To the Editor:
I’m in agreement with the AAC and Sumter County Commission’s decision to step away from this issue. I drive both carts and cars along that stretch. In my opinion, the problem there is reckless operational behavior by cart drivers. I have observed carts jumping into passing traffic, carts passing carts against the solid white line (which means do not cross), including when car traffic was heavy, holding up traffic and increasing the risk of injury. Cart operators in that area seem especially entitled to do as they please and disregard the rules. I actually consider that stretch of road to be safer than many streets, such as Odell Circle, Moyer Loop, Pinellas, Hillsborough, etc. On those stretches, there is no bail out option if you need to take evasive action. Along Morse, you don’t have a high curb restricting your movement. From what I read, most incidents along the Morse route are the results of cart operators trying to cross in front of moving vehicle traffic. They simply need to be patient and wait for traffic to clear, and quit with the entitled cart operation behavior. Spending millions won’t correct that behavior, and the commissions need to move on to other issues.
Mike Dye
Village of Charlotte