Riding a bike anywhere is a calculated risk. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk tremendously. I think staying on the paths also reduces the risk.

Anywhere I bike in the villages, street, main road or path seems quite a bit safer than almost anywhere I biked in New Jersey.

If you are not an experienced rider find a bike club and get some advice. Don't try to figure it out on your own.

I find that very hard to believe. My wife and I also walk on the MMP. We have never had an encounter like you describe with a cart driver. Of course, we move to the edge of the path whenever a cart is approaching, and we always yield to carts.

(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane.

According to Florida law, you are supposed to stay as far to the right as safely as possible.

Quote a post then attack it. Life is too short. Enjoy it.

This idea that you "own the lane" is why you have so many close calls with irate motorists. You can "take the lane" if you want, but expect many more close encounters. You are playing chicken with a 4000 pound vehicle.

Actually, this thread is quite enlightening. We haven't taken our bikes out for several years and looked forward to getting out again when we got our new house in The Villages. Reading through the posts has been educational, helpful. I do hope type A's don't get too stressed with confrontation and opposing views. It's all part of the game.

didn't you, effectively, just do the same thing? :D

Looney. For a long time I let your enchanting good looks overshadow the fact that you are a smart guy.

3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
In my opinion this is the "rub". A biker will say that there is not enough room in the lane on BV for a bike and a car so they are entitled to the center of the lane. And a motorist will say that they can safely fit their car between a bike and curb on the right on BV so they are not entitled to the lane.

You don't want to be "rubbed" by a car or clipped by a mirror.

It would be worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the law as it applies to bicycles. I will try to make a couple of points that may clarify things a bit.

You should consider bicycles to be slow moving cars. Bicycles are allowed to occupy an entire lane and it is safer to do so because often a car and a bicycle cannot safely share a lane. As a passing vehicle, it is your responsibility to pass the slower moving vehicle in a safe and lawful manner. On a four lane road, such as Buena Vista or Morse, this involves moving into the passing lane. On a two-lane road, this involves waiting until it is safe to do so and moving into the left hand lane. Double solid lines are no-passing areas - please wait till it is safe, and lawful, to pass on two-lane roads. Cyclists, in general, do not like to hug the right hand side of a lane as there is a lot of debris that can cause a flat tire. Please don't assume that cyclists will move to the extreme right hand side of a lane so that you can squeeze by without changing lanes or moving into the left hand lane on a two-lane road. You must give cyclists 3 feet of clearance, by law.

While I am sure that you will see some cyclists violate some rules of the road, I can assure you that cars also violate the rules of the road and there are a lot more cars than cyclists. It behooves you to drive carefully.

Cyclists will often "roll through stop signs" when it is clear. Many cyclists use "clip-in" pedals (sort of like a ski binding). It really make no sense to unclip, come to a complete stop, then clip back in if there is no traffic. When I say "roll through stop signs", it is typically at about 5 mph. Many cars do the exact same thing. It is what it is.

Regarding blowing your horn at a cyclist, I generally recommend that you don't do this unless there is a truly compelling reason to do so. I can assure you that we know who is behind us. Blowing a horn usually just startles cyclists. Blowing your horn at a slower moving car is rude. Rude behavior may be met with a reaction. It is what it is. If you are blowing the horn to suggest that the cyclist is in your way then I recommend you research the rules of the road - cyclists are entitled to use the roads and it is up to you to pass when it is safe to do so.

Lastly, you essentially suggested that cyclists are slowing you and other traffic down. The vast majority of cyclists try to be stay out of the way of cars, for obvious reasons. In those instances where you are caught behind a cyclist, just take a deep breath and relax until the opportunity to safely pass presents itself. Again, bicycles are really just slow moving cars that you need to share the road with. When I am driving and see a cyclist, I go out of my way to give them the widest possible berth. Besides being the safe thing to do, it is also a matter of courtesy.

Feel free to write your representatives about changing the law. Until then, the law is what it is.

Biking clothes are functional. Padded shorts for comfort in the saddle and brightly colored jerseys for improved visibility. No different than any other sport.

3' is 3'. Violate the law at your own peril.

For cyclists everywhere, I thank you and applaud your attitude that we are all just sharing the roads in our beautiful community.

That is not true. The law does not say "possible". It says "practicable". In this context, there is a big difference.

See. That's the biker attitude that gets them killed. Who in their right mind is going to pick a fight with Mike Tyson. That's what many bikers do with automobiles. What satisfaction does the biker have knowing that the driver that just killed or maimed him is going to be in trouble? Do what you want. I'm going to give the motorist as much space as possible. More often than not, they respond in kind by giving me plenty of room.