Dawn Marie: I am sincerely pleased that you found paradise in Plantation and wish you every happiness.

However what I recollect from your posts when you lived here is that you had a preference to run on the diamond lanes even if a sidewalk was available. This created a dilemma for golf cart drivers who had to pull left into traffic because runners such as yourself refused to yield and step up on grass or a sidewalk. Its no wonder you prefer Plantations since runners and golf cart drivers do not share the same road.

To the rest of the posters here. I have said and will restate many of the complaints pertaining to this topic are a result of poor planning and design by the developers. One poster asked if the OP gave the bicyclist 3 feet when they passed. Is there anyone out there that believes 3 feet of passing width exists on multi-modal paths? It is the same with many narrow streets and in that Dawn Marie is correct. Multi modal users are all competing for the same SPACE

I question whether the multimodal paths are wide enough two accommodate 2 cyclists riding abreast, a golf cart, plus 3 feet of clearance. A golf cart is about 4 feet wide, bike handlebars are typically a foot and half, plus when riding abreast you may have 1-2 feet between bikes. They probably weren't riding on the extreme edge of the path - perhaps they were in a foot. They were probably taking up 4-5 feet total. I assume you didn't run off the cart path onto the grass when you passed. The multimodal paths are typically around 10 feet wide, if I recall correctly. The numbers don't add up - the path would have needed to be 11-12 feet wide to accommodate what you described. Based on these assumptions, you may have actually passed them with only 1-2 feet of clearance. If it was 1 foot of clearance, that would probably elicit the response you experienced. Cyclists need to be given a wide berth because accidents can be fatal.

Come on people, let us acknowledge what most likely happened here.

1) Apparently two cyclists were riding abreast. This is not the ideal situation but I don't believe this is actually prohibited.
2) They were most likely passed with very little clearance based on the typical width of the multimodal path, the width of a golf cart, and the width of bikes.
3) The cyclists vented their anger. Fine, they used strong language - get over it. People call this "rude and vulger [sic]". However, these are only words and cannot be equated with what was most likely a dangerous action: overtaking and passing the cyclists with little clearance. Apparently this action is not considered "rude and vulger [sic]". It is the responsibility of the overtaking vehicle to pass in a safe and responsible manner. Does anyone seriously believe that is what happened here? The fact that the cyclists were probably being discourteous does not justify them being "buzzed" by a golf cart.

Let the flaming begin ...

That makes no sense at all. A golf cart going the other way would be able to pass without any problem and we had to get in that lane to pass. Sorry, but I'm not looking to argue , just asking all of us to be kinder. No matter what the issue....ROAD RAGE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! You weren't there and just because you are a biker does not mean you know what happened. I will tell you there were more than 3 feet. Everyone sees things differently. Can't we all just get along and stop hitting and cursing others out.

The issue is how much clearance you gave them when you passed them from behind. Based on widths of the paths, bikes, and golf carts, it is most likely you passed them with little clearance from behind. As a long time cyclist, I can tell you that there are few things that will elicit a stronger reaction from cyclists then nearly clipping them from behind. The cyclists were reacting to something you did and it is most likely nearly clipping them. You may believe you passed them with more than 3 feet of clearance but the width of the multimodal path indicated otherwise - the numbers don't add up. What you most likely did in passing them with little clearance can be considered "road rage" also. I see this frequently - cyclists are slowing people down and they responds by passing them closely and then cutting in front of them as soon as possible. Don't try to make the cyclists out to be the bad guys here. You were tooling around in a 600-1000 lb golf cart and it is your responsibility when overtaking to do so in a safe manner. To assume the cyclists lit into you for no reason defies logic.

A golf cart coming from the other direction is not the issue. Head on collisions are not the real danger. You can see them coming and get out of the way (hopefully). The real danger is when you are passed from behind and get clipped. This is why there is a required 3 foot clearance. The problem here is that the cyclist were riding abreast. They should not have been doing this but you should not have passed them also until it was safe to do so.

Whatever! Believe what you want! I know what happened. Done with this. If this is how people react to a request to be kind to one another...it'll never happen. Doesn't matter what you think, it's what happened. No sense in arguing or debating something. Putting this one to rest. Just try and be courteous , everyone. Our lives depend on it.

The paved streets and "multi-modal" paths are about 98% motor vehicle traffic going 20 mph+. Walking or running in motor vehicle traffic is a hazard no matter how "legally" you do it.

Use some common sense and stay out of motor vehicle traffic! You won't be "more fit" than the rest of us driving slobs, nor will you be walking or running, when you're dead or in a rehab hospital with traumatic head and spine injuries and your adult children have to somehow afford the time and money to leave their family and job/livelihood in CA or NY to come here and watch you vegetate.

I went back and read your original post. It seems like the point you were trying to make is the cyclists were jerks and how nobody wants to share the road with them. Since the cyclists weren't here to tell their side of the story it became necessary to try to piece together what happened. I believe we now have a clear picture of what most likely transpired. Hopefully you have learned from this and will give cyclists a wide berth when you encounter them on the streets and multimodal paths as they are unprotected and accidents with 1000 lb golf carts could prove fatal.

Another option is you can learn and follow the rules of the road.

Since the only people present were the bikers and the individuals in the golf cart, making assumptions on what actually happened seem out of place. The OP is stating what he saw and was a part of, why is that being assumed to be not what happened?

Because the width of the multi-modal path is probably not wide enough to accommodate what the OP stated (2 cyclist riding abreast, a golf cart, and 3+ feet of clearance between the cyclists and the golf cart) and it is unreasonable to assume the cyclists lit into the OP for no reason.

Everybody learns the "rules" of the road when getting a drivers' license at age 16, but nobody is without error in actual BEHAVIOR when driving, walking or biking on the road.

The key element you and others are leaving out of that time-tested driver education we were taught in the 1970s is this, and it applies to pedestrians on the roadways:

"Watch out for the other guy!" Those words were even a PSA campaign on t.v.…...and the lesson went on from there with parents and instructors explaining, "you can never depend on the other person to do the right thing…..always watch out for them to do something stupid, and you have to be prepared with skills to avoid the accident they're about to cause."

Even with the best awareness and anticipation of others' mistakes, some accidents are simply unavoidable!

Awareness and actual behavior/deeds are two seriously different things. People cannot be depended upon to always put you--a pedestrian/runner/biker--at the center of all things they see and react to while driving.

Try as they should, all drivers make mistakes and near-misses because they are human while driving tons of steel.

thank you

Thank you.

Very well said!

This is your original post.

Now in your last post you talk about getting along. Just sayin..

"ROAD RAGE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! You weren't there and just because you are a biker does not mean you know what happened. I will tell you there were more than 3 feet. Everyone sees things differently. Can't we all just get along and stop hitting and cursing others out."


The problem is here, we have no clue as to what really happened,, I am not taking your word for it, I am not taking anyone's word. If you say that is what happened to you, then fine,, but the whole Jerk deal is uncalled for,, Heck could of been your fault or the driver of the cart. I have had many carts zip past me on the MMP and not what soever yield the 3 feet. But that is beside the point. Now if you want to voice a complaint, do it with Dignity and leave all the jerk stuff alone. We were not there, and when someone questions you on that, seems to offend people. Make you go :shrug:

I am always on my bike, ride to work every morning at ZERO DARK THIRTY.. Ride on the weekends,, Roads,, MMP everywhere. So I am offended by the remark of "so called jerks". You are labeling a lot of FOLK here.

Everyday,, Cars,, Carts,, Motorcycles, bicycles, runners,, seems someone is always doing something someone else does not like,, For the love of it all,, This is a RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, Lets all get along,, :beer3:

:spoken:

Hi biker1,

If you're gonna take measurements please be careful! LOL:gc::plane::crap2::crap2:

Still, I would not make assumptions. Three feet isn't as great a distance as it sounds and they may have indeed been the required distance. The path is wide enough to allow carts to pass in opposite directions with more than sufficient space...two bikers riding side by side take up how much more space? How much space do they have between them?

It isn't my intention to get into a pi**ing contest over this, but I still feel that unless we actually witness, presuming might not be such a good thing.

The paths are multi-modal, for use by carts, bikes, people walking. We must all be aware of our relative position on the path and try to bring no harm to ourselves or others.

:bowdown:

Ok, so I said "jerk".....that was kinder than the words spewed at us. Sorry. You are just wanting a fight and I will not fall into your trap. I'm not fighting with anyone. My remark about jerk was in the direction of being called names, cursed out and hit intentionally. You are directing this personally to me and I could care less how you feel. The only folks I am labeling are those with road rage with cursing and doing dangerous things. I can't believe you have taken my op and made it into something it is not.