Originally Posted by Papa_lecki (Post 2039115)

There’s an article in Golf Digest this month about Jupiter Island. Since COVID, 30 homes in Palm Beach have sold for more than $30 million. That is driving development north.
If you sell your house in the Villages, you might be able to pay the entrance fees for most of the country clubs between Palm Beach and Boca.

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki (Post 2039115)

There’s an article in Golf Digest this month about Jupiter Island. Since COVID, 30 homes in Palm Beach have sold for more than $30 million. That is driving development north.
If you sell your house in the Villages, you might be able to pay the entrance fees for most of the country clubs between Palm Beach and Boca.

Originally Posted by bob47 (Post 2038731)

That's a good idea. The other problem is that the exit gates don't all open at the same time. A perfect example is the exit gate at Cazaras Avenue onto El Camino Real. This gate doesn't open until a car is practically on top of it. If folks are used to approaching a gate at 5 mph and having it open when they reach it, they are in for a surprise at some gates.

It really shouldn't be that difficult to set them up so that you have a similar experience at all gates. Why set traps for people?

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann (Post 2039190)

Also, the gates don’t close at the same rate. Some stand open, presumably to allow work trailers to pass under, encouraging motorists to go through without renewing the open-close cycle.

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2038688)

....take the top 5 or 6 locations for gate strikes, and paint these arms bright yellow or orange, and then see if the number of strikes drops.

Originally Posted by DonH57 (Post 2038611)

Probably a typo. Maybe they meant to say since January?

Originally Posted by Laker14 (Post 2039149)

One useful purpose of the gates is to slow traffic down. This is especially useful and obvious when one is in a golf cart trying to get across a busy street near a roundabout. Without the gate arm coming down and staying down for a beat or two, it would get really dangerous to try to get across two lanes of cars coming into a village.
I get annoyed when the inside gate is left in the "up" position, and I'm trying to cross in my cart. It's hard to see around the gate house and shrubbery, and you really have to creep slowly to be sure you are safe.

Can you imagine how fast cars would go without the need to stop and wait for a gate to open? Golf carts as a significant source of travel in TV would be dangerous to the point of being impractical. A consequence of that would be doubling (or more) the number of cars on the streets. That would be a total snarl.

So, the lesson here is that "The gate is your friend".

I agree that the arms can be hard to see at times, and a simple improvement would be to put optic green reflective tape rather than the red. Also, many people should just slow the F*&# down.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039308)

As we enter and leave gates at the same percentage (50%) of the time , I wonder why we don't need to use gate cards to leave?:icon_wink:

District staff says that "The purpose of the gates is to get vehicles to stop and watch for golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians."

OK, but why the need of a gate card when going in one direction and not the other?

I am just trying to understand the rationale for the use of gate cards when using public roads.

Originally Posted by KYtoTV2021 (Post 2039222)

Ahhhh?? Does this really make sense to you?

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2039322)

Sure, that would also help control cart/bike traffic that is crossing, but you would have to move most exit gates to BEFORE the MMP crossing.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039341)

As we enter and leave gates at the same percentage (50%) of the time , I wonder why we don't need to use gate cards to leave?:icon_wink::icon_wink:
District staff says that "The purpose of the gates is to get vehicles to stop and watch for golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians."
OK, but why the need of a gate card when going in one direction and not the other?
I am just trying to understand the rationale for the use of gate cards when using public roads.




I was making a comment in jest -. kind of. If not using a gate card assess system for exiting a gate facility (a Village of houses) is safe then why not have the same system for entering (a Village of houses)? Having gates to slow traffic for users of the MM paths is understandable.

We have auto opening gates for 50% of the time when driving thru gate facilities (exiting) so why not 100% of the time?

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039308)

As we enter and leave gates at the same percentage (50%) of the time , I wonder why we don't need to use gate cards to leave?:icon_wink:

District staff says that "The purpose of the gates is to get vehicles to stop and watch for golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians."

OK, but why the need of a gate card when going in one direction and not the other?

I am just trying to understand the rationale for the use of gate cards when using public roads.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2039363)

Well, it would be a bit difficult or too late to help any golf carts, bike and pedestrians, since you would have already run them over by the time you got to the place to wave your key card to open the gate when you are using the exit.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039369)

The only change from the current gate system would be to replace the card reader gates with similar auto open gates that are now used when you exit the gate system. If the current auto open gates on exit work safely now for golf carts, use the same system for entry thus doing away with cards. Just something to thing about.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2039372)

I like having a card-gate system. Anyone that can't handle it, should be in assisted living where someone can keep them safe. :icon_wink:
At least the gate gives the "appearance" of security. Other communities require a lot more for entry, including checking in with the security shack before being allowed into the community. I think they should do away with the button for entry and use the button to call security to open the gate, so they can keep track of entry.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2039372)

I like having a card-gate system. Anyone that can't handle it, should be in assisted living where someone can keep them safe. :icon_wink:
At least the gate gives the "appearance" of security.

Originally Posted by John Quenell (Post 2039398)

Gate strikes: A couple of years ago I struck a gate. The attendants were angry. I was sober and calm and admitted I made a mistake. I was not tying to cheat, I only misunderstood the flow of traffic through the gate. It was a $250 bill. I continue to wonder, why don't they use foldable gates? No damage -- they just fold and let you go through; and no damage to the vehicle. Does the Developer have some kind of kickback arrangement with a contractor who repairs these gates? Just wondering.

John Quenell (unafraid to use real name)

Originally Posted by John Quenell (Post 2039398)

Gate strikes: A couple of years ago I struck a gate. The attendants were angry. I was sober and calm and admitted I made a mistake. I was not tying to cheat, I only misunderstood the flow of traffic through the gate. It was a $250 bill. I continue to wonder, why don't they use foldable gates? No damage -- they just fold and let you go through; and no damage to the vehicle. Does the Developer have some kind of kickback arrangement with a contractor who repairs these gates? Just wondering.

John Quenell (unafraid to use real name)

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2039372)

I like having a card-gate system. Anyone that can't handle it, should be in assisted living where someone can keep them safe. :icon_wink:

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039591)

Yes, I can understand that some will still use their security blanket (gate card) as they always have. :icon_wink::icon_wink:

After clearly learning the system in and out through emails to and from District staff who are very responsive and great to work with, I am using my own cloned chip installed in a side mirror in place of the old Village gate card. I have people standing in line on my street to have me clone their old gate card for free. The cost of the RFID device to clone the cards is around $17 and the chips (new card) is around $.75 . So, my cost to make for neighbors is around $1 per card. For those that what to do this but are willing to pay, there are people who will do everything plus install for between $30 ~ $40.

It's your choice to stay the same or try something different and maybe better.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039591)

Yes, I can understand that some will still use their security blanket (gate card) as they always have. :icon_wink::icon_wink:

After clearly learning the system in and out through emails to and from District staff who are very responsive and great to work with, I am using my own cloned chip installed in a side mirror in place of the old Village gate card. I have people standing in line on my street to have me clone their old gate card for free. The cost of the RFID device to clone the cards is around $17 and the chips (new card) is around $.75 . So, my cost to make for neighbors is around $1 per card. For those that what to do this but are willing to pay, there are people who will do everything plus install for between $30 ~ $40.

It's your choice to stay the same or try something different and maybe better.

Originally Posted by CWGUY (Post 2039611)

:shrug: I get very confused at times..... this is one of them. Why is this NOT considered tampering with a traffic control device? Gates in the Villages are traffic control devices that are owned, installed and maintained by our Government. I hope GWN pipes in with his vast knowledge of how things work around here. :)

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039591)

Yes, I can understand that some will still use their security blanket (gate card) as they always have. :icon_wink::icon_wink:

After clearly learning the system in and out through emails to and from District staff who are very responsive and great to work with, I am using my own cloned chip installed in a side mirror in place of the old Village gate card. I have people standing in line on my street to have me clone their old gate card for free. The cost of the RFID device to clone the cards is around $17 and the chips (new card) is around $.75 . So, my cost to make for neighbors is around $1 per card. For those that what to do this but are willing to pay, there are people who will do everything plus install for between $30 ~ $40.

It's your choice to stay the same or try something different and maybe better.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2039726)

I do have the chip cloned and inside my mirror. That is not what I was referring to when I said I like the "card gate system." I was referring to the idea of a gate requiring some sort of key to allow entry.
And the cloned chip inside the mirror does NOT work for all gates, because some gate readers are too high. I have been through about 15 gates using my cloned chip in the mirror and only one gate reader (so far) has not worked for me. It's a great idea and even better when it is raining and you do not need to open your window.

Originally Posted by buzzy (Post 2039614)

How do you get the chip into the mirror housing? I checked the amount of adjustment, and I don't think the opening is big enough.

Originally Posted by twoplanekid (Post 2039615)

and "How do you get the chip into the mirror housing? I checked the amount of adjustment, and I don't think the opening is big enough."

From District staff -> "Thank you for the email. The gate cards that are issued to you when you purchase a home are assigned to you and that property. The purpose of the gates is to get vehicles to stop and watch for golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians. There is no law that would prohibit you from installing a third party proximity card in you mirror. While we certainly don’t condone or encourage the use of cards issued by third parties, all of the roads within The Villages are public and we cannot restrict access. The gate cards issued by third parties are also not guaranteed to work in the future as upgrades and improvements are made to the gates. "

It comes with a sticky mount side but I add mounting tape to it for the inside of the mirror.
see picture on how I insert the chip that is about a quarter in size ->

P.S. If you feel uncomfortable installing this yourself, please hire (not me as I am retired) someone mentioned in this thread to do it.