[Velvet]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The thread got away from the original question of male or female golf cart drivers acting differently as they approached walkers who are facing traffic. Personally, I was more interested in that ORIGINAL question than the many replies that did NOT involve gender.

Yes, let’s imagine two Karens meeting, one is walking and the other in the golf cart. What are they going to do?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Whooo! JJM laid out the kindling for the fire. Someone wanna hand him a match? :-)

Actually in my not-so-humble opinion this is not a male - female thing. It is a lack -of-understanding thing and even more, an entitlement thing. I do a lot of walking as well as golf cart driving and have seen plenty of folks, both genders, doing things that just makes my want so shake my head. Sure, folks have the right to drive 20 mph on the MMPs. But does that justify taking a 90 degree corner so fast that the cart barely holds the road, or even moreso (as I've seen) necessitates taking the grass so the cart doesn't roll--especially those topheavy ones one sees more and more of these days. Sure, you and your partner/friend/whatever have the right to walk on the MMPs, but does that justify you strolling two abreast while walking VERY slowly with a line of carts coming at you from both directions? You have the right to ride your bicycle on the MMP, but does that justify you (and the four folks behind you) flying by the cart on the path stopped for a stop sign without even slowing down? Sure, a faster golf cart has the right to pass a slower one on the MMP, but does that justify trying to pass the slower cart by veering into the left lane and timing it so you just barely miss the walker who, being on the left, had no way to see you coming? (I was the walker on that one--guy missed me by just inches.) Just four things I've seen recently: all ended well but with even slightly different circumstances, could well not have.

It behooves us all, no matter what we may believe the laws might be or how strongly we feel we are in the right, to use our heads out there. I've never yet paid a price for being courteous.

OK. I can see that many of your observations are quite true. And I would agree with that general conclusion that we should all take an attitude of greater caring for safety on the various MM paths. Apparently most other posters also prefer to disregard the possibility of gender causing the observation of the original thread-starter that the women were MORE inclined to "plow through" and expect the pedestrians to move "outta the way".
.......I made my post as if that were TRUE about women cart drivers on the MMP. I have no idea if statistically there would be a gender difference about driving on the MMP. I went with that assumption and came up with a possible explanation as to WHY that might be true. Other posters chose NOT to make the assumption that there WOULD BE a gender difference, so why explain the WHY behind a hypothetical gender difference.
......I guess that I was just hoping that there would be various hypothesis expressed about gender and driver's attitudes.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Different culture, I guess. Or are you talking about our over 55 ladies?

First time I came to look at my present house and I saw my neighbor wave at every single person, cart and car that went by (because they were waving at him) I though he was nuts. Then I realized, no, we all just do that here (on my street).

I was thinking any age. Like for both men and women it seems like a southern hospitality thing.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Personally when I run, it is on a surface that is less hard than the MMP like a running track or grass or clay.Many of the softball fields have space for running on soft clay or grass. The Polo Grounds also has a lot of space and grass. If I were so inclined to run on a MMP, I would run on the right side ONLY if I had a mirror that attached to glasses or a helmet and I would run or stop on the grass to the right. The other possibility would be running on the right side and running on the grass to the left or stopping on the grass.
............Some have asked. "what about if there is no grass on either side of the MMP?" Then, I would pick another part of the MMP or forget the MMP entirely. In fact I would rather run or bike inside in a gym than on the MMP. But, as they say, "different strokes".

Running or walking on the right makes no sense at all. I've been a runner for over 40 years. Most of my running has been on rural county roads in southern Indiana, many with very little shoulder. More than a few times I've had to move over due to vehicles not giving me enough room. Now for 6 months a year it's on the mmp, where thankfully the vast majority of drivers are courteous and give me room.

I would NEVER run on the right. That defies logic. I want to see whats approching me, not get hit from behind. Obviously you're not a serious runner. No runner I know runs in a gym. Running outdoors is about the fresh air, hills and the changing scenery. Running 6 miles on a track, ball field or in a gym would be torture.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Personally when I run, it is on a surface that is less hard than the MMP like a running track or grass or clay.Many of the softball fields have space for running on soft clay or grass. The Polo Grounds also has a lot of space and grass. If I were so inclined to run on a MMP, I would run on the right side ONLY if I had a mirror that attached to glasses or a helmet and I would run or stop on the grass to the right. The other possibility would be running on the right side and running on the grass to the left or stopping on the grass.
............Some have asked. "what about if there is no grass on either side of the MMP?" Then, I would pick another part of the MMP or forget the MMP entirely. In fact I would rather run or bike inside in a gym than on the MMP. But, as they say, "different strokes".

Runner will only run left side, you need to see what’s coming, to gage what is available if you need to make decisions. Would never run green unless I am trying out for cross country.
Running Tread is saved for heavy snow, downpours, or rehabbing an injury. Tread is like a gerbil on a wheel, you never go anywhere, and the scenery never changes. So never felt accomplished anything.

Like swimming in a short pool, never completely get enough strokes before the need to flip

[coffeebean]

~~~

[MightyDog]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The thread got away from the original question of male or female golf cart drivers acting differently as they approached walkers who are facing traffic. Personally, I was more interested in that ORIGINAL question than the many replies that did NOT involve gender.

The issue of gender in the original post was irrelevant...or was it? Was the OP trying to put forth a safety issue of concern, primarily? If so, then the gender bit was irrelevant. (See my earlier post about the drivers that create the most auto driving incidents. It's not women. So, what a waste of time - turning a safety issue into a gender spat.)

OR, was the OP really intending just to rant about gender because he/she has an axe to grind? If this was the primary goal then, there are better ways to address that problem he/she is having than cook-up reason to "share" that frustration publicly. Smh....

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Women are the kick-butt, aggressive drivers because they have long been relegated to 2nd class citizenship in the US. For example, women relative to men were making average wage gains before the Pandemic, but lost all wage gains during and after Covid (which actually is NOT over). Therefore WOMEN have MORE frustrations to take out while behind the wheel. Also, the cart makes them somewhat anonymous.
..........A recent article stated that BOTH men and women are speeding, drinking and driving, and engaging in distracted driving at greater frequency after Covid, which appears to have somewhat changed society toward more risky behavior.
............Personally, I walk on the left side and I step onto the grass EVERY TIME a vehicle of any type approaches.

Bingo! This is exactly what I expect of pedestrians. This is solely for the pedestrian's safety and it is very smart behavior. As for my driving on MMPs and Diamond lanes.......I have always given way to pedestrians. It has been quite a ride reading the responses to my initial post on this thread. Do you honestly think I would plow into an obstacle of any sort (pedestrian included)? Of course not. I will always go around them when it is safe to do so.

It's been a fun ride.

[Calisport]

I notice in general if women or more are walking in public they tend to stay on course even bumping into people walking the opposite direction. I haven't noticed in golf carts but in cars I see the spacial problem women in cars have in cars. I'm sure there are a lot of studies done to why women don't yield to others correctly.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Yes, let’s imagine two Karens meeting, one is walking and the other in the golf cart. What are they going to do?

Oh! OH MY! OH ME OH MY!

KAREN FIGHT

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Bingo! This is exactly what I expect of pedestrians. This is solely for the pedestrian's safety and it is very smart behavior. As for my driving on MMPs and Diamond lanes.......I have always given way to pedestrians. It has been quite a ride reading the responses to my initial post on this thread. Do you honestly think I would plow into an obstacle of any sort (pedestrian included)? Of course not. I will always go around them when it is safe to do so.

It's been a fun ride.

Sorry when one uses terminology of obstacle to describe a living breathing human, gives me pause.
I would describe an obstacle as an item that has fallen off a cart, a palm frond, or trash.

[PLedoux]

Long, long ago, in Driver’s Ed, I was taught that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. Of course, we were talking automobiles, not golf carts; and city streets, not golf cart paths or MMPs. Bur no one ever had to invoke a statute or a rule. Or anything like that. Just plain and simple, the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way. No one had to explain to us the obvious- the vehicle will cause the most damage. It was pure common sense and human decency. We seem to have lost sight of both.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Sorry when one uses terminology of obstacle to describe a living breathing human, gives me pause.
I would describe an obstacle as an item that has fallen off a cart, a palm frond, or trash.

That's why they need to get out of the way , basically just another obstacle an irritant, hindering your right of way, get off the path

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by PLedoux

Long, long ago, in Driver’s Ed, I was taught that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. Of course, we were talking automobiles, not golf carts; and city streets, not golf cart paths or MMPs. Bur no one ever had to invoke a statute or a rule. Or anything like that. Just plain and simple, the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way. No one had to explain to us the obvious- the vehicle will cause the most damage. It was pure common sense and human decency. We seem to have lost sight of both.

Beware of absolutes such as "ALWAYS", because it is not true.

For example, according to the law:

Vehicles MUST yield the right of way to pedestrians already in a cross walk
Pedestrians MUST yield to oncoming vehicles before entering a crosswalk

Others have posted many times, erroneously, that "Cars ALWAYS have the right of way over golf carts". Again, not true, depends on the situation. For example, a car may not turn right in front of a golf cart in the cart lane, and the car has to yield to a merging golf cart if the cart had enough of a lead and was in position.

[TJSanson]

Hm, in that case, the county needs to invest thousands into building sidewalks for pedestrians. B/c, as a frequent walker in TV myself, about 50% of Golf cart drivers move into the car lane when I am walking and 50% dont, especially along Morse Blvd. A lawsuit for hitting a pedestrian is a LOT more costly than building a sidewalk along Morse.

Originally Posted by VApeople

So you do not understand what some old codgers do in The Villages. Join the club.

Don't even try to figure out what motivates other people. Just figure out what you want to do to SAFELY enjoy your life.

By the way, our idea of SAFETY is to never walk on an MMP.