[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Another danger for bikers is that sometimes golfcarts stop for pedestrians and stop signs. This could be a hazard to many bike riders who seldom stop.

^ This! Rules for thee but not for meeeee!

[Tudor49]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I would really like to purchase a bicycle (either conventional or e-bike), but after living here for almost one year, I’ve seen way too many close-calls between cyclists and golf carts on the multi-modal paths. I think it would stress me out, vs being a relaxing, enjoyable ride on the paths, trying to dodge golf carts, or worry about them passing me on blind corners.

Maybe I’m over-thinking this, and it’s not as big a safety concern as I’m envisioning it to be. Would be interested to hear what cyclists have to say about their comfort and safety level when riding on the paths.

I’ve had an E-bike for 2 years and have ridden everywhere, use your mirrors and be mindful of golf carts coming and going. I have not had any issues with golf carts.

[DonH57]

I'm not surprised at how ill informed or entitled some villagers feel reading recent commentary and letters to the editor of the v******-N*** of how bikes and pedestrians need to stay off the multi modal cart paths referring to them only as cart paths. This arrogant attitude is not new by any means.

[Bruce3055]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I would really like to purchase a bicycle (either conventional or e-bike), but after living here for almost one year, I’ve seen way too many close-calls between cyclists and golf carts on the multi-modal paths. I think it would stress me out, vs being a relaxing, enjoyable ride on the paths, trying to dodge golf carts, or worry about them passing me on blind corners.

Maybe I’m over-thinking this, and it’s not as big a safety concern as I’m envisioning it to be. Would be interested to hear what cyclists have to say about their comfort and safety level when riding on the paths.

I didn’t realize bike riding was so hazardess. I thought the villages earned a bike friendly designation. And last I looked, there’s a lot of bike riding in the villages


I learned early on not to ride on the right edge of the mm path. Too many carts pass you without even moving over an inch. I was subject to getting hit by them or running into an overhanging bush or tree. By riding in the middle of the path , they know. They can’t just squeeze by and run me off the path in the process.


Anything can be dangerous at our age surrounded by old folks. Based on the comments cart riding is highly dangerous also. And I have read enough comments to know driving a car is dangerous also.

Heck even pickleball is dangerous unless you are in shape and warm up before you play, and used common with no back peddling to get a ball, and only play with folks you’ enjoy playing with.

I agree with other comments that it’s your decision to do what you’re comfortable with

Enjoy life and don’t lock yourself inside because it’s a jungle out there where accidents happen

[npwalters]

Short answer to the OP. It is not totally safe to ride a bike on any road/path. It is much safer on the MMPs.

[PersonOfInterest]

In the Villages if you want to stay SAFE and minimize the risk of accident or injury, don't play sports or golf or other physical activities. Stay home, watch TV and water your plants!

[westernrider75]

Originally Posted by drdoug59

I find e-bike, which are really motor scooters to be the most dangerous. How do they consider it exercise when they have an electric motor and don’t get their heart rate up

My e-bike doesn’t move on its own, it requires me to pedal. There are types with a throttle, but not all.

[mickey100]

I ride a bike on the MM paths, and like someone said, there are certain areas where I ride in the middle of the path, because people will pass you with just inches to spare. I try to choose a time of day when it's not as busy. I wear a neon shirt or jacket, and have a blinking light on the bike.Yes, there are a lot of rude, discourteous cart drivers out there, but its much safer on the paths than in the road. There are also nice biking trails outside the Villages if you really want to avoid the golf carts.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by PersonOfInterest

In the Villages if you want to stay SAFE and minimize the risk of accident or injury, don't play sports or golf or other physical activities. Stay home, watch TV and water your plants!

Point taken. If all we wanted to do was to live in a bubble we could do that anywhere. Why move here to do it?

Nevertheless TV does have some unique risks vis a vis path and street usage that most other places just don't have, and those risks are most evident this time of year. Most year-round TV'ers know the rules of the roads and paths, even though they are broken far too frequently at any time of the year. But when 'bird season rolls around the danger increases significantly, not so much by the increased number of people in cars, on bicycles, in golf carts, rollerblades, or whatever, but because many of them, not being regulars here, all too often THINK they know what to do, but don't. Read any of the threads about roundabout rules, who (cars or carts) have the right-of-way in certain situations, which side of the MMP walkers should walk on, etc. etc. and you'll see exactly what is meant by that. When two drivers/walkers/riders/whatever encounter one another in a dicey situation, possibly with differing ideas as to the correct mode of action in that situation, it can (and all too often does) end badly. Add a little booze to the mix, and--well...

I just follow some common-sense rules that have worked for me.

1.Don't believe signal lights. All too often people turn w/o using them or have forgotten they're on. Wait for the driver to actually make the move his lights are signaling. Kudos to those bicyclists and cart drivers who actually use hand signals.

2. When walking on an MMP walk on the LEFT side. Believe me, the way some folks drive around here, you'll want to see what is coming.

3. When walking on an MMP, step off the path and onto the grass, if possible, if a cart is approaching. I do this routinely and and receive uncounted friendly waves and thumbs-up for so doing. If two or more carts are meeting in my vicinity this is especially appreciated as neither one needs to slow down significantly or stop.

4. If your cart doesn't have seat belts, GET THEM INSTALLED! Most serious injuries or deaths occur when the operator or passengers are ejected from the carts. Any cart service shop can do that, or you can shell out $50 or so, get a kit from Amazon, and spend maybe 45 minutes or so with a drill and a couple of wrenches. Cheap insurance.

5. Use your head. It might be your right to walk or bike s-l-o-w-l-y down the middle of your lane when on an MMP and carts and e-bikes are buzzing around, but flesh and bone loses to steel and speed every time.

6. No matter what your mode of transportation, give the other guy room to screw up. All too often you won't be disappointed.

7. LEAVE THE ANGER AT HOME.

8. Above all, be courteous. I've never yet paid a price for that.

[TeresaE]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I would really like to purchase a bicycle (either conventional or e-bike), but after living here for almost one year, I’ve seen way too many close-calls between cyclists and golf carts on the multi-modal paths. I think it would stress me out, vs being a relaxing, enjoyable ride on the paths, trying to dodge golf carts, or worry about them passing me on blind corners.

Maybe I’m over-thinking this, and it’s not as big a safety concern as I’m envisioning it to be. Would be interested to hear what cyclists have to say about their comfort and safety level when riding on the paths.

There’s a phrase I learned in the Bahamas. “Remember your “Broughtupsy”! (Said Brought Up-See). It means remember your manners and treat people with respect. It includes being aware of your surroundings so you can act mannerly based on where you are, what is going on and who is around you.

In Greek it’s
Philotimo (φιλότιμο) The inner impulse to act well and in alignment with the moral virtues that represent one's own society and upbringing.

Western societies know it as The Golden Rule, “Do onto Others as you would do onto Yourself”.

Imagine what The Villages would be like if we all practiced this rule instead of acting like a bunch of self-centered children. There is nothing, NOTHING, so important (including Tee Times) that it justifies driving too fast for conditions and jeopardizing someone’s wellbeing.

Respect for one another and situation awareness should be the norm, especially in a 55+ community where many of our neighbors aren’t as agile as they used to be. One fall, one break, one bad situation here can be life threatening.

So please start watching out for each other, put a smile on your face and SLOW DOWN” We all have more sunrises behind us than ahead of us. Let’s enjoy them together.

Happy Holidays.

[TeresaE]

Originally Posted by thirdoffive

point taken. If all we wanted to do was to live in a bubble we could do that anywhere. Why move here to do it?

Nevertheless tv does have some unique risks vis a vis path and street usage that most other places just don't have, and those risks are most evident this time of year. Most year-round tv'ers know the rules of the roads and paths, even though they are broken far too frequently at any time of the year. But when 'bird season rolls around the danger increases significantly, not so much by the increased number of people in cars, on bicycles, in golf carts, rollerblades, or whatever, but because many of them, not being regulars here, all too often think they know what to do, but don't. Read any of the threads about roundabout rules, who (cars or carts) have the right-of-way in certain situations, which side of the mmp walkers should walk on, etc. Etc. And you'll see exactly what is meant by that. When two drivers/walkers/riders/whatever encounter one another in a dicey situation, possibly with differing ideas as to the correct mode of action in that situation, it can (and all too often does) end badly. Add a little booze to the mix, and--well...

I just follow some common-sense rules that have worked for me.

1.don't believe signal lights. All too often people turn w/o using them or have forgotten they're on. Wait for the driver to actually make the move his lights are signaling. Kudos to those bicyclists and cart drivers who actually use hand signals.

2. When walking on an mmp walk on the left side. Believe me, the way some folks drive around here, you'll want to see what is coming.

3. When walking on an mmp, step off the path and onto the grass, if possible, if a cart is approaching. I do this routinely and and receive uncounted friendly waves and thumbs-up for so doing. If two or more carts are meeting in my vicinity this is especially appreciated as neither one needs to slow down significantly or stop.

4. If your cart doesn't have seat belts, get them installed! Most serious injuries or deaths occur when the operator or passengers are ejected from the carts. Any cart service shop can do that, or you can shell out $50 or so, get a kit from amazon, and spend maybe 45 minutes or so with a drill and a couple of wrenches. Cheap insurance.

5. Use your head. It might be your right to walk or bike s-l-o-w-l-y down the middle of your lane when on an mmp and carts and e-bikes are buzzing around, but flesh and bone loses to steel and speed every time.

6. No matter what your mode of transportation, give the other guy room to screw up. All too often you won't be disappointed.

7. Leave the anger at home.

8. Above all, be courteous. I've never yet paid a price for that.

well said!

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by TeresaE

There’s a phrase I learned in the Bahamas. “Remember your “Broughtupsy”! (Said Brought Up-See). It means remember your manners and treat people with respect. It includes being aware of your surroundings so you can act mannerly based on where you are, what is going on and who is around you.

In Greek it’s
Philotimo (φιλότιμο) The inner impulse to act well and in alignment with the moral virtues that represent one's own society and upbringing.

Western societies know it as The Golden Rule, “Do onto Others as you would do onto Yourself”.

Imagine what The Villages would be like if we all practiced this rule instead of acting like a bunch of self-centered children. There is nothing, NOTHING, so important (including Tee Times) that it justifies driving too fast for conditions and jeopardizing someone’s wellbeing.

Respect for one another and situation awareness should be the norm, especially in a 55+ community where many of our neighbors aren’t as agile as they used to be. One fall, one break, one bad situation here can be life threatening.

So please start watching out for each other, put a smile on your face and SLOW DOWN” We all have more sunrises behind us than ahead of us. Let’s enjoy them together.

Happy Holidays.

Imagine what The Villages would be like if we all practiced this rule instead of acting like a bunch of self-centered children. There is nothing, NOTHING, so important (including Tee Times) that it justifies driving too fast for conditions and jeopardizing someone’s wellbeing.

!!!!!

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

Just think of the multimodal paths as in the movie Death Race 2000. Any golf cart driver that runs down anyone over 90 years old gets a bonus 100 points. Cyclists earn more points than pedestrians. Since the golf cart drivers are usually drunk, a cyclist stands the best chance of dodging them. I consider myself a winner if I make it home alive.

Golf carts are the most dangerous thing on the multi modal paths and diamond lanes on the roads. I have been here for over ten years and there have been a number of fatalities of walkers and bicyclists caused by golf cart drivers. Walkers and bicyclists have caused no fatalities yet everyone blames them. We need to focus more on the golf cart drivers. They need to slow down and not pass on blind curves. This is a retirement community. People are out exercising and enjoying themselves so try to be more polite and not look at everyone going slower than you are as an obstacle. The MMP’s are not golf cart highways they are paths for joggers, walkers, bicyclists, roller bladers and yes, golf carters. Slow down and enjoy the beauty of The Villages. If you need to get somewhere fast take your car.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

Golf carts are the most dangerous thing on the multi modal paths and diamond lanes on the roads. I have been here for over ten years and there have been a number of fatalities of walkers and bicyclists caused by golf cart drivers. Walkers and bicyclists have caused no fatalities yet everyone blames them. We need to focus more on the golf cart drivers. They need to slow down and not pass on blind curves. This is a retirement community. People are out exercising and enjoying themselves so try to be more polite and not look at everyone going slower than you are as an obstacle. The MMP’s are not golf cart highways they are paths for joggers, walkers, bicyclists, roller bladers and yes, golf carters. Slow down and enjoy the beauty of The Villages. If you need to get somewhere fast take your car.

Good points.

An example of what is being dealt with on the MMPs: A couple of years ago we came up on the back of a cart traveling at barely walking speed. When we got close enough we saw one of those white canes used by sight-handicapped folks strapped to the back of the cart. True story.

An extreme example, granted; but the point is that there are people tooling around in carts that do not qualify for driver's licenses, or who have had theirs taken for whatever infraction. Golf carts weigh in the neighborhood of 800 lbs. to over half a ton. So--quick calculation: a 1,000 lb. cart moving at 20 mph is carrying over six TONS of kinetic energy (13,371.72 ft. lbs. to be exact). Put another way, that is roughly the same amount of splat suffered by a 180 lb. person falling off a six-story building. No thank you.

You can't be too cautious.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I would really like to purchase a bicycle (either conventional or e-bike), but after living here for almost one year, I’ve seen way too many close-calls between cyclists and golf carts on the multi-modal paths. I think it would stress me out, vs being a relaxing, enjoyable ride on the paths, trying to dodge golf carts, or worry about them passing me on blind corners.

Maybe I’m over-thinking this, and it’s not as big a safety concern as I’m envisioning it to be. Would be interested to hear what cyclists have to say about their comfort and safety level when riding on the paths.

In the Villages? Surely you jest? It is not safe to travel by bike, golf cart or car in the Villages. It's not even safe to walk anywhere in the Villages, including Walmart, let alone crossing a parking lot from your car to the store.