[FromNY]

Possibly the owners of that land do not want golfcarts there? It's not always all about " The Villages ".

[linurban]

Originally Posted by nick demis

If the Villages wanted to allow it, the problem of access is easily fixed by putting gates on a dedicated cart path. Everyone in the Villages has a card to open the gates, thus keeping outsiders out.

outsiders will simply run the gate and break it as happens constantly at the gate access to Lowes in the Orange Blossom area..

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Just where do you need a card to get back into Hillsborough from Pinellas Plaza???

I don't "need" a card because the red button is present. My preferred route is through gate on Pinellas Place and then on to Hendry. If there is a way to bypass that gate I am not aware of it (but would really like to know).

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don't "need" a card because the red button is present. My preferred route is through gate on Pinellas Place and then on to Hendry. If there is a way to bypass that gate I am not aware of it (but would really like to know).

You don’t, I went through it last night with a golf cart and no card - the red button opens the gate.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

And keeping many Villagers out. This could cause more problems than it solves.

While I know I need a card to get back from Spanish Springs or Pinellas Plaza on my preferred routes, and I sincerely try to remember, I usually forget to bring it. If it wasn't for the red button I would be trapped outside.

Sure, it might be easier to remember after the first time being trapped but that isn't the point. The point is that many others are going to forget and cause a traffic jam. Once it becomes common to just let in those that forgot their cards, those that never had cards will just join the line to get in too.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Just where do you need a card to get back into Hillsborough from Pinellas Plaza???

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don't "need" a card because the red button is present. My preferred route is through gate on Pinellas Place and then on to Hendry. If there is a way to bypass that gate I am not aware of it (but would really like to know).

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

You don’t, I went through it last night with a golf cart and no card - the red button opens the gate.

I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear.

There are a few gates that do not provide golf cart bypasses. The gate returning from Spanish Springs and the gate on Pinellas near the Pinellas Plaza are two. However, there is a red button on these gates to allow anyone, car or cart, to get through the gate without a card. You don't "need" a card to get through these gates because the red button is there.

The red button would not be present on a gate intended to allow only Villager carts through. If a red button was present then anyone, Villager or not, could get through which would defeat the purpose of that particular gate. If a Villager forgot his card he would be trapped outside. That is what I tried to describe in my first message. I have heard there is such a gate in the north part of the Villages but I have not used it; there may be signage at that gate alerting Villagers to check for their cards before proceeding.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Ben Franklin

It is silly that bicycles can use the road for access but not golf carts.

Because bikes should be staying to the right and not holding up traffic like many of the carts do when they just putter along.

[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by dhsmith

I think there may be a way to accomplish the crossing. On 441 in front of Walmart golf carts cross at the traffic light, I’ve heard that Marion County Sheriff allows them to cross.My mother lives in Sun City Center,Fl and golf carts cross the State Hwy at intersections that have traffic lights.
I think that the sign “No Carts beyond Here” was put up by the Villages and not by the St Of Florida nor Sumter County.Your course of action should be meeting with the Sumter Co Sheriff and your County Commissioner’s and maybe permission will be granted.
I’m not a attorney but I think if enough people want this access and just a little common since is applied it’s something that’s doable. It certainly makes since and would life for the residents much more enjoyable.
Good luck

No it is not legal to cross at the McDonalds light unless you have a street-legal cart. You will get a ticket.
The intersection in front of Spruce Creek was approved because residents worked with county commissioners and FDOT. FDOT would not approve the crossing at McDonalds because of the number of lanes at that intersection. (3 each side).

[Buckeye Bob]

Originally Posted by asianthree

So glad no golf cart access. That means the old guys that drive their golf cart to Starbucks, buy one regular coffee, then sit in chairs for hours will be minimal

With the price of Starbucks coffee, I don't blame them.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear.

There are a few gates that do not provide golf cart bypasses. The gate returning from Spanish Springs and the gate on Pinellas near the Pinellas Plaza are two. However, there is a red button on these gates to allow anyone, car or cart, to get through the gate without a card. You don't "need" a card to get through these gates because the red button is there.

The red button would not be present on a gate intended to allow only Villager carts through. If a red button was present then anyone, Villager or not, could get through which would defeat the purpose of that particular gate. If a Villager forgot his card he would be trapped outside. That is what I tried to describe in my first message. I have heard there is such a gate in the north part of the Villages but I have not used it; there may be signage at that gate alerting Villagers to check for their cards before proceeding.

You can’t get trapped outside if you forget your card, because you can’t get outside without your card. We use the gate from the Historic section often to go to Lowel’s and one time when I got to the gate I realized I forgot my card and had to go back home to get it. After that one of our cards is always kept hidden in a safe place in my cart so I will never forget it again.

[ken.yotz]

There are two apparent issues here:
1. The Villages gets no rental revenue from businesses in the Trailwinds, so why would they want to provide access to them?
2. The speed limit on 466A is 45 mph, so one mistake and we have a splattered Villager if we allow access at the traffic light.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I have heard there is such a gate in the north part of the Villages but I have not used it; there may be signage at that gate alerting Villagers to check for their cards before proceeding.

After going over the bridge over 441, then heading west on Paradise you come to a golf cart path with exit to Lowes area. You need your card to get out so no danger of getting trapped outside.

[jneibert]

I have taken my street legal cart across 466A at the light at the intersection with Pinellas Place (Pinellas Plaza), since there is no sign that prohibits entry and workers are routinely traveling through there. Travel to Lowes, Publix, Wendy's etc. is a bit circuitous, but is easily done after crossing 466A. Unfortunately, the light controlling traffic coming back across 466A (Southward) into Pinellas Plaza wasn't working yet, but I was able to cross by waiting until the cross traffic stopped and the traffic exiting from Pinellas Plaza had cleared. I think I'll wait until the light is fully functional until I travel over there again. Shouldn't be too long.

[EviesGP]

With Trailwinds in my backyard, I was hoping for same. And, as has been mentioned here, some exceptions have been made for golf carts to cross certain county roads. An approval(exception) could be made here, as well, with a petition. But, after much thought, I realize the only place I would want(or desire) to get to, is Lowes. All the others are places that I'm not interested in(fast food), or can be accessed in other plazas. And, most of my trips to Lowes, require a vehicle to haul what I'm buying. Hence, not as much of an issue now for me.

NOTE: As for the golf carts, I've watched some folks traverse Trailwinds(i.e. Beaumont) with their carts, coming from the housing area that's west of Trailwinds/CR462A.

[Villages Kahuna]

The Villages was going to develop the Trailwinds parcel with lots of new houses, a rec center, and an executive golf course. The plans were near completion after many meetings with Wildwood officials. At the last minute the City of Wildwood took over the project saying they wanted more commercial uses and greater density of the residential portions and no age restrictions on new home buyers in the new community. There is only one small area on the far west side of the large parcel, 7 acres as I recall, that is devoted as a small city park.

At the time another reason may have been the expectation of the elected and appointed Wildwood officials that they would be out of their jobs once all the new residents in the Wildwood portion of The Villages moved in and registered to vote.

So when the Wildwood city fathers pulled the rug so abruptly from under The Villages’ development plans, the reaction by Developer was predictable. They were not going to permit access directly from The Villages so residents could drive into Trailwinds in their golf carts to shop at businesses which would be in competition with businesses which were tenants in all the surrounding shopping centers which they own.

Similarly, why would the Developer extend the benefits of golf cart access to and through The Villages to buyers of homes in the Trailwinds complex that would be sold in competition with their own new and preowned homes sold by their own real estate sales subsidiary?

The reaction by the Developer was predictable and from a business standpoint point not unreasonable.

[Rowenfl]

I believe there is a law (local?) which states golf carts can only cross on roads which are posted 35mph or less. But have seen many golf carts cross 45mph roads. 😖😮