[Cassie325]

Just wondering if anyone knows if the new stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, are going to allow golf carts to drive over(or rather is The Villages going to allow it). There are so many new stores, restaurants and places that we would like to be able to get to by golf cart.

We also wonder if you are allowed to get to Home Depot or Recreation Plantation by cart. My in laws are going to be staying there in the RV for a month in September...wondering if there is away to do this??

[villages07]

Maria,

As best I can tell, no golf cart access to shopping center on 441 (with Bed, Bath and Beyond). You would have to cross Rolling Acres to get there and no tunnel access has been or likely will be built. My understanding is that someone other than TV Developer owns and is developing that site, so, TV Developer has no incentive to provide GC access.

I have seen golf carts in Home Depot lot...not sure if it's fully legal to travel there or not. There is a back gate on TV historic side that is very close to HD, but, looks like you would have to cross Griffin(?) Ave to get there. Someone from the historic side can better answer this.

Recreation plantation is also on the other side of Rolling Acres from TV woodshop/LL Driving Range. Again, I don't think there is a legal way to get from TV to RP via golf cart.

[jadebox]

I think Lake County would be the one to contact to find out if there will be a way to cross Rolling Acres. I am sure the developer would prefer there was no crossing because the big pull for building in TV is that you can drive your golf cart. If I owned the land in TV I too would prefer there be no way for golf carts to cross the roads outside TV.

[Hancle704]

Probably not. Where would golf cart access end? Leesburg, Orlando, DisneyWorld, Orlando Intnl Airport? The privilege we enjoy with our use of golf carts basically allows for use on roads within our retirement community. There are exceptions that allow registered NEVs and LSVs to cross roads when operated by a licensed driver. If you want low cost transportation outside of the community, you might want to consider purchase of a motor scooter that can be tagged or, if you are unable to drive, check with County Government, as they provide bus service to shopping areas for seniors..

[handieman]

I guess if I wanted to go to Home Depot via golf cart, I would go to the Walgreen's parking lot on the opposite corner from Home Depot and walk across the highway and get my "treasures". I figure if they will fit in a golf cart then the "treasures" are not to heavy or too large to carry across the street.

Jus sayin :

Hand E Man :joke:

[Happy Villager]

I personally would not want to see a golf cart bridge or tunnel connecting TV to the other side of Rolling Acres. If this were to occur I forsee the residents of the apartments and/or homes planned for this area obtaining golf carts and using them on our already congested transportation trails. This is already happening by residents of Stone Crest traveling from the dirt trail that leads from Lowe's to the historic side of TV and traveling the bridge over 441/27. I have also seen golf carts illegally driving on 472 from Lakeside Landings entering the Lynnhaven/Ashland gate. It is bad enough we do not have a true gated community but we definitely do not have to have non-residents allowed on our cart paths. The paths are not county maintained!

[jadebox]

Golf carts are allowed to cross the street from Lakeside Landing to The Villages.

[chacam]

They are not ! ! !

Carts can legally cross 472 to and from Bridgeport at Lake Miona only at Lynnhaven Lane.

[jadebox]

sorry about that. Just knew they could cross to TV. Now I will go away and be quiet.

[Cassie325]

No one needs to go away or be quiet...I was just asking a question...everyone has the right to their own opinion...and I thought it might be nice to go to Bed, Bath and Beyond by golf cart...instead I will take my little PT convertable....as I do look very cute in it....

I was also just asking about Rolling Acres so that I can tell my father in law it is illegal....as I am sure he will try it anyway because at 79 he really does not like to follow the rules anymore....I told him that if he got caught and we had to come pick him up that we would either say we have never seen him in our lives or that he has Alzheimer's and eloped from the house, stole our golf cart and that we will drop him off at Homewood right away....

He wasn't sure which reason he preferred....

Anyway....we don't have to talk about it anymore...but in November if you see someone sneaking around the doggy do run park on a golf cart....it is probably him waiting for a chance to cross....just stop him and tell him that Maria is going to put him in Homewood....

[Happy Villager]

Originally Posted by Hope2bforever

sorry about that. Just knew they could cross to TV. Now I will go away and be quiet.

Please don't go away and be quiet! That is what is so great about TOTV's site. I believe to discuss is the only way to get the correct information out there. Thanks for your input.
I am serious about non-residents using golf carts on our transportation trials and would like to have other's give their opinions also.

[Russ_Boston]

I see a new business opportunity - Buy a flatbed truck and fun a ferry service from 'across the street'. People from these other developments could ferry their golf cart over to SS or LSL or Brownwood and use the cart paths in TV all day long. How much do you think i could charge per golf cart?

Or we could just build a really big wall around all of TV just like we did between the US and Mexico. Never mind that didn't really work did it?

[Sidney Lanier]

Couldn't one park one's golf cart in the Rolling Acres Shopping Center parking lot (where Target, Linens & Things, Staples, etc. are located) and WALK across Rolling Acres Road to shop at Bed Bath & Beyond? There is a traffic light at the corner of RA and 441 that a pedestrian could use, I would think....

[BUC]

Happy you don't seem very happy. I hope remember your name thing Happyforever !

[Happy Villager]

Did anyone see today's Daily Sun? Front page article "Broadening Golf Cart Access Creates Concern". There has been discussion regarding a plan that would expand golf cart access throughout Lady Lake, including incoming and outgoing cart traffic in The Villages. I was very happy and relieved to read: "Some Villages officials see plans for increased golf cart access as an undue burden on current Villages residents. Gary Lester,
vice president of community relations for The Villages, said Villages residents pay more to live in a unique, master-designed, golf cart community and enjoy the special amenities - and he said he can't imagine them wanting to contribute to funding to "just turn around and open it up to everyone so that we lose our uniqueness." Regardless of funding, Lester doesn't think Villages residents would be comfortable with traffic flowing in and out of the community. "I suspect that our residents will be very concerned about opening up their recreation trails to outside traffic. Once you allow such access by the general publid into our community via recreation trails, that means anyone at any time of day or night can slip in and out of our community," Lester said. "With all the challenges we already have with nonresidents using our amenities, accessing our pools, executive golf courses, etc., I can't imagine our residents wanting to grant them even easier access." Allowing outside golf cart access also would hamper the community's goal of providing residents with priority golf cart parking at special events at the town squares, Polo Club and other venues. "That priority parking is a convenience and a privilege Villager enjoy, and I'm not sure how that could work if just anyone can drive their golf cart into our community," Lester said.

I will be composing a letter to send to Janet Tutt, The Villages District Manager voicing my support to uphold the uniqueness of The Villages and the reason why we chose to retire here. I would encourage others to consider writing their own letters to protect the
privileges we now enjoy.