Originally Posted by coffeebean (Post 2320517)

The exit gates are beyond where the cart traffic is. There really is no traffic control with the any of the exit gates.

I never thought this was a gated community for security purposes. I never saw the "illusion" you mention. All one has to do is drive a golf cart around here and realize what the entrance gates are for. Exit gates.....no so much.

Originally Posted by 8notes (Post 2320569)

So the majority of the gate operator's job functions are related to operational and maintenance activities regarding "the gates". If the gates were removed, about the only thing missing would be a person who would greet Villagers and who could give directions to people who don't know their way around. The purpose of gates is not to regulate or slow traffic down. That is a traffic operation that is governed by roadway design and signage. The gates provide little to no security. Everyone can just push a button and go through a gate. As others have stated, the roads are legally under the jurisdiction of the counties, so everyone is entitled to use them. I don't see the gates serving any useful purpose, and staffing the gates is a cost that could be done away with.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2320605)

You read through 108 previous posts and still make that statement?

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2320607)

I'm shocked no one has brought up cloned gate cards :crap2:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 2320482)

Even though The Villages has over 120 gate facilities spread throughout the community, we are not a “gated community.” Due to the fact our roadways are public roads, access to our communities cannot be restricted. However, our gate facilities do serve a very important function, that of traffic control by slowing vehicle traffic that enters and exits our neighborhoods.

The gate attendant operation falls under the direction of the Field Operations Manager. Of the 120 plus gate facilities, 25 are staffed with gate attendants. Thirteen (13) of the 25 staffed gates are staffed 24/7/365. The other twelve (12) gates are staffed between 6am and 12 midnight, depending on the gate. Our gate attendants are part-time employees, who work a six-hour shift; therefore, we have at least 91 gate attendant personnel working each 24-hour period. During high traffic times an additional gate attendant may be placed at high volume gates.

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2319767)

The cards create the illusion of a gated community.

(The entry gates could work like exit gates as they do sometimes during construction)

Originally Posted by Pairadocs (Post 2319893)

Often wonder if rolling down automatic windows thousands of times more often than people who live in ordinary developments would need to, turns out to be expensive for residents, maybe most trade cars before a window would ever fail, but I'm sure it's not an inexpensive repair !

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2320584)

Exit gate slows traffic at the exit and probably more importantly, keeps people from using the exit as an entrance.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2320605)

You read through 108 previous posts and still make that statement?

Originally Posted by 8notes (Post 2320919)

The purpose of the gates is NOT to slow traffic down. They do function that way, but it is not their purpose. The same function could be achieved by stop signs, sans gate cards and attendants.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2320932)

Today, the gates do serve the purpose of slowing/stopping traffic and making the intersection with the MMP safer.

Originally Posted by Maker (Post 2320946)

However, having all that hardware, landscaping, and signage blocks visibility of cars and carts seeing each other. That alone makes the area a lot less safer.

Since there are many times a gate arm is missing, or stuck in the up position, the overall safety at those times is extremely worse because carts have become used to the rhythm of crossing, and are not ready for a car to appear so soon. Cart much more likely to be crossing because they cannot see an approaching car, and risks becoming involved in a collision.

Even when those conditions are present, there are not collisions happening often. So without gates, and all the obstructions around them, things would flow freely, quickly, and safely.
That how it happens everywhere else in the country.

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2319814)

I need our card to get through the gate with no red button that provides golf cart access to places like Lowel’s, WaWa, Walmart, Tropical Smoothie, BJ’s, and Aldi. Otherwise, the red buttons work just fine. The gate has no red button because it’s there to keep non Villagers from bringing their golf carts into the bubble (nothing prohibits them from entering by automobile).

Originally Posted by firefighter4u (Post 2321028)

We have friends that live in Stonecrest that were given a gate card when they purchased their house.