Seems to me, the gate keepers are extraneous. They provide little or no security, and there's a cost to Villagers to have them employed. As for the Morse/466 entrance, there are other options such as redesigning the traffic flow to make that entrance safe without a gatekeeper. I for one am in favor of doing away with the gate keepers.

Whatever we think of the gates and gatehouses, I appreciate them, and also the people who work there. I believe they are an important reason why The Villages has virtually no crime. A burglar would be crazy to go past all these cameras, and also the blessedly nosy neighbors and the neighborhood watch, even though they aren’t armed.

They are ex Walmart greeters
 

They are all ex Walmart greeters. "Oh, I see you are wearing a nice balaclava. Love the crowbar and bolt cutter. Have a nice day."

just my 2 cents - the gate keeper at Morse & 466 does an excellent job at alternating car traffic but really needs to look up the road and allow the back up of carts to cross Morse. Also very often the gate keeper at Enrique & El Camino leaves the exit gates in the up position, so if you are traveling towards Spanish Springs you are taking your life in your hands because when the gates are left up cars just buzz right up to the light and the carts cant see around the gate house - somebody is going to get killed

I don't buy any of these statements.

1. 1) I have never seen a gate attendant do anything to change traffic - they don't stop cars nor alter the flow of traffic. Prime example is at the roundabout entering SS.
2. 2) If it were for customer service, you would have attendants at ALL gates. I see NO attendants at any of the new areas - only in some of the old areas in TV.
3. 3) If it were an actual deterrent, again it would be at all gates - not just a select few. All gates have the cameras, and all vehicle entries are tracked. The gates allow the camera time to get the photo.

The recent spend for a bathroom at one of the gates was a ridiculous waste of our money. The gate should have been changed to an automated gate like all the new ones.

Traffic control.

Other benefits are arguable. But the traffic control benefits in this golf cart community are essential and obvious.

And some of us are thankful to you all for that. My favorite is Faith, at the Boone Gate. She always makes eye contact when she lets me through, gives me a cheerful smile and tips her head as though to say "welcome home, friend!" She also has a kickass bumper sticker re: zombies on her car.

LOL There's a LOOOOONG line.....

The gate guards at the Morse & 466 gates have no regard for the golf carts trying to turn left th continue south. That gate guard should stay abreast of the number of carts waiting to turn and stop both incoming lanes of cars, to let the golf carts turn. Believe when I say if this doesn't happen, someone will be killed there. Please, look into this situation before someone dies.

I've seen the gates at Morse & 466 mentioned a couple of times here but where are they? Yes, I know, Morse and 466 but I've driven up Morse past 466 in both a car and a golf cart. I remember a traffic light for the car and a tunnel for the cart but I don't remember any gate.

EDIT: Thank you John41 and John_W. I didn't remember that but now I see it. With that backup and the southbound carts crossing the road I see what the problem is.

Right after crossing 466 on Morse going northbound there are gates. Southbound golf carts must cross over
Morse before the gates to continue south on the cart path. It is potentially dangerous.

You might be thinking of Buena Vista. Driving on Morse in a car and when you crossed 466 going possibly to Spanish Springs, you would of stopped and then gone through this.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...8f&oe=601D6715

Slows down traffic, provides “eyes on” all visitors, and records all visitors on video.

The answer to your question is explained in the latest VCDD e-bulletin. See link below.
https://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/...20210107001301

There is a reduction in homeowners insurance as a gated community

There are numerous, expensive gates throughout the Villages. Some are manned (which adds to the cost), but many are not. Assuming gates offer some value to residents (e.g. traffic control), what is the rational for having some but not all be manned?

Village Entry Check Points
 

Just part of the show, folks.

5 or 6 years ago someone was killed there.

I'm thinking cost would be a factor. It appears that the main entrances are the ones that are manned. Not everybody knows about the red button.

During one of our rental visits, I was playing golf at Cherry Hill and really had to use a restroom. Not knowing my way around, I went to one of the gates with a person present at the gate (can't recall which one, but near a tunnel) and asked if I could use a bathroom "on an emergency basis." They let me and as I went through a back room to the restroom, I was surprised to see a number of people watching a bank of monitors of cameras, that were at gates where no one was working. It surprised me to see this, but also gave me a little reassurance, since I already knew TV isn't actually a "gated community" - as most people interpret it.

Illusion
 

It up holds the illusion of a safe and orderly community.

Part of the builder's overall Disney illusion experience.

No illusion.....................it IS safe & orderly. :ho:

Man Dies in Golf Cart Collision in The Villages | Schulman Law Group

You might be thinking of this accident. It didn't happen at or near the 466/Morse gate.

Yes it is. The Police do a good job on the perimeter, but some would rather they write speeding tickets all day.

Dont discount the protection the gate cameras provide. Criminals fear all types of surveillance. Witness recent hit and run cases solved fairly quickly in tv

I live in Alhambra and there is only one exit and out of the Village. It is great to have it manned !!!! Great security ! They are nice people too ! It is great to have a real set of eyes on the entrance and exit.
The human mind is the best computer !

As a point of information, the appearance of security.

That happened to me at the Odell south gate which is manned. My gate came up and I began to proceed and a truck zoomed past me and whipped in front of my car. I was quite startled to say the least. I said to myself, "where the hell did he come from?". Gotta be careful out there.

Which villages are you referring to, the villages south of 44?

It looks like the main gate at Fenney was the last one to be staffed by a person.

We are a gated community, not a secured community. The roads belong to the developer for the first 2 years and then are turned over to the county for ongoing maintenance, except those roads in a villa neighborhood, they continue to be owned by the developer. Gate guards are helpful in assisting visitors and new contractors find their way. Also, all gate areas are camera populated for identifying vehicular violations.

They are very important. I am 60 years old and I had a heart problem driving. I pulled into the gate and told him I am Having a problem breathing. He pulled over my car for me. Told me to lean back and stay in the car. He called the ambulance they were there within five minutes. Don’t ever Think they are not valuable. As well as the people that drive around. They are a great help. Amen

What I don’t understand that should of never happen.

If can’t drive don’t drive golf cart, but that would remove 1/3 to 1/2 of golf cart traffic.

The manned gates serve a purpose by answering questions for newcomers - but they are only needed in a few high traffic locations. Cameras are useful but can operate independently. Traffic control can be accomplished with STOP and YIELD signs where necessary. If gates are retained for residents, they need increased sensitivity (so you don't have to lower your window) or the gate cards should be replaced by transponders issued to residents.

I don’t know why they just don’t open automatically with couple seconds delay like the exit gates. But, it would be nice if the would pick up the gate card without rolling done the window. So, will work if get close enough

Maybe it was the trucks turn to go.

Illusion of security. Traffic flow management.

There is more to the illusion!
 

The smoke and mirrors part of it is also used by some of the real estate sales folks who are interested in having you believe this is a secure facility. The guy that sold us our first home used his gate card EVERY time we went thru a gate when we were looking at new homes. He never went to the visitor lane if it was a manned gate. The strong inference was that without a gate card you did not get in.
Drank the kool-aid we did! :welcome:

I go to the resident lane EVERY time I go through a gate and use my card. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm trying to considerate and not make the attendant get up for no reason. Perhaps the people that sell homes do the same thing for the same reason.

Our agent explained that the button could be used as well but she still used her card every time. It just seems like the right thing to do.

I’m firmly convinced that at least some “residents” feel the resident entry has priority over the guest entry, despite who arrived first at the gates. So they’ll race from the gate, cutting off the vehicle exiting the visitor side