[Jaggy]

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[Virtual Geezer]

Originally Posted by tv2016

How do other walkers find is the best way to cross roads like Buena Vista and Morse? Do you use the tunnels? Or do you walk across the road even though there is no designated place to walk across? If you walk through the tunnels, do you walk in the middle or on the left hand side?

Since I only walk south of 466 I use the tunnels with the exception of the one at Lake Miona. At LM I will carefully walk across the road. In the tunnels I walk as close to the wall as possible and always check the mirror as you get near the exit. Also I have tried both the right and left side but I favor the right side.

VG

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer

As an almost daily walker I will admit that at times I do NOT walk facing traffic for my own safety and first hand experiences.

First some background. I will walk anywhere for 4 to 7+ miles on the days I walk and it is always on the cart path or sidewalk. I use all the tunnels with the exception of the one at Lake Miona. I will short that one because of the cart traffic.

Now there are places along the loops that I walk that it is safer to have your back facing traffic. First time I ran into a safety issue was when I had cleared the tunnel under Buena Vista near the fire station at Bonita. I was walking facing traffic and walking up the incline and a person in a cart was heading towards the tunnel. I totally surprised them and they jerked the wheel to the left to avoid me. From than on I walk out of the tunnel with my back to oncoming traffic and then move to the left facing traffic after reaching the top of the ramp.

Another place where I have surprised people are the 90 degree bends in the cart path. Examples here would be the north west corner of the Odell / Buena Vista (when I am walking north) and the north west corner of Odell / Morse (across from Havana) and again when I am walking north. And in both of these cases I will switch over to the correct lane when I have a clear view of oncoming traffic and they have a clear view of me.

VG

These are good instances of when you have to break that "ironclad" rule of walking on the left. If visibility is going to be poor due to a hill or a curve and you can't see an oncoming car and he can't see you, it is better to be on the other side of the street for that period of time. We have more winding, hilly streets where we live up North, and our neighborhood drivers and walkers take the view that it is better walking toward oncoming traffic if you can be seen from a distance, but be on the other side of the street if your vision of oncoming traffic is obstructed.

I don't agree with that with cyclists, though. they have a right to be on the road but must obey all auto traffic laws.

We don't see too many people walking on the roadway around the tamarind Grove/St. James area. I will occasionally take my dog out into the cart lane when I see two people and a dog coming, and know we can't all fit comfortably on the sidewalk without someone's dog ending up walking on someone's yard. Or when a small dog may be overly afraid of my big lug (dog, not hubby).

But the problem doesn't seem to me to be in epidemic proportions down here. It would be nice to have sidewalks on both sides of the road though, and people would wear reflective clothing,

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

Might not seem a huge problem to some folks, but it is wise to always be alert.

Yesterday morning, I made a right turn (in my car) from St. Charles onto Tamarind Grove Run, and immediately came upon a walker in the golf car lane...
doing push-ups.

Had I been in a golf car, I'd have run over at least half of him before having time to break. In addition, he had his back to oncoming traffic.
Startled the bejeezus out of me. Didn't faze him at all. He didn't even look up.

You just never know what will be around the corner.

GOOG GRIEF! What was he thinkin?

[NotGolfer]

As an addition to this I've seen walkers wearing dark clothing at night which is terribly dangerous! We've also encountered folks riding bicycles at night---no light, no reflective strips and dark clothing...also very dangerous! These are the exception and not the rule but needs addressing nonetheless. I agree with all points re: walkers obeying the law. As for the tunnels...I think I'd avoid them.

[jblum315]

It's BAILEY Trail, folks. Misspelled five times now.

[Challenger]

Florida Statute SS316.310- Where sidewalks are provided, pedestrians must not walk in the roadway, but should walk on the sidewalk.
Florida law also provides that a sidewalk need not be paved and is in fact the portion of the right of way running parallel to the paved section of the road.

It appears that walkers and runners going either way in the diamond lanes are violating the law .

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by jblum315

It's BAILEY Trail, folks. Misspelled five times now.

Pretty sure they are talking about Baisley Trail off of Canal, not the Bailey Trail you mention.

[rhredd1654]

Just a month ago, I was entering the BV tunnel at Lake Miona from the west and nearly hit a gentleman just standing in the tunnel. Death wish if I ever experienced one. It is unsafe to travel AGAINST traffic in the tunnels. In fact, bike riders and walkers should avoid ALL tunnels, for safety's sake.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Well yes, there are laws and common sense but there is also a thing called COMMON COURTSEY...just use it and have a nice day.

I'm a walker, I walk 5-6 miles a day and use the left side and or sidewalk when I can. As a walker the real issue for me is how many golf cart drivers think they are the only ones that should be on the multi-modal paths I can't tell you how many hand gestures and rude comments I get every day

[cquick]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I believe it is also the Florida law that pedestrians are required to use sidewalks where provided and not the streets. The diamond street lanes are for wheeled vehicles but some walkers become defiant and force carts into the auto lanes. 10% never get the "word"

The Villages is not very "walker friendly". You speak of sidewalks, there are very few. I think walkers would be happy to use sidewalks if we had them, but sometimes the choice is either walking in the grass or the diamond lanes.

[cquick]

Originally Posted by rhredd1654

Just a month ago, I was entering the BV tunnel at Lake Miona from the west and nearly hit a gentleman just standing in the tunnel. Death wish if I ever experienced one. It is unsafe to travel AGAINST traffic in the tunnels. In fact, bike riders and walkers should avoid ALL tunnels, for safety's sake.

if you walk and want to avoid the round abouts, you must use the tunnels. There are no crosswalks

[billethkid]

being a daily 3 miles per day on the multi modal paths and tunnels for the 8++ yeras here in TV it is easy to summarize.

Some.....SOME....think the path is theirs, they think the only way to drive their cart is peddle to the floor no matter the condition, they do not use the brake to create a safer passing condition, they pass when they should not be doing so, and yes some do get verbal about us walkers invading their presumed space.

Add to that SOME the ones who cannot see as proven by being run to within inches before they violently swerve away and of course there are the jackasses who aim for a walker purposely and swerve away so as to send their message.

All of these that constitute the SOME I refer to are no doubt the same discourteous, road hog drivers on the highways here in TV.

They seem to have this phony priority that they just have to hurry to get where ever they are going.

Thank GOD they are in the minority, but they all seem to be on the paths that I walk.

If you are one of the SOME....jusst slow down and enjoy the day....give the right away instead of taking it....do your face a favor and smile.....your geritol or couch or nap will wait till you get home....and your t time doesn't happen any earlier by getting there as fast as you can.....and please look down that big square thing on the floor of your cart is called a brake....

btk

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

I hope we can get some reasonable discussion ...This is just plain dumb...Anyone with half a brain...

Probably not the politest way to initiate a "reasonable discussion"

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by cquick

The Villages is not very "walker friendly". You speak of sidewalks, there are very few. I think walkers would be happy to use sidewalks if we had them, but sometimes the choice is either walking in the grass or the diamond lanes.

There are no sidewalks in the villages north of 466. Walkers are forced to either walk in the street or use the diamond lanes or walk on people's lawns that back up to the street.