[TEXJK]

Let’s talk about all the Maw Maw’s and Paw Paw’s still letting the kiddos drive golf carts that have know idea what they doing behind the wheel……..but they look so ”cute” driving never mind it’s illegal to do so ……..if they a pedestrian “cute” won’t cut it in court

[coffeebean]

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.

I was taught the same thing when I learned how to drive, especially in crosswalks. What people on this thread seem to have not understood the point I'm trying to make is that it is not a good idea to think a vehicle is ALWAYS going to give way to you if you are a pedestrian. As an example, it has been more than one time that I have been more than a few steps into a crosswalk and a car has proceeded through the crosswalk, nearly missing me. This is the reason I do not walk on the MMPs, especially going through the tunnels. I did that once and will never do it again. You take your life in your hands.

Having said that, south of 44 has separate paths from vehicular roadways for walkers and runners. Anyone who is an avid walker or runner would be much safer on those paths that do not allow golf carts on them.

[Baringek]

Originally Posted by Gladys Turnip

My husband & I have noticed something when walking on multi-modal paths.

First off I'll mention that we always walk on the left side (ie, into traffic), and that our observation only applies if there are no carts coming from behind us (fyi, if there are carts coming from both directions at the same time, we simply step off the path onto the grass, ceding the right of way).

So, when there is a cart coming at us (and no other carts, bikes, or walkers anywhere around), our observation is this: When MEN are driving the oncoming cart, they pull way over to their left, giving us wide berth which provides us with a comfortable safety buffer. On the other hand, WOMEN do not do this and instead (inexplicably) generally hold to their current lane on the right side of the path.

Suffice to say we don't understand this phenomenon, and if anyone does, we'd love to hear the reasoning. But in any case, we walkers would like to thank those cart drivers who swing wide left when approaching walkers, and we'd like to ask more (all) of you to please do the same (when you can). Thank you.

I’m all woman, and I ALWAYS move WAY OVER to be safe ….

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Yes, the steering and suspension on a golf cart are designed for the golf course, not narrow asphalt MM Paths.

Really! Please explain.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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.

Long, long ago, in mom's house, we were taught that pedestrians have the right of way once they're already in the road, but should stop at the curb and look both ways before crossing.

In the Villages, people don't stop and look both ways. They just - walk. They don't care that a car is only a few feet away from them going 25mph. They expect the car to slam on the brake and let the person step off the curb, walk along the street for a few paces, then meander leisurely to the other side.

Happens all the time at strip-malls. They don't try to cross where cars have stop signs. They just cross wherever they feel like, whenever they feel like, and think "right of way" applies to them even before they step off the curb.

I had some lady yell at me one time because of that. I was driving past Hungry Howie's and no one was at the curb or in the street near me, and she just strode out of the store and off the sidewalk and slapped the side of my car and yelled that I was supposed to stop for her.

She should've gone to the corner, stopped, looked both ways, noticed that I was RIGHT THERE a few feet away and moving in a vehicle that could have harmed her, and waited til I passed where she was standing, and THEN stepped off the curb.

But no - it was MY fault for not being able to guess that she was going to pick that spot to step off the curb and cross the road.

I'm the one who would've been in trouble if I had hit her. I'm glad I didn't. But pedestrians do NOT always have the right of way. You only have it if you're already in the road before the car comes. You don't have the right to step off the safety of the sidewalk or curb, or step INTO traffic that is already there. You just flat out don't have that right.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The whole reason pedestrians face traffic, is so THEY can move out of the way of oncoming traffic, if needed. If they didn't have to worry about that, then they'd just walk WITH traffic instead of facing traffic. That's the point.

If you want to REALLY say "I have the right of way, I can walk however I please, all those vehicles are required to move out of my way" then walk with the flow instead of against it.

I do that on the MMPs because I'm sharing the path with my fellow non-vehicles and pay attention to my surroundings, and feel comfortable in my decision. On streets, I walk facing traffic because 1 - it's smart, and 2 - it's the law.

An MMP is really just a widened glorified sidewalk. Pedestrians walk on the right of a sidewalk, not the left. So that's what I do on MMPs. But I also recognize that "right of way" doesn't matter AT ALL, because I'm at risk of injury no matter which side of the MMP I'm walking on, if a drunk golf cart driver is swerving around. It is MY responsibility, therefore, to make sure I am safe.

“An MMP is really just a widened glorified sidewalk“

really don’t know what vehicles are do you or description of road. Just cause the districts mis label it don’t make it true. Path where cows walk or wild animals walk down. Which may be true on MMP that mislabeled. It should be labeled MMR cause vehicles do travel down it. There more types vehicles that cars and trucks. Vehicle is general term for transportation devices.

Florida has established rules of the road for all blundering down them.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Long, long ago, in mom's house, we were taught that pedestrians have the right of way once they're already in the road, but should stop at the curb and look both ways before crossing.

In the Villages, people don't stop and look both ways. They just - walk. They don't care that a car is only a few feet away from them going 25mph. They expect the car to slam on the brake and let the person step off the curb, walk along the street for a few paces, then meander leisurely to the other side.

Happens all the time at strip-malls. They don't try to cross where cars have stop signs. They just cross wherever they feel like, whenever they feel like, and think "right of way" applies to them even before they step off the curb.

I had some lady yell at me one time because of that. I was driving past Hungry Howie's and no one was at the curb or in the street near me, and she just strode out of the store and off the sidewalk and slapped the side of my car and yelled that I was supposed to stop for her.

She should've gone to the corner, stopped, looked both ways, noticed that I was RIGHT THERE a few feet away and moving in a vehicle that could have harmed her, and waited til I passed where she was standing, and THEN stepped off the curb.

But no - it was MY fault for not being able to guess that she was going to pick that spot to step off the curb and cross the road.

I'm the one who would've been in trouble if I had hit her. I'm glad I didn't. But pedestrians do NOT always have the right of way. You only have it if you're already in the road before the car comes. You don't have the right to step off the safety of the sidewalk or curb, or step INTO traffic that is already there. You just flat out don't have that right.

Plenty of scofflaws around here, for sure.

People might break the laws of Florida, but you'll never break the laws of physics.

[Velvet]

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.

Coffeebean, I believe some posters misread what you were saying. If you were hitting people left and right you would long have given up driving. I know from your posts during the pandemic how much you care for people in general. Have a great day!

[MrFlorida]

Driving a golf cart like a crazy person is all fun and games until.....you get a letter from Dan Newlin !

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Coffeebean, I believe some posters misread what you were saying. If you were hitting people left and right you would long have given up driving. I know from your posts during the pandemic how much you care for people in general. Have a great day!

Yup......you hit the nail on the head. Thank you for that.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Really! Please explain.

Cheap bait.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Yup......you hit the nail on the head. Thank you for that.

Its a little hard to walk back "when a walker is walking facing the traffic and can see me approaching, they had better hop onto the grass and out of my way. "

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by jimbomaybe

Its a little hard to walk back "when a walker is walking facing the traffic and can see me approaching, they had better hop onto the grass and out of my way. "

Exactly!

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by jimbomaybe

Its a little hard to walk back "when a walker is walking facing the traffic and can see me approaching, they had better hop onto the grass and out of my way. "

So correct, backpedaling out of a deep hole is just continuing, and still trying to justify.
All the while print on a public website might make great reading for every firm that “gets you a big check”

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by jimbomaybe

Its a little hard to walk back "when a walker is walking facing the traffic and can see me approaching, they had better hop onto the grass and out of my way. "

Give it up people. I've been driving on these MMPs and diamond lanes for over 8 years. I haven't hit an obstacle a pedestrian yet. LOL.