[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Harleyman

I learned not long after we started coming to the Villages that it is not safe to cross any crosswalk in the Villages unless my eyes are locked into the eyes of the driver of the vehicle or golf car coming towards me. People are so in la la ville that they just don't pay attention to the crosswalks. I really believe that it is more dangerous to cross a walk in Lake Sumpter than it would be in downtown New York city (although I have never been in downtown New York city.

I have, and you're right.

[casita37]

Well, we knew our neighbors would be OLD when we decided to move here. What we didn't know was how aggressive some drivers would be. I accept that drivers are older and the issues that go along with that, not to mention getting to know your way around, including roundabouts, would be tough on even younger drivers. I have lived most of my adult life in tourist areas, so one learns to be defensive, but that doesn't mean people are stupid or idiots. I'm sure most of you have, at one time or another, been doing your best in an unfamiliar driving situation. Heck, the sales agent even used it as a sales tool that once you can't drive a car any longer, you can get by with a golf cart!

A couple of days ago, I was waiting at the stop sign at Tall Trees and Parr Dr. The guy behind me could not see what I could see. He apparently got frustrated with waiting behind me and went around me on the right side....only to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting the bicycle I had been waiting for. I have also had drivers blow the horn at me, at that same intersection, because I was holding up traffic....the cars behind the lead car cannot see the cross traffic. The landscaping here in TV is lovely, however dangerous, at times.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Harleyman

I learned not long after we started coming to the Villages that it is not safe to cross any crosswalk in the Villages unless my eyes are locked into the eyes of the driver of the vehicle or golf car coming towards me. People are so in la la ville that they just don't pay attention to the crosswalks. I really believe that it is more dangerous to cross a walk in Lake Sumpter than it would be in downtown New York city (although I have never been in downtown New York city.

We were taught as kids to never walk out into the street in front of a moving car. I would never step out into a crosswalk with cars coming at me....I don't care WHAT the law says about drivers having to stop for pedestrians IN the crosswalk.

The laws from state to state on that are too inconsistent and they were passed in various years and decades, so not all drivers know they're supposed to stop for somebody who trusts out-of-state drivers to stop for them.

Apart from that, I am constantly amazed at people who LOLLY-GAG around and walk right out in front of moving vehicles without even looking to their right or left! They ask for trouble!

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

I was crossing the street today, at LSL, by Panera Bread. I was half way across, in the crosswalk, when this old,AND I DO MEAN OLD,man in a golf cart almost hit me. He never slowed down. I screamed at him, but he never flinched or even acknowledged that I was there. I think I'll buy a paint ball gun.

Could you clarify the almost in almost hit me? i.e. how many inches or feet. Sorry, but before I blame the OLD MAN, I need more facts.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by NIPAS K-9

.... when you are too old to drive a car, you still can drive a golft cart as long as you can crawl into it and push the pedals.

That is something we all need to remember!

[graciegirl]

Speaking of age and driving golf carts, I have seen a few teens driving here endangering a population not as able to jump outa the way as they used to be.

Heck I have seen a lot of under fifties driving like idiots.

Now that I think of it, I see senior drivers of all ages, still old of course, who act like they are on the test track at Daytona.

I am 73 and I am the right age to live here and I try to drive nice.

I will now use this term in the way it was intended.......

Boy Howdy.

And now that I live here and am learning new things...

Wicked Boy Howdy.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by NIPAS K-9

well you answered it yourself, you did say old man............ apparently he cant see well and sure cant hear.............. so its up to you to be careful crossing the street and watch out. As we age we dont see or hear as well. Great thing about the .....v.......... is when you are too old to drive a car, you still can drive a golft cart as long as you can crawl into it and push the pedals.

Good post. After all, The Villages does promote itself as a retirement community. Everyone ages and slows down, lose their quick reflexes as time goes by.........fact of life. We will all be there one day......so better to have compassion for the very elderly.

[Lark7]

"Old" is not a four letter word.

[travelguy]

Venting usually gets me into trouble, but I will put in my 2 cents (as usual). I am amazed how many people will give up their driver's license when they get to a point where they think that they should not be behind the wheel of an automobile, but then have no hesitation to get behind the wheel of a golf cart. if your faculties are diminished then you have no business operating a golf cart or any other motorized conveyance (have to think some more about bicycles though.) I don't think that this rant will get me into trouble.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by travelguy

Venting usually gets me into trouble, but I will put in my 2 cents (as usual). I am amazed how many people will give up their driver's license when they get to a point where they think that they should not be behind the wheel of an automobile, but then have no hesitation to get behind the wheel of a golf cart. if your faculties are diminished then you have no business operating a golf cart or any other motorized conveyance (have to think some more about bicycles though.) I don't think that this rant will get me into trouble.

You are right of course. And diplomatic as usual.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I was riding my bicycle one day and heard a woman yelling, "Can you help me?"
I stopped and saw a woman lying on the ground next to a golf cart in her driveway. I thought that she had had some kind of accident.

I went over and asked how I could help and she said that she was trying to plugged her cart into the charger. I plugged her cart in and help her off the ground. She was very over weight and in pretty poor physical condition.

I asked why she was lying on the ground in an effort to plug in her cart and she explained that she was legally blind. I then asked who drives the golf cart and she replied, "I do. I have to since they took my driver's license away."

Kids that are 14 years old and have no knowledge of the rules of the road are allowed to drive golf carts on public roads. How is this allowed? How can we hold kids, who have never studied the rules, responsible for obeying them?

Is it time to start requiring a license to operate a golf cart on public ways?

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I was riding my bicycle one day and heard a woman yelling, "Can you help me?"
I stopped and saw a woman lying on the ground next to a golf cart in her driveway. I thought that she had had some kind of accident.

I went over and asked how I could help and she said that she was trying to plugged her cart into the charger. I plugged her cart in and help her off the ground. She was very over weight and in pretty poor physical condition.

I asked why she was lying on the ground in an effort to plug in her cart and she explained that she was legally blind. I then asked who drives the golf cart and she replied, "I do. I have to since they took my driver's license away."

Kids that are 14 years old and have no knowledge of the rules of the road are allowed to drive golf carts on public roads. How is this allowed? How can we hold kids, who have never studied the rules, responsible for obeying them?

Is it time to start requiring a license to operate a golf cart on public ways?

There are currently no laws in Florida requiring a license to operate a golf cart on public ways. If you think this should be changed, contact your FL legislator. The FL Legislature will be commencing their annual session soon.

[paulandjean]

Originally Posted by janmcn

There are currently no laws in Florida requiring a license to operate a golf cart on public ways. If you think this should be changed, contact your FL legislator. The FL Legislature will be commencing their annual session soon.

No thank you,

[buggyone]

It would be a good requirement that golf carts would have to be insured for liability - and that the insurance companies would require an eye exam from an eye doctor (opthamologist, optimist, ornithologist, or something like that).

That could be a yearly requirement with the proof of a window sticker. Of course, this would add a department to state government and that is a political hotdog that so many on this forum would object to doing.

[2BNTV]

My guess is ghat some people rush to get where their going because they need to save extra time, so they crawl out of their cart.