[Warren Kiefer]

Can anyone explain to me why drivers of street legal golf carts travel on busy streets when there are very nice recreational paths parallel to their travel. I don't know how many times while driving on El Camino Real I come upon a street legal golf cart traveling along with the traffic. And of course, there is a new, very wide, smooth and not so busy recreational path within a few feet of where these daring cart drivers are traveling amongst a lot of much bigger autos. Also there is no way these carts are able to keep up with the normal flow of the auto traffic and must constantly be passed. So, what is it with these guys ????

[njbchbum]

warren - lemme ask you this - why shouldn't they drive on the street? the vehicle is street legal, it has insurance and tags, it can do the speed limit, the road is wider than the path and provides greater separation from cyclists and runners [who choose not to use the m/m paths] than the path does. perhaps the 'normal flow' of traffic is exceeding the speed limit? sounds like they are no more of an inconvenience or annoyance than the driver of a car who cruises along below the speed limit.

[ureout]

Warren, I would be nore concerned with all the drivers that never get out of the passing lane.....they by far are a bigger nuisance than a street legal cart.

[cappyjon431]

Warren, I can't speak for others, but I ride on the streets with my street legal GEM because:

1. It is legal to do so, as long as the speed limit is 35 mph or less.
2. I pay for the privilege of doing so--license plates and insurance.
3. In many cases (although not in all cases) the streets provide a more direct route--Buena Vista is a good example--if you ride on the paths you must turn into several Villages, go behind the guard gates and then come back out to the main path.
4. I'm not a big fan of the tunnels--they are often scarier than the road because of other drivers.
5. If I go on the multi-modal paths I have to look out for joggers and often have to slow down to golf carts going 19 mph, while my cart goes 26 mph.

I will say that when I ride on roads such as El Camino Real and Buena Vista I stay in the right hand lane so that it is easy to pass me. When I go on Morse which is single lane in many places with a speed limit of 30 mph I tend to stay in the cart lane because if I'm going 26 mph and the speed limit is 30 mph I would be slowing down traffic and there isn't an extra lane for passing.

Just my $.02

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

Warren, I can't speak for others, but I ride on the streets with my street legal GEM because:

1. It is legal to do so, as long as the speed limit is 35 mph or less.
2. I pay for the privilege of doing so--license plates and insurance.
3. In many cases (although not in all cases) the streets provide a more direct route--Buena Vista is a good example--if you ride on the paths you must turn into several Villages, go behind the guard gates and then come back out to the main path.
4. I'm not a big fan of the tunnels--they are often scarier than the road because of other drivers.
5. If I go on the multi-modal paths I have to look out for joggers and often have to slow down to golf carts going 19 mph, while my cart goes 26 mph.

I will say that when I ride on roads such as El Camino Real and Buena Vista I stay in the right hand lane so that it is easy to pass me. When I go on Morse which is single lane in many places with a speed limit of 30 mph I tend to stay in the cart lane because if I'm going 26 mph and the speed limit is 30 mph I would be slowing down traffic and there isn't an extra lane for passing.

Just my $.02

for a wannabee and a street legal hopeful.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by ureout

Warren, I would be nore concerned with all the drivers that never get out of the passing lane.....they by far are a bigger nuisance than a street legal cart.

OMG you are so right on! What is up this year. It's seems like the new cool thing to do is hang out there in the passing lane. And it's getting worse.
I wish police would focus on them and give those speeding 5-over the limit a break. People are now forced to pass on the right and that is dangerous

That rates right up there with passenger seats reclined back legs and bare feet up on the mini-van or sport ute dash! Wait till that air bag goes off and puts their Feet right back behind their ears!

[rhood]

If you go 25 on Buena in a cart, you must not be too concerned about your safety. That's just crazy in my book.

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by rhood

If you go 25 on Buena in a cart, you must not be too concerned about your safety. That's just crazy in my book.

People ride bikes on BV all the time and I don't consider them "crazy." At least I have seat belts, brakes, brake lights, turn signals, and 1000+ pounds of cart around me. I actually feel much safer on BV than going on the cart path having to slow down/pass glof carts going 19 mph, joggers, walkers, bikers, etc. I also feel safer avoiding the craziness that I used to see in the tunnels on a daily basis.

I've only been driving on the streets for nine months, but in that limited time I can tell you that I feel infinitely safer.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

People ride bikes on BV all the time and I don't consider them "crazy." At least I have seat belts, brakes, brake lights, turn signals, and 1000+ pounds of cart around me. I actually feel much safer on BV than going on the cart path having to slow down/pass glof carts going 19 mph, joggers, walkers, bikers, etc. I also feel safer avoiding the craziness that I used to see in the tunnels on a daily basis.

I've only been driving on the streets for nine months, but in that limited time I can tell you that I feel infinitely safer.

I believe you are overstating to prove a point. How could you feel safer limited to 10 miles per hour below the speed limit, backing up traffic, with 5000 + pound pickups hauling long trailers speeding around you....baloney!

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by looneycat

I believe you are overstating to prove a point. How could you feel safer limited to 10 miles per hour below the speed limit, backing up traffic, with 5000 + pound pickups hauling long trailers speeding around you....baloney!

Maybe I am reading your post wrong, but are you REALLY saying that the way I feel is baloney? Really?

First of all, please don't tell me how I feel. I would NEVER presume to know how another poster feels and I certainly wouldn't tell them that the way they feel is "baloney."

Second, I along with dozens of other GEM drivers drive on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph on a daily basis. It is legal and we obviously feel safe enough to do it. Please don't project your own fears onto others.

Third, as mentioned in my first post on this thread, I only drive on roads with a 30/35 mph speed limit IF there are two lanes. If there are two lanes it is easy enough for a faster vehicle to pass. That is why we have passing lanes.

[jebartle]

we would drive on all streets with speed limits of 35 or less to avoid speed bumps and the main reason, it was more direct...Sure miss not going to Sam's, Kohl's in golf cart...Boo hoo! We would occasionally get yelled at by impatient "Car drivers" but we have broad shoulders and just smiled!...giggle...

[RVRoadie]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

for a wannabee and a street legal hopeful.

Think twice. The insurance costs are the same as a new car, $500 to $600 per year, plus the plates. For that price, you get to skip a few tunnels and go through the round a bouts.

I calculate that I save about 5 minutes a week driving an LSV. That "costs" me about $55 per hour for the time I save.

Also, once a vehicle has a VIN, you can never go back to calling it a golf cart. An LSV is forever.

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by RVRoadie

Think twice. The insurance costs are the same as a new car, $500 to $600 per year, plus the plates. For that price, you get to skip a few tunnels and go through the round a bouts.

...and go to Sam's, Home Depot, Outback, 5 Guys, etc.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by looneycat

.... How could you feel safer limited to 10 miles per hour below the speed limit, backing up traffic, with 5000 + pound pickups hauling long trailers speeding around you....baloney!

Are you kidding me? How can you actually live in TV and not know that you cannot get anywhere in a cart in The Villages without sharing the road with cars and trucks going faster than you. Or do you actually think that the little white line between your cart in the diamond lane and those trucks is going to save you. Get real.

p.s. Good posts Cappy

[TomW]

The streets do provide a more direct route and that matters some if you live south and have friends and activities in the extreme TV north. That advantage will increase as Brownwood comes on line as well as the new golf courses south of 466a. There are only two ways to currently cross 466a in a conventional cart. An LSV provides one an additional two crossing points and possibly another one coming soon.