...and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."


As the poet Robert Frost wrote, "Good fences make good neighbors."
:icon_wink:

Very good point Carl. Didn't see any sarcasm, Don. Carl must have been referring to another post.

If that is the case, why doesn't the Developer allow fences in between homes in The Villages? And I seem to remember a lot of people having their shorts in a bind about an invisible dog fence that only the owner could see. You can't have it both ways.

Let's stick to the golf cart gate problem and leave the dog fences out of it.

Having The Villages off limits to golf carts that are not FROM here, when the potential for the number of them being much more than "a few hundred" is only prudent, given that 13 people in The Villages have died from golf cart accidents in the last four years.


We have yet to see the number increase for people with golf carts who will soon live here and pay to live here. (As Carl and Don have so reasonably pointed out.)


Some things are not a right. They are a privilege.


I am all for having easily identifiable numbers applied to all Villages carts...as long as it doesn't get to be a bureaucratic mess.

I'm also all for having some type of ID system for golf carts. I'm confident there is a way to do it. I agree that useing a golf cart on village paths and the public streets within is a privilege Gracie.

They need an ID number big enough to be photographed by a camera or read by the person in the cart behind. Police have jurisdiction over the golf cart paths if there is something illegal going on (driving while drunk, open container, etc.). They could be turned into the police, or otherwise they could be turned into whatever department in TV goes after the people who are photographed breaking a gate in a car. (Public safety dept., maybe??)

Using a golf cart on the paths is a privilege. Using a golf cart on public streets is a right. Even those who do not live in TV pay taxes and some of those taxes go to maintain the roads in TV.

Personally, I like the idea of (1) having identifying stickers on golf carts and (2) charging non-Village golf carts a FAIR (not the entire monthly amenity fee) fee to use our paths. This could be easily accomplished with stickers.

As to people using TV amenities without having the right to do so, maybe it is time for TV to start having these people arrested for trespassing. That should put a stop to that issue quite quickly.

I'm honestly not convinced that our paths will be overwhelmed with non-TVers even if Spruce Creek and those surrounding communities, Fruitland Park and Wildwood are allowed to use our paths. It would be a long drive from any of these areas to the town squares. Most would not have the time nor the patience to go that far when a car can do it in half the time. However, I do agree that if they're going to use our private paths, they should contribute to their maintenance.

Very true Redwitch. I'm located north of 466 and before the birds went north I observed a pretty busy cart traffic in our area. From what I've read on TOTV it's even worse down by Colony and Brownwood is getting busier. Between speeding carts and near misses it will be even worse this fall.

I don't believe driving carts on public roads is any more of a right than driving a car. Driving is a privilege no matter what vehicle you are using. And that privilege can be rescinded if the state chooses to do so. There are communities built around golf courses that prohibit carts on the roads, only on paths.

Yes, driving is a privilege. However, if a community permits driving a golf cart on PUBLIC roads, then the community does not have the right to stop non-members of that community from using those roads whether in a car, truck or golf cart. People really can't have their cake and eat it, too. That just doesn't work.

So all those that advocate for a fee for using our private paths would also include those residents living at Bison Valley and Oak Meadow who pay no amenity fee? I totally agree.

The Villages advertises these homes for sale as being golf cart accessible and even built a golf cart path into these neighborhoods. Now these residents have to step up and pay their fair share.

Just out of curiousity because I don't know, are these 2 villages built for The Villages employees or are they completely not connected to the developer?

I agree. And I just don't think there are that many carts from other communities coming in here. The communities are too far away, and its not really convenient for a lot of golf cart travel. We have a large group of friends over in Spruce Creek and they always take the car. And I'd guess it takes about 15-20 minutes by car. They've never expressed interest in going by golf cart.

Nor do I think there are a lot of outsiders using the pools and facilities. And those people could have easily come in by cars anyways. The Villages could be a good neighbor by charging a realistic trail fee for those who want to get through a gate by golf cart and use the recreational trails.

Bison Valley was built by the developer for anyone wanting to buy there. Oak Meadows was here when I arrived in 2000, so I don't know the history, but once again anyone can buy a home there. Both of these villages are adjacent to TV, but neither has any amenities. Therefore residents pay no amenity fee.