[spring_chicken]

hoveround (mobility scooter) on the street?
I have seen several people riding them on streets, some just neighborhood streets, but today I saw one on Avenida Central trying to make a left turn into the Winn Dixie (VERY busy light) parking lot.
This is so scary. They don't go any faster than a brisk walk and I literally turned my head because I didn't want to see something bad happen.
Has anyone seen this in their neighborhood or on busy streets?

[cquick]

around Spanish Springs, they HAVE to go in the road, there are no sidewalks.

[photo1902]

Florida law is not clear on whether its legal.

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by spring_chicken

hoveround (mobility scooter) on the street?
I have seen several people riding them on streets, some just neighborhood streets, but today I saw one on Avenida Central trying to make a left turn into the Winn Dixie (VERY busy light) parking lot.
This is so scary. They don't go any faster than a brisk walk and I literally turned my head because I didn't want to see something bad happen.
Has anyone seen this in their neighborhood or on busy streets?

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[villagetinker]

IMHO, since these are not listed as being able to use the road (like bicycles), I would think they are illegal on ROADS, multimodal paths and sidewalks will be another question.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by jnieman

I saw one a few months back going down Odell in the golf cart lane approaching Canal. Yesterday I saw one cross a road where you can legally go 45 mph. I feel for these people who have no other transportation.

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[photo1902]

The irony is that on most roads in The Villages it's lawful to walk in the road, but if you aren't physically able to walk, you can't use a motorized chair to get around. Again, the law is not clear in the matter. Maybe one day it will be addressed.

[Carl in Tampa]

I use a electric mobility scooter in TV in the same manner that I would operate a golf cart. That is to say that I operate on the multi-modal paths and in the golf cart lanes where the streets are so marked. On the back streets where there is no marked golf cart lane I operate on the far right side of the road as I do a golf cart.

However, in view of the fact that the scooter only goes 5 1/2 mph and is significantly smaller than a golf cart and is less visible, I would not operate it in the golf cart lane on Morse Blvd., due to the higher speed of the cars and heavy traffic.

Around the Town Squares where there are broad sidewalks I operate on the sidewalks. After all, I am permitted to actually ride the scooter into business establishments.

I would think that arguably a person in a wheelchair or mobility scooter can lawfully go anywhere that a pedestrian can go. Any other position would constitute discrimination against the handicapped.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I use a electric mobility scooter in TV in the same manner that I would operate a golf cart. That is to say that I operate on the multi-modal paths and in the golf cart lanes where the streets are so marked. On the back streets where there is no marked golf cart lane I operate on the far right side of the road as I do a golf cart.

However, in view of the fact that the scooter only goes 5 1/2 mph and is significantly smaller than a golf cart and is less visible, I would not operate it in the golf cart lane on Morse Blvd., due to the higher speed of the cars and heavy traffic.

Around the Town Squares where there are broad sidewalks I operate on the sidewalks. After all, I am permitted to actually ride the scooter into business establishments.

I would think that arguably a person in a wheelchair or mobility scooter can lawfully go anywhere that a pedestrian can go. Any other position would constitute discrimination against the handicapped.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by jnieman

I saw one a few months back going down Odell in the golf cart lane approaching Canal. Yesterday I saw one cross a road where you can legally go 45 mph. I feel for these people who have no other transportation.

Originally Posted by fred53

you actually assume someone riding an electric two wheeled vehicle has no other form of transportation. How ever did you come to that conclusion. Certainly not by logic. They have to carry the 20lbs device when they go into a store or such. then they have to walk around with it. I'm guessing their legs work then. How do they afford to live here?

No you draw a conclusion based on absolutely nothing. Are you voting for Hilarity or possibly Burnout Bernie the porn writing king?

I want to understand the post of fred53.

First, the context of jnieman refers to a hoveround, which he calls a mobility scooter in parenthesis. I don't understand how you interpret that to make reference to "an electric two wheeled vehicle." Hoveround is the brand name of an electrically powered wheel chair which has four wheels. The generic term "mobility scooter" refers to electrically powered scooters, some of which have three wheels and others have four wheels which are designed and used by the handicapped. Please explain your "two wheeled" assumption.

Second, I'm curious to know what you are talking about when you say the rider "has to carry the 20 pound device into the store." What device? And what do you mean "they have to walk around with it?" I ride my mobility scooter everywhere, including into businesses, as do many similarly situated people.

And finally, what do you mean "how do they afford to live here?" Do you possibly believe that handicapped individuals cannot live in The Villages?

I'd appreciate some clarification in these three areas.

Perhaps you have confused the "Mobility Scooter" which is for handicapped individuals and "Electric Scooter" which is basically a toy for adults. If you will do a browser search of these two terms you will see photos that show the difference.

After which you might want to apologize to jnieman for your gratuitous insult of his intelligence, when you are the one who made a false assumption.

[Carl in Tampa]

Fred53, let me help you out. THIS is a Mobility Scooter.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I want to understand the post of fred53.

First, the context of jnieman refers to a hoveround, which he calls a mobility scooter in parenthesis. I don't understand how you interpret that to make reference to "an electric two wheeled vehicle." Hoveround is the brand name of an electrically powered wheel chair which has four wheels. The generic term "mobility scooter" refers to electrically powered scooters, some of which have three wheels and others have four wheels which are designed and used by the handicapped. Please explain your "two wheeled" assumption.

Second, I'm curious to know what you are talking about when you say the rider "has to carry the 20 pound device into the store." What device? And what do you mean "they have to walk around with it?" I ride my mobility scooter everywhere, including into businesses, as do many similarly situated people.

And finally, what do you mean "how do they afford to live here?" Do you possibly believe that handicapped individuals cannot live in The Villages?

I'd appreciate some clarification in these three areas.

Perhaps you have confused the "Mobility Scooter" which is for handicapped individuals and "Electric Scooter" which is basically a toy for adults. If you will do a browser search of these two terms you will see photos that show the difference.

After which you might want to apologize to jnieman for your gratuitous insult of his intelligence, when you are the one who made a false assumption.

Thanks for stating that so clearly, Carl. I was just gonna say, "20-lb device... Huh?"

It will be interesting to see if he answers your questions.

[joldnol]

I believe he was thinking of a Hoverboard. I could be wrong since his rant was rather disjointed, logically speaking that is......

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

As a matter of fact, this entire post is off the wall. Has this person actually been around for over 700 posts? Amazing!!!

As far as that post goes, res ipsa loquitur

Carl, please don't give it a second thought. I'm sure it's not the first ignorant comment you've encountered, and I doubt it will be the last. Having facilitated hundreds of patients to acquire mobility devices, I'm glad we have the technology to improved the quality of life for those of us who are challenged by that which many take for granted. And the poster should remember it only takes a couple of seconds for any of us to find ourselves in exactly the same situation.

I do have a legitimate question for you. Pedestrians are supposed to walk opposite traffic on roadways, as well as MMPs. What is the rule for mobility devices? Going on a cart path, such as Morse north of 466 opposite carts and bicycles would probably present a safety issue for all, yet there are no sidewalks. In that case do you proceed with traffic? I'm sure someone will post to stay out of that area, but that defeats the whole purpose, not to mention that they don't get to dictate where and when you can go somewhere. Thoughts?

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I do have a legitimate question for you. Pedestrians are supposed to walk opposite traffic on roadways, as well as MMPs. What is the rule for mobility devices? Going on a cart path, such as Morse north of 466 opposite carts and bicycles would probably present a safety issue for all, yet there are no sidewalks. In that case do you proceed with traffic? I'm sure someone will post to stay out of that area, but that defeats the whole purpose, not to mention that they don't get to dictate where and when you can go somewhere. Thoughts?

Interesting question. I don't know that it has ever been addressed in the law. As you correctly state, bicycles are supposed to travel with the traffic, on the edge of the roadway, and pedestrians are supposed to walk facing traffic on the edge of the roadway.

The logic for pedestrians is that they might observe a developing safety issue, such as a car that is weaving down the road, and leap aside. This is impractical for mobility scooters which do not have the agility to move aside quickly and safely.

As a practical matter, I have driven a golf cart on Morse Blvd. many times and have never encountered a pedestrian, so the possibility of an encounter with a pedestrian there is extremely low. I would not take a mobility scooter on Morse, since there are alternative routes between Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing, but if I absolutely had to do so, I would use the right side of the golf cart lane, moving with traffic.

I would also keep to the right on MMPs due to concern that an oncoming golf cart driver might be confused by seeing a "vehicle" approaching which was driving on the left side of the roadway.

Now, let me express my appreciation on behalf of your many patients for facilitating obtaining devices that improve their quality of life. I find a mobility scooter far superior to a wheelchair. Interestingly, if a patient buys his own scooter (as opposed to getting it through Medicare) and has a doctor's prescription to get it, then the Florida state sales tax on the purchase is waived.