TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Handicapped parking

Arriving May 11 for 3 weeks with husband either in cast or, hopefully, with just ortho boot. Is there handicapped parking? If so, do they recognize the bright blue handicapped tag that hangs on the rearview mirror that we use in the US? Thank to all.

SXM is NOT handicapped friendly at all. Good luck. Your first challenge will probably be that he will have to walk down stairs from the plane..

The Atrium had 2 (I think) spaces and I think I may have seen a few others here and there but it is not at all like in the US. Royal Palm used to have 2 spaces but they are closed so that means nothing. You will not find the handicap parking like you are used to at home. I would not count on any to be safe.

We have seen a few handicap parking spaces in the parking lot in Grand Case, I think there are four. We also have seen handicap spaces in the parking spaces in Marigot along the market area. I think we saw spaces in the parking lot in Maho. But again there are not a lot of them.

handicap anything in sxm is a joke. very few handrails anywhere...tight water closets....and very few ramps also.

And you are not in the US as I stated. In OH, and I would imagine many other states, the handicap placards are passed out like candy at Halloween and are often abused.

In the US the ADA of 1990 governs this. It does not apply outside the country and certain aspects of it are highly abused, especially the Service Dog part. We see it way too often.

How true. This is the case in RI. But our doctor is in Massachutes and he wouldn't script a handicap plate for hubby who has to lean on a shopping cart to walk around stores--said walking will do you good. Ifthat doc was in RI he'd have that placard immediately. What should be done is mandatory plate on car with designation Handicap then it couldn't be passed from car to car.

Thanks for the input, folks, disappointing though it is. We live in FL and have had a handicapped tag for many years because Adam is legally blind. The doctor suggested it so I wouldn't have to lead him as far as from the end of a parking lot to a building; I think we used it once in 4 years. But it's been a Godsend in the 10 weeks since his fall and leg surgery. Funny story -- his official "Blind" card is in his wallet next to the renewed Driver's License he got last year on-line, next to his concealed carry permit. I do know SXM is not the US, thank you Rural Carrier, but it is unfortunate that they don't accommodate the handicapped. Maybe there's another "Handicapped Friendly Island?!" Again, thanks to posters for their help.

I am pretty sure in OH the placard goes with the patient and not the vehicle but that does not stop the abuse. Same with a plate, it can be issued to a specific vehicle but it you let someone else drive said vehicle, they get the benefit whether the person the plate was issued to is in it or not.

I saw a jacked up Jeep the other day, young people with good mobility and using a placard to park in the handicap area. Not a good vehicle if one indeed has a problem as just getting in and out would present a problem.

Kamehameha--we live in Florida also and my doctor not only told me NO to a handicapped placard, he told Eric to park as far away as possible in parking lots, so I would be forced to walk! Thank goodness, Eric doesn't pay attention to him! As I said before, unless you're on Jet Blue, be prepared for him having to walk down and up stairs to the plane.

St. Thomas, St. John or St. Croix may be more handicapped accessible, as they are technically part of the US..

Carol, thanks. Yes on JB out of former FLL home, and I've alerted JB as you previously suggested. Will probably take the walker also. Thank goodness this is just a temporary problem following surgery. We'll manage.

OK, good for you! I wish that I didn't have to deal with stairs there, but I'm sure I will.

Kamehameha, did I read this right? Your husband is legally BLIND and has a concealed weapon permit??
(I hope this was in jest!!)

Yes, if you have a blue handicap hang tag you can park in any parking spot that's designated for handicapped parking. Most countries recognize it.

..and a driver's license..

Mr. Weeks, I have no issues with a universal handicap tag, I was referring to the state of Florida giving a legally blind person a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Marge -- yes, in his wallet right next to the driver's license he renewed on line. No worries - he does not drive a car any more but he's still hell on wheels on his riding mower. There's a significant difference between legally blind and functionally blind in his case. He gets around well in familiar terrain and still teaches an on-line nuke engineering course. And though he was the only one in the concealed carry class who got a bulls-eye at the range, we don't have a pistol. We both wanted to get the permits before government idiots outlawed them. He can also see pretty darn well at Orient Beach! But yes, ALL states should coordinate information on data bases, but then I guess we'd complain about "Big Brother."

Again, thanks all for the handicapped parking info we needed because of his leg.

I don't get either in this case and being able to renew online is suspect at best.

Yes I knew that, but I was just answering the OP's original post. Yes, I find it fascinating that a legally blind person has a carry permit and a driver's license.

"I don't get either in this case and being able to renew online is suspect at best."
Renewing online allows the aged and inept drivers to still get a license even though they could never pass a drivers test anymore.

I'm sorry I commented on this, as this is going far afield here. Driving tests are not required in almost any state that I know of, if you are just renewing a driver's license.

Regardless, I think this has run it's course, as the original question has been answered.