[cabo35]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I have seen cars, motorcycles, bicycles and golf carts go around the end of the gate while it is in the down position.

When that gate is down, it signals to those who are waiting to cross that it is safe to cross. (even after stopping at the stop sign) If they legally and safety begin to cross and suddenly someone flies around the gate, it is an extreme danger. No less than someone crashing a stop sign or red light.

I don't understand the need to go around the gate rather than waiting for it to lift. It takes all of 5 seconds.

While your point is well taken, it does not consider certain unique problems at many gates including this observation whereby gate extensions without complete design changes, significantly compromise traffic safety and will create even greater hazards for multi-modal users as well as autos, motorcycles (like you...I ride) and cyclists.

"Implementation of new gate regulations without sufficient research and input would create a bigger problem than whatever it is proponents are trying to solve. The Bridgeport Lake Sumter gate comes to mind. Because of the design of the gate, a poor one at that, Bridgeport entering golf cart traffic would have to exit the cart path, go out toward Buena Vista where operators without street legal status could be breaking the law, make a sharp u-turn and re-enter through the access on the island which extends toward Buena Vista. You see, the gate access reader is between the cart path and Buena Vista while the gate is between the path and the village. This maneuver or any shortcut to circumvent it, would be extremely dangerous as two way cart and bicycle traffic co-mingles with fast exit traffic coming off Buena Vista and would compete to enter the same access and gate. I can hear the crunching of metal on fiberglass and bicycles already. I know that there must be other gates with similar design issues."

I believe it would ultimately be necessary to redesign the gate, access and traffic pattern at Bridgeport Lake Sumter at considerable expense to create safe ingress and egress to that Village. I am certain there are other Villages with similar issues attributable to the original design that did not anticipate the extraordinary volume of multi-modal traffic patterns growth created.

Security considerations with extended gates realistically are non-starters and need to defer to safety issues. They are for all intents and purposes mute as long as anyone can press a button and get access in 5 seconds as you correctly point out.

[bike42]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

When that gate is down, it signals to those who are waiting to cross that it is safe to cross.

It would be crazy to count on a closed gate to signal that it is OK to cross the road. On a bicycle, we use both the multi-modal paths and the roads. We ALWAYS look to see if any cars/trucks are approaching the card reader. It takes only seconds for a gate to be activated and then the cars/trucks charge through. A closed gate offers no protection whatever to carts/bikes/pedestrians crossing the road, no matter what its length.

This new explanation that the longer gates are for the safety of multi-modal path traffic makes no sense. Are they are going to add stop signs, stop lights, crossing signals or a person directing traffic to let everyone know who has the right of way? And what's the explanation for longer gates on the exits (which come after the paths?)

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I don't understand the need to go around the gate rather than waiting for it to lift. It takes all of 5 seconds.

We have no problem with stopping. We do have a problem with starting up again fast enough to get through the gate before it closes. Six seconds may be enough for a motorcycle, but it is not enough for a bike or group of bikes.
We need a space to get by the gate as it closes on us.

[Pturner]

I don't understand the need either. It seems like a big waste of our money. What a shame.

[bike42]

This is in today's Sun (page A8, 12/9/10):

"AAC members were in agreement that they do not want a system that allows multiple bicycles to proceed through a gate without stopping."

What do you think will happen when a group of 20 bicycles lines up at a gate and each one has to open the gate individually? Traffic will be backed up onto the main roads. Cars will be furious and will take their anger out on the bicycles. This is crazy.

[gemorc]

Originally Posted by bike42

This is in today's Sun (page A8, 12/9/10):

"AAC members were in agreement that they do not want a system that allows multiple bicycles to proceed through a gate without stopping."

What do you think will happen when a group of 20 bicycles lines up at a gate and each one has to open the gate individually? Traffic will be backed up onto the main roads. Cars will be furious and will take their anger out on the bicycles. This is crazy.

Blocking traffic on the main roads. Is that the excuse given by multiple bicyclists, blowing thru a stop sign or a traffic light?

[chuckster]

This oughta be interesting...........