[Xavier]

Originally Posted by mickey100

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.

So then, as a resident of The Villages, I decide to sell my cart and use my car only, I should get a refund equal to what you suggest we should charge outsiders. Correct? Maybe, I could only use my cart every other year or month.

What was it about The Villages that made you buy here over buying in Spruce Creek where you have a large group of friends?

Xavier

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by janmcn

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.

Ahh. Ok. Thanks for the explanation. I didn't recall hearing of them so I thought I would ask.

[Cajulian]

Nice to see the last dozen or so posts having a civilized discussion on what open access for carts would mean. Also the idea of charging a pro rated fee for support of upkeep.

One of the posters cited their opinion on the likelihood of some outsiders would prefer car travel to many of the squares, just because it is easier than long cart travel.

Finally, some common sense is happening in many posts and the discussion is far more civil.

Thanks for that.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Cajulian

Nice to see the last dozen or so posts having a civilized discussion on what open access for carts would mean. Also the idea of charging a pro rated fee for support of upkeep.

One of the posters cited their opinion on the likelihood of some outsiders would prefer car travel to many of the squares, just because it is easier than long cart travel.

Finally, some common sense is happening in many posts and the discussion is far more civil.

Thanks for that.

Had you ever thought of moving here?

[chuckinca]

What would be a fair use fee for:

1. Cart path thru Paradise Gate
2. Cart path from Paradise Dr to 441/27 bridge
3. Cart path from 441/27 bridge to parking lot behind Ruby Tuesday

What would be a fair daily use fee for:

4. Cart paths and tunnels from Morse to Lake Sumter bridge and then to Lake Sumter Landing Road.

What would be a fair daily use fee for:

5. Cart paths and tunnels other than items 1 - 4

Assume items 1 - 3 annual use: 12 round trips
Assume item 4 annual use: 3 round trips
Assume item 5 annual use: 1 round trip

.

[graciegirl]

Nope. I vote for no paying at the gate. Chuck. We want you to move here too.

[Steve9930]

I have a suggestion. Put in a toll booth box. Say for starters you put in a dollar or a credit card and the gates opens. Now when you want to leave you need to have the gate open automatically. This is one of the reasons the gate keeps getting broken. In most parts of the villages all the out going gates open automatically. This one needs your access card to open. This does not follow the normal procedure and it is confusing the residents. They think the gate opens as you approach and it does not, thus you have a collision with the gate. This type of programming difference would even cause a problem in a non-senior community.

[Steve9930]

I'm not sure why everyone believes there is this large group of people trying to use Paradise Gate. There is probably at the most 100 people that are pushing for access. Most of those that access TV now either have a card that their friends provided or have street legal carts and cross 441/27. I personally have little use for using the cart to get to Spanish Springs. I have access to all I need without going over there. If I want to go to Outback I use my auto. That's a long boring ride by cart. I used to go to Publix there but the Publix on 42 is a better store. Again that's a long ride through Paradise Gate.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I'm not sure why everyone believes there is this large group of people trying to use Paradise Gate. There is probably at the most 100 people that are pushing for access. Most of those that access TV now either have a card that their friends provided or have street legal carts and cross 441/27. I personally have little use for using the cart to get to Spanish Springs. I have access to all I need without going over there. If I want to go to Outback I use my auto. That's a long boring ride by cart. I used to go to Publix there but the Publix on 42 is a better store. Again that's a long ride through Paradise Gate.

Steve? How many folks of the roughly 2000 in Stonecrest have golf carts?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I have a suggestion. Put in a toll booth box. Say for starters you put in a dollar or a credit card and the gates opens. Now when you want to leave you need to have the gate open automatically. This is one of the reasons the gate keeps getting broken. In most parts of the villages all the out going gates open automatically. This one needs your access card to open. This does not follow the normal procedure and it is confusing the residents. They think the gate opens as you approach and it does not, thus you have a collision with the gate. This type of programming difference would even cause a problem in a non-senior community.

The difference with this gate is that you entering and leaving Villages property when you go through it. Al of the other gates are within The Villages property.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I'm not sure why everyone believes there is this large group of people trying to use Paradise Gate. There is probably at the most 100 people that are pushing for access. Most of those that access TV now either have a card that their friends provided or have street legal carts and cross 441/27. I personally have little use for using the cart to get to Spanish Springs. I have access to all I need without going over there. If I want to go to Outback I use my auto. That's a long boring ride by cart. I used to go to Publix there but the Publix on 42 is a better store. Again that's a long ride through Paradise Gate.

I'm not sure why Stonecresters believe they should even have access to the gate.

If most of the 100 who are pushing for access already have a card or a street legal cart - why are they whining about access?

[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Steve? How many folks of the roughly 2000 in Stonecrest have golf carts?

Probably pretty much all of them but only maybe 10% at the most even have an interest in using the gate and their Golf Cart. You have to remember that gate was wide open for years. Has there been a marked decrease in traffic through the gate since the closure? From what I can see the stream of traffic looks about the same and without any actual data collection its all a guess as to the traffic level. But visually it looks about the same. There are some that would use the gate to go to the square or over to the Hospital. But quite frankly I've made that trip and its far more pleasant in an auto.

The bridge is another factor. The bridge which was designed when a Golf Cart was a Golf Cart has now become dangerous. Its is not adequate for the traffic that now passes over it. There are too many of the carts now that are wider, heavier, and faster. Sooner or later there is going to be a fatality at the bridge. The slope is too steep and people travel too fast. Add in a few drinks and the potential for a disaster increases. If I were you guys I would be pushing for a new tunnel under 441/27. Far safer.

The paradise gate programming should be changed so when you leave TV it opens automatically. I think the difference in the way it works is causing a collision problem. People drive up to the gate thinking it will open automatically on the way out, before they realize it they have just run into it. Had one here in Stonecrest that did not work as the others and it caused the same problem. People expect things to work a certain way when 99% of everything else works in a certain fashion. Your also going to get tailgaters trying to sneak through behind someone. So the gate needs to be designed so if anything is on the loop sensor it will not close. The gates to Walmart were always being broken until they did the loop sensing correctly. This would be my professional opinion after designing systems that interfaced with the human for over 40 years.

From my perspective I have access to several restaurants, a department store, Lowes, and Walmart. Whether I can get through the Paradise Gate does not mean much to me. The only reason I need to get to the Hospital Facilities on the West side of 441/27 is to see the FAA Flight Surgeon every two years to take my FAA Flight Physical. I park across the street and walk over to the Sharon Morse Building. Its good exercise.

Always nice to hear from you.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

I'm not sure why Stonecresters believe they should even have access to the gate.

If most of the 100 who are pushing for access already have a card or a street legal cart - why are they whining about access?

I'd like to know where they got a card. I thought once you reported a card as lost or damaged, it was deactivated. Even if they have a card, they're trespassing.

[DougB]

Why all the discussion on who should use the gate and how (toll, yearly fee, Villagers, non-Villagers, etc.) There is only one person who can make that decision and I doubt he cares what any of us think. I like all his decisions so far. Pretty sure he feels the cost of repairing the gate many times outweighs the cost of not having one.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Gracie, I thought (and would hope) that Don was being sarcastic when he said, "In fact let's remove the uniqueness of the villages all together."

Do you think he was seriously proposing that?

.