[rpalumberi]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

They say about $250 a pop for knocking down a gate.
I take out a Gate Crasher annual season ticket for $450 every year.
I am allowed 5 gates for free, and the others at half price.

funny

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by asianthree

My guess is you have only lived here for a few years….yes gates malfunction, from constant use..with bolts that are made to break.

At 3am when the gate fell, community watch was exiting his vehicle to remove the gate, because it was reported as malfunctioning. I was exiting at the same time. The gate fell, all by itself. By the way if you have to move the gate it’s not as light as one would think.

I asked if the gate fell on my vehicle, what would happen, his reply “I know it has happened, but am unaware of the outcome” Very scripted and text book answer. Trust me if the gate malfunctioned, fell on you, you would make the call, the cameras are available to provide information.

No doubt that sometimes the gate bolts get worn and sometimes the arm falls on its own, but my gestalt is that drivers hitting the gate far outnumber the spontaneous malfunctions.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Perhaps gate visibility may be part of the problem.

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

No, that's not it.

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Get your cataracts fixed !

Originally Posted by Rzepecki

You know the gate is there.

Personal thought: If you can't see a red and white gate arm at eye level that you KNOW is there, please don't drive anywhere near anybody's grandchildren. Also, I would doubt that person's ability to avoid an animal that darted into the road or dangerous debris. Bottom line: if you vision is that bad, don't drive!

[Ritagoyer]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I heard that as well, from several folks. At $250 a pop, seems like a money maker for TV: those arms are held on the mechanism by shear-away bolts so that, when hit, the arm suffers no (or very little) damage. A guy with a wrench and some new bolts could put things back in order pretty quickly, one would think.

That number per week unfortunately seems all too believable. Our gate seems to be down about twice a month, but one week recently saw no fewer than three such events. Another poster mentioned visibility and IMO this could be an issue. Those arms are painted red and white, which is very visible when the arm is up but when it is down it is at precisely the level of automobile taillights so that red striping, especially when traffic is heavy, might be doing more harm than good.

We all know there is a gate there, and enter the area as if it is down and stop. I see so many that are down for what ever reason and they have that little stop sign placed there instead of the arm that just blow thru and not even stop. They should be handling out tickets for people running that stop sign also.

[paulajr]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

And impatience. Any more reasons? I'm sure there are.

I almost got hit by the gate yesterday, when the person in the lane next to me exited their gate..then decided to STOP and wave on golf carts…which caused me to be stuck under MY gate! I panicked as it started coming down..but luckily went back up. The guy behind Him/her was also trapped. 🤬

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Personal thought: If you can't see a red and white gate arm at eye level that you KNOW is there, please don't drive anywhere near anybody's grandchildren. Also, I would doubt that person's ability to avoid an animal that darted into the road or dangerous debris. Bottom line: if you vision is that bad, don't drive!

TRUE -
The same person who can’t see a red and white gate is hitting a 2 inch golf ball and finding it around the green.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

No doubt that sometimes the gate bolts get worn and sometimes the arm falls on its own, but my gestalt is that drivers hitting the gate far outnumber the spontaneous malfunctions.

Agree. Along Meggison we have seen construction vehicles take out the gates at various times. Trusses catch, large containers etc. they are all to blame.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

No, that's not it.

Nope, it isn’t. I see “two” trying to make it through all the time. Never works out well. What’s the hurry, people. You’re retired. Oh, you’re late you say. Leave earlier. If you find the gates but a nuisance? Too bad. You moved here.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Black Beauty

We need our false sense of security

No, we need the ability to safely cross these areas in a golf cart, which the gate arms provide.

[TeresaE]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I played golf last week, with someone who works for Community Watch. He told me that we average 10 "gate crashes" per day.

I went to a dog park today. Of the 3 gates I went through (or around), 2 were under repair. There's a gate in front of the Mallory Club House, that seems to get broken at least 3 times/week.

I assume the "crashers" get billed? I assume their insurance pays? Are there really 10 per day? How much does the crasher get charged? How much does an average repair really cost?

I assume this has been going on since The Villages began? Maybe it's time for a different solution?

Perhaps equipping the Guard Shack attendants with Paint Ball guns?

Maybe the solution is to limit those “happy hours” to an actual Hour instead of half the day. Just thinking outside the box.

[BlackHarley]

" I was hit by a BIG GATE while out riding my Hawwlee". Perfect Dan Newlin commercial.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by Wilson02852

Hopefully this is the "last" gate post of 2023. Anyone have an idea how many there were? Closest one to correct number wins.

The thing about gate posts..... it's not like any of us have to go out and fix the gates.... am I the only one who doesn't care if they are down..... it would be nice if they didn't get hit, but they do and it's no skin off my teeth.

[Mrfriendly]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Yesterday coming from UPS store and square one in golf cart stopped to push the gate button.

Gate started up hesitated At moving 2’ then back down. Pressed the button again gate slowly went up and they proceeded to swing sideways and fall across the road. Good thing I didn’t rush the gate.

This would be the third gate in a week that I have watched fall down all by itself. Wonder if they count those 10 gate crashes are in the numbers he spoke of. When in reality it could be the bolts just giving away, or poorly installed bolts. So yes gate crashed, but no vehicle involved.

The camera will pick up car plate, but carts have no I’d, so once a year TV posts the pics and ask for help to Id carts. Last post fee was $250. But that been awhile

Is it possible this Repair system is set up to be a moneymaker for The Villages? Some people seem to think $250 repair is way in excess of actual cost to replace gate.
$250 X 10… Hmmm

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Have no idea what your post has to do with gates either falling down on their own, or run into by a vehicle.

So your insulting post is “ those buying near turnpike, quarry, Coleman or new villages few retail,CC or restaurants are basically clueless that gates exist?”

I do believe that this is the BEST BASH POST of 2023. Congratulations, you should be proud.

Been here since 2007, and live south of 44.

Actually, It's not my best insulting post. I just know I left some other Darwin Award contestant out! Golf cart jackals maybe?

[waterflower]

Money laundering,