You are right. I believe that most of the fatalities were car to cart. There may have been one or two cart ejection on the MMPs. That I am not sure of.

And that's the problem. No one knows for sure how many accidents there are. I don't think it's recorded and it should be recorded. If for no other reason than to assure villagers and their guests that golf carts are safe and getting ejected is not a concern for the driver or passenger.

I think that's just wishful thinking.

Does anybody believe the side striping will affect any of the accident numbers presented?

Once again it is not the amount of money but the principle of the issue. There is NO evidence that spending this money will have any effect on the issue.

Remember the names of commissioners who vote to spend money wirhout any real justification and see that they are not reelected

No.

For twenty cents, I'd like to find out. Heck, let's make it a dollar and try 4 more ideas out.

No Money Involved
 

Just for moment, lets assume there is NO COST to Villagers for any sort of markings on the MMP's.

Therefore, could someone make an argument for why we should not make these paths more visible and potentially safer for nighttime travel ?

Mike. I don't think that would change the safety level. WE have to self police. If our night vision isn't good, don't drive at night.


I have not driven my golf cart during high season since we moved here. The nutty driving made me feel safer in a car.

It almost sounds like you're saying life isn't perfect in TV?

That argument has been made multiple times. As a runner and bicycle rider, I can clearly recognize the added hazard to me by stiping the sides.

For what it's worth here my thoughts.I use my cart 100% of the time in TV and drive a lot after dark. For the small cost district wide I don't think it would hurt on the MM paths to have stripping. There are some areas that are very dark at night. In 2013 Yamaha changed their windshields to a darker tint which reduced your night visibility. If you don't think so stick your head outside at night to see the difference. It did help in the sunlight though. Also a few years back TV started adding lights in the Tunnels, WHY was some questions asked, guess what it made a big difference. I do agree Project wide a decision should have been made so ALL districts had the same stripping.I would have liked the White reflective on the sides and Yellow reflective where there are Islands in the middle.Why do we need mirrors entering & leaving the tunnels? Why were the stop signs in the tunnels changed? Why did they put speed bumps in the tunnels? Why was the lead edge of the sidewalk going over the Sumter bridge cut back ? Why were the side edges of the wooden bridge raised by the Morse gate n/o 466 ? Why was a wooden bridge added to get to the mail station on Morse Blvd N/O 466.
Because they tried to make things a little safer !

How about a dashed stripe down the middle like in CDD4? Have you run up there to see how the traffic responds to you? If you have, are there any differences you could share?

There are now stripes in District 4 - why not use that as your 'test district'? - Because the Supvs in Dist 8 don't want to wait and find out.

Bigger question - how dangerous was the path thru District 4 before the striping?

Agree to the point that when things make sense then the investment should be made. When they don't make sense they should be avoided. Because you find it difficult to drive at night doesn't mean we all do. The aesthetics of the MMP will be changed and not for the better. They are not cart paths, they are multi-modal paths and runners, walkers, bikes all share and I suspect adding stripping may increase their vulnerability.

Not going to argue but I do ride a bike, don't walk or run but how would side stripping increase their vulnerability? They don't run at night. As for night visibility the reflective paint would just show up better when hit with headlights just like on the Highway. If it's decided NOT to do it so be it. If it's done then so be it. Not my decision
.

Kinda agree but I have seen bikers and runners after sunset but not many.. The concern expressed by other bikers and runners is that if the paths were striped there would be carters that would try and stay in their lane. I'm neither a biker or runner so can't speak from experience, only what was expressed. I'm not a fan of striping as you probably assumed but like you, not much I can do, not our decision.

Thanks for explaining what I have been thinking.

I have not. But I am curious to know if drivers tend to give more clearance when passing because they are driven to fully change lanes, or if there is a tendency to squeeze by because they feel they should stay in their lane.

I can tell you that I feel quite safe around 99% of us who operate our vehicles safely and understand that the paths are shared by everyone.

A big reason I moved to The Villages, is that it is a golf cart community.
I can see just fine according to my doctor and I drive within the speed limit alcohol free. :)

Guess what! They have made many improvements to help make us feel safer when we are carting and I really appreciate it. However, some new areas which are not lighted or properly marked can be a strain at times, such as the paths leading to Brownwood.

Can I drive just fine without the strips? Yes! Would it be easier for me to see and add to the enjoyment of my ride? Absolutely!

Sorry to call you out, but I do police my own abilities and nobody has the right to imply that people should stay home if they can't see at night. You are making an unfounded judgement. If improvements can be made to make our cart paths more enjoyable then we should do it.

just curious, do you drive the cart paths at night?

When was the last cart accident (single or multiple carts, day or night, rain or shine, sober or drunk, young or old), that was due to someone not being able to see the sides of the MMP?

District 8, stop the nonsense; do what the majority of your residents want and stop the striping.

I live in District 8...what makes you think you're in the majority?

I have stayed out of this thread because I've been commenting in the other threads on striping but wanted to jump in to thank you for your well stated post. I might "steal" you thoughts for other posts! :thumbup:

MMP Safety
 

When we became Villagers in 1999 you were not allowed to operate a golf cart after dark,this was an offense for which you could be fined.I really don't have an opinion on way or the other regarding striping however I would like to see this issue resolved as I would worry that if the"Powers that be"perceive this to be a liability issue they could possibly deny us the ability to drive at night at all.

It's not "stripping"...
 

it's "striping"...

You might want to know that of the 3 District 8 supervisors who voted for the striping, 2 are former directors of the POA, and 1 is still a director in the POA. To me that raises big red flags as to the POAs ultimate involvement in governing us, not "looking out" for our best interests which is what they profess month after month
It's up to each individual to decide whether this information matters or not.

OOp's
 

Oop's, Bagboy is right except he left out that Curb striping and mid golf lane striping both were over 85% in favor in the POA Bulletin survey. How about looking into the CDD's that have no POA influence and challenging them for not doing the striping or "attacking their motives. I personally don't care either way but hate to see the on going one sided statements to support positions and for one reason or another avoiding facts in favor of using emotions! :oops:

It's like no one will admit to voting for Obama; he got in twice but everyone you ask will say, "Well, I didn't vote for him". People say what you want to hear - I can voice my opinion against it (you know, actually talking to people) and will get like responses. You can talk to a person for it, and you will get like responses.

I feel like I'm part of the majority, you feel like you're part of the majority. That's our opinions and you know what those are like. I really wish the CDD would put it to a vote by the residents.

It's not stripping....
 

Darn, I thought for a moment we were going to have hookers with shrimps on their toes stripping.

I respect what the developer has done here. I am not envious of their success as I know how much hard work over the decades must have been put into creating The Villages. And for the most part, I think the actions of the developer usually, but not always benefit the residents here. So I do support the developer, but not blindly so.
Now for the POA, for 5 years I supported the idea of the POA, and I thought its existence seemed to provide a good check and balance tool with respect to the decisions made by the developer and the various districts and their supervisors. My opinion and support for the POA has changed and mostly due to what I perceive as a desire of the POA to obtain more power, and have a bigger voice in how we Villagers live in our communities.

Lastly, you insinuate there is bias on my part without having any idea as to how I arrived at my opinion on the parties involved, or how long it took me to do so. In reality, I seem to have a different opinion from yours, so I must be biased. I think that is a shallow opinion of the abilities of people in general to have their own opinion on topics, and also have their view of things to evolve over time and become quite different.

And I think I have wasted too much time on this subject.

I don't really have a dog in this fight, but I do have an honest question:

Why is all the focus on double sideline striping instead of one broken yellow line down the middle of the path?

The latter approach would cost less than 1/2 the amount of double-edge striping, be a visible guide a night for helping to keep carts on the path, and serve the additional purpose of helping to keep carts on their own side of the path.

Lets do a Little Test?
 

I appreciate your negative position on the POA and support for the Developer. Now for the test. Did you know that some of the 12 POA board members are PHd's and have taught at the College/University level? Did you know that some served in senior management positions in top 500 Corporations? Did you know that some are CPA's and have very strong Financial background.Of course there is many other impressive history on some of the Board members Now can you tell me the education background and outside experience of Ms Tutt? How about the ethics notification to the management of the Villages. Most large Corporations and Universities have documented rules for ethics and renew them each year. The POA has these as standard acceptable behavior. Did you know the POA has lasted for 40 years and the VHA was only formed after the Developer lost a $40M lawsuit for neglecting properties, Specifically the Paradise Center and was angry that the POA worked to ensure he met his obligation to the residents. This is enough. Have fun.:wave:

The POA board members are obviously very intelligent individuals. And I'm sure there are some very sharp people working for us, and the developer. I sincerely want what's best for the future of our community, and my view on who can take us on the best path is different than others, and that's just the way life is.
And sometimes the most astute, scholarly types are thinkers, and not always the visionaries and doers and builders of assets and communities, and businesses, etc. But, as someone once said, enough is enough. Have a great Labor Day !!!

Lest we forget none of the above are immune to the politics. For many, much of the progress in their lives was politically influenced.

Higher levels of education and position does bring a different level of experience.....not neccessarily an automatic better qualifier for many issues in every day life.

Truthfully, either would work for me. I think the real focus is the cost. Others have mentioned concerns of carts, possibly not providing the proper space needed for walkers or bikers if there were center lines.

I could provide a list of stupid comparisons which cost all of us money. Then add a negative statement such as; why is it OK to pay for these things and not what I want? I won't, because many of these things provide much enjoyment or make life easier for some Villager's.

Trying to talk people into seeing things my way, is not my style. My goal is to enjoy my golf cart rides with as much visionary guidance as possible. If that requires me to pay 20 cents, by golly I'm going to do it!

Guess you have driven your golf cart on the paths during a bad rain storm and at nite. Buena Vista is terrible between Arnold Palmer and Lake Miorna rec. center.

Not sure what this message is?

Thank you. I will avoid that area at night when it is raining.

Striping in Dist 8
 

[QUOTE=PennBF;1108779]I read that CDD 8 had the courage to go ahead and vote it in for their District. Like it or not you have to give them credit for taking action on something they want and the Village's District Management did not want them to have. Actually if we are being clear we could say the people who live outside The Village's did not want them to have./QUOTE]

I agree with you on one item:
1. The 3 Directors who voted to do it, without input from residents, are tied
to the POA (2 as former directors and 1 currently on the POA board) who
is on record as desiring to stripe. It appears the sole reason is to oppose
"Villages District Management", not the so called resident support.

2. COURAGE???
Audacity is a better word to describe these actions. I live in this District
and no one I have spoken with believe it is necessary. The residents feel
they never had input and the "Rogue" Directors have their own agenda,
which conflicts with their duties to represent the majority.

Most likely, if "Village Management" had decided to go ahead with striping,
the POA and the 3 Rogue directors would have been against it.
This waste of money and time will correct NOTHING.
There have been NO accidents of record, after dark, as a result of not seeing the edge of the MM path (NONE.)

[QUOTE=foxmeadow;1110465]:bigbow::agree: An incredible total waste of money and abuse of authority.