[retiredguy123]

I could be wrong, but I think the trolley tours are operated mostly by volunteers.

[sallyg]

Good idea! Routes, schedules, tickets/fares etc. could be figured out and adapted.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Normal

And where would you park to initially get on a trolley? As you mentioned, the square parking is already an issue.

Since it would be event specific charter....costs for such borne by organizer....temporary routes could be set up at rec centers, mail pickups etc so attendees could leave personal vehicles at home and still have a centrally located and designated pick up/drop off location on event days.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I could be wrong, but I think the trolley tours are operated mostly by volunteers.

They are and The Villages Recreation Department organizes most events.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

Since it would be event specific charter....costs for such borne by organizer....temporary routes could be set up at rec centers, mail pickups etc so attendees could leave personal vehicles at home and still have a centrally located and designated pick up/drop off location on event days.

Pickup might be solved, now for the big one. What about the bottleneck at the end of an event? If it ends at 9, is it first come first serve and drivers repeatedly drive routes till everyone is gone? Maybe their shift is 2 hours past square closings?

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Normal

Pickup might be solved, now for the big one. What about the bottleneck at the end of an event? If it ends at 9, is it first come first serve and drivers repeatedly drive routes till everyone is gone? Maybe their shift is 2 hours past square closings?

Logistics my friend. Thus the word ‘organizers’

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

1. Fares.
2. Mail stations.
3. We wouldn't know until it is tried, but (say) a 90 - day trial in a couple of selected areas would give a good idea.

I would LOVE to see some type of Village Transport. I live in the southern part and would use a trolley, if it was reliable.

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If it were profitable, someone would already be doing it. In my opinion, it would just be an additional cost for Villagers to pay, and it would be an underused amenity.

I don't agree. And it doesn't have to be profitable it just has to break even.

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by MsPCGenius

Uber
Lyft

Haven't you heard? Those aren't safe anymore. So many driving under someone else's name.

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

It is a good idea but multiple posters have mentioned overhead. If you're gonna go with a 2 trolley operation then maybe...with fares, it would work. Any larger fleet will require expensive purchases of additional trolleys, maintenance, fuel, insurance, salaries etc. It's not as easy as it looks and again, if it comes to fruition, watch those line items

So let's do little vans then. ANYTHING. Not everyone can drive!

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

A few years ago there was an experimental (Voyager?) company that had driverless vehicles, it shut down, but now I see Orlando (I think) now has reactivated their driverless vehicles. The villages is a well defined area, and it should be very suitable for this type of system. With the proper management system there could be multiple pickups and drop offs on each run. The initial implementation could be town squares, rec centers, mail centers, and then if (big if) the economics work out then door to door. This would be similar to the Uber/Lyft) combined with the Sumter county bus transportation system, but driverless.

Sorry. If i see driverless vehicles im getting some traffic cones to put on their hoods..

[Robojo]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

No public transportation system is self sufficient. New York is the closest (at least they were pre COVID) and they were 75% self sufficient. And that was operating costs, not capital costs, which are mostly paid with federal and state funds.

Who is going to wait 20 minutes for a bus to pic them up? No one is going to ride from Spanish Springs to Brownwood.

They will if they aren't allowed to drive anymore. or are drunk. Or or or...

[craarmy]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

How do you suggest this be funded and by whom? Where would the pickup points be, and how many?
Really, how many would consider using?

For special events, like art fair at Brownwood. Not enough parking in Brownwood, Could shuttle between other squares, reduce parking conjestion at Brownwood. Also for special events at other squares.

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by Minoletti

Someone mentioned a monorail in jest i think, but how about using those sale trollys as a form of villager transportation running during peak hours to various rec centers and squares?
I am sure some seniors would use them as a shuttle frequently, along with their visitors.
Also a way to "enjoy" multiple beverages without putting the key in the vehicle.

One problem, indulging at the squares and a ride back to the original pick up location like another square. Then what, drive home?

[jasamy2]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Good idea. There are folks here who for whatever reason are finding driving to be more and more of a challenge. Offering them an alternative to driving to wherever they need to go would help them AND would help alleviate the road congestion around here.

It would be an answer to the parking problems at the squares also. I’m sure it would be a Huge money maker for the Morse family. They have their hands into everything so why not transportation too.