For the few who would use this...................why not just call a cab?

One Word: Pub Crawl!
[maybe that's 2 words but you get the idea]

take a taxi
then you can stay out as late as you want, and not worry about a DUI

I agree. The cost of building a monorail and and the disruption during construction and the ongoing labor costs would be borne by guess who?

Even a bus shuttle's initial and on going cost, including labor, would add to our monthly amenity fees.

If elevated sightseeing is one's cup of tea, spare us the expense and go rent a helicopter for a few hours. Visitors considering this still wonderful locale can ride The Villages existing tour bus or trolley.

Nothing is free. Add an amenity and greater payments would be required of us each month - not the developers. This whole country truly needs to return to the wisdom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

This is an interesting idea, and probably the only entity that could pull this off would be villages transportation. I am guessing that it would not be a profitable business, but I could be wrong.
Consider the following:

There were problems in the past with tour buses using the squares, and having cars parked for extended periods, so the bus pickup and drop off locations would need to be some distance from the squares to avoid the previous concerns, IMHO.

It would probably take an hour for a single bus to make a loop to all 3 squares, this may be too long for people to wait, especially if it is raining.

If you just missed the bus, then you have up to an hour wait for the next one.

During a very popular event (parade, show at the Sharon, farmers market, etc.) I could easily see more people arriving then seats available on the bus, while at other times the bus would be mostly empty.

It would be an interesting comment for the annual survey, and POA or VHA meetings to see if it gets any traction.

On a personal note, we go from the Brownwood area to the Spanish Springs square area 3 times per week, and would not use a shuttle or bus if it was available. We can make the trip by car in 20 to 25 minutes, and parking is typically available, except during the days with parades. The shuttle/bus would simply not be as convenient as our own car. This may change in the future, if we are no longer able to drive this distance, or at night.

Why not just have the tour bus make stops? Imagine yourself on a tour bus, not knowing very much about the place and a bunch of people that live here jump on. They are having a good time and being very friendly.

there are cabs available for this.

They do have tour buses which do not make very many spots though. I remember my visiting Aunt Gert went on when even though she would have never movie from her hometown of many decades.

I agree Bonny. I can't see the practical use of it. My husband said he thought it might be a good idea, he had our one car repaired at Mulberry and I could have picked him up in the golf cart but he waited for it, had lunch, took a book. But times like that are few and far between and if you have something done to a golf cart, they give you a loaner.


I think this place is geared toward people who are able to use motor vehicles. Maybe that is right and maybe it isn't but it is what it is. When we start trying to get services for things the majority won't use or try to add everything to a community a few desire, the cost of that has to be paid by somebody and that is where this place differs from others. We don't vote and tax. I rather like that.

So it's settled...we'll have one up and running by next weekend :)

Every night we see, parked behind the Lake Sumter Landing Sales Center, the nice TheVillages' Trolley Tour Buses, parked for the night.

I think The Villages (Sales) would be wise to run one or two of these buses (after the last trolley tour of the day) as shuttles on a set path from Brownwood to Lake Sumter to Spanish Springs and back on the same route, with pickup on the half hour or even on the hour, from let's say, 4pm to 10pm.

To me that's a logical function of the Sales Dept., since Villagers are the best word-of-mouth promoters of TV to new people, and giving existing Villagers a ride to the squares at distant north and south ends will inform them better about all that TV has to offer newcomers.

If TV Sales didn't want to offer this shuttle for free, they could sell $2 tokens at the Sales Center desks in each town square, where they sell the maps.....or at the Mercantile Banner shops at the sales centers.

You wanna drive? As a community spirited donation?

As for The Villages needing any more word of mouth promotion to sell anything...don't think it is needed.

I think it's an awesome idea for special events. I believe people misunderstood what you were saying based on their responses such as "who would want to go to two town centers in one day". We took the shuttle to Everbank Field in Jax from the Beaches all the time. Amazing that some posters who complain about "negativity" on this message board were some of the first to whiz on your suggestion.

Would be cancelled within 3 months.

Drying myself, and then asking what events would that be, here?

And I like Salpal to pieces. I would never pee on her suggestions.