The Villages is an outstanding place for recreation. More people here are engaged in physical activity than any other place I have lived. I am an avid bicyclist and I ride with other Village bicyclists. I rarely bike on the multi modal paths as the tunnels and blind spots are not conducive to safety, plus some golf cart drivers pass on blind corners. I don’t ride the bike rail trails either as I ride faster than what is safe on these heavily traveled paths. The scenery around The Villages is beautiful and we even have “hills” we enjoy climbing. I have never been healthier in my life. Come down and enjoy the area. Bring your bicycles and join a bike club. This is one of the finest communities to bicycle in the nation. You will love it here!

Thats great to hear, thanks. We'll be there for 7 days starting Dec 30th. Bringing our mountain bikes. We just bought 2 new hardtails. Leaving our full suspension carbon fiber bikes at home. We save those for the serious stuff. lol

If you choose to ride the roads around The Villages it may be prudent to have a rear view mirror and lights on your bikes. You can also join one of the Villages bicycle clubs and join others whom you can ride with. I usually will only ride with other club members as there is safety in a group. The farms, ranches and horse farms around The Villages are very scenic! It is a beautiful area.

I think providing information is not harmful. The people will decide whether they want to ride or not. The is a fair amount of danger they might not recognize the the person responding by informing them is not wrong. Look at how many serious injuries have occurred. Just because it is legal to do something may not be the best option. Bringing up the point about the multi modal paths is fair because there are people who have ended up hospitalized and some have died from riding their bikes on the roads. Another take away is that if they are going to ride their bikes on the road they read how to handle the roundabouts and are prepared for conditions here that may differ from their home area.

Good point. One should be very careful about riding in a roundabout. Riding in a group ride might be a good option or if just coming down for a week or so, maybe riding some of the bike/walking paths might be fun and also safe. Possibly, though, the biggest risk many visitors face coming down to The Villages could be on Interstate 95 or I 75. (approximately 38,000 Americans die in auto accidents each year.) Be careful out there and watch what you eat. Obesity and lack of exercise kills millions of Americans every year, yet no one, except concerned health care providers, ever talks about this “elephant in the room.”

Does one really nee to lock their bikes here? I mean most of the people in TV can't hardly walk around the squares much less steal a bike and ride off with it.

:shocked::shocked::ho:

Originally Posted by dewilson58 View Post
As a runner, you really, really, really need to be on your toes (no punn) and run into traffic. Nothing nasty about Villagers, you just need to be extremely careful here. As a runner, you have no protection and there are many blind spots on paths. I have had to kiss a bush a couple of times.


Yep, tried to let that pun slide by...
:icon_wink::popcorn::1rotfl:

Where the heck did you get your information. Ignorance is bliss. Bikes have as much a right to be on the Multi Model Path as golf cars, runners, skaters, walkers and pet walkers.
:mad:

Usually run around 3am, rarely have issues with bikes, carts, or other people. Had a bird swoop down close to my hoodie. Best was a very large gator crossing the street front of me. I just ran in place for a few minutes giving a wide birth.

Have had community watch truck slow down to ask if I needed help:faint:
Been running here since 2010 in TV. I never had a problem other than it’s so quiet and peaceful, sometimes I run too far, and Starbucks isn’t 24 hours.

America's friendliest hometown, that's a good one.:1rotfl:

Thanks for the info. I won't be running at 3am though. lol

Pretty much everyone I've met in person since I first visited 2 years ago has been quite friendly...

Now, some of the anonymous people on-line? Not as much...

3am hmmm what do you do with rest of day? I usually go to bed between 1am and 2 after watching a movie and don’t usually get up till 9:30 , I’ve done all my gym after 12 and all my biking walking and running after2 pm outside winter and summer , only thing gets me up at 3 am is a trip to airport , I like to get out early and rest when I get there