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Mikeod

There seems to be confusion regarding the entrance and exit gates. The entrance gates require the use of the gate pass to raise the gate. Tailgating through the gate to avoid using your own pass is unsafe as carts crossing have to depend on that short delay to cross the street.

Here is what happened to me today.

We were coming off Buena Vista and entering the gate to go east on Pinellas. We were in the left lane.

The guy in the right lane used his card to open his gate and went through. The guy behind tried to follow him closely behind, but the gate started coming down so he had to quickly stop.

In the meantime, I used my card to open the left gate and went through. Than I noticed the person in the right lane had gotten through and pulled very closely behind me. I drove 30 mph down Pinellas and he tailgated me until I turned left into Bonifay.

I thought it was pretty funny.