Traveltalkonline.com Forums

.


SXM Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors SXM Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics39,564
Posts320,874
Members26,686
Most Online4,031
Dec 15th, 2024
Top Posters(30 Days)
jazzgal 44
RonDon 35
GaKaye 24
Kennys 21
Member Spotlight
islandgem
islandgem
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 13,197
Joined: January 2008
Today's Birthdays
SteveCrane
Who's Online Now
23 members (Whale Tail, xrayman67, Carib_Ian, Todd, MrEZgoin, BillDauterive, bostonbob, MGA, Zanshin, Kennys, alecu7, SXMBND, JandIrene, SXMScubaman, knitsoftwear, CLIFFTOPS, CaribbeanCanadians, mark37, Don_and_Linda, Alltech63, eightzerobits, 2 invisible), 1,726 guests, and 90 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#60074 06/30/2015 08:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
how do you feel about them? I do remember years ago, a cruise-mate rolled a moped on st barth's and it put a crimp in her soca dancing for the week.. SHOULD WE?

SXM Sponsors
.
jerber160 #60075 06/30/2015 08:55 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,531
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,531
I personally think you'd have to be somewhat of a lunatic to rent a scooter on St. Martin. Then again, my idea of a great day on the island is lying in a comfy chair on the beach while a beach boy brings me wine and cocktails....

GaKaye #60076 06/30/2015 09:02 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Quote
GaKaye said:
I personally think you'd have to be somewhat of a lunatic to rent a scooter on St. Martin. Then again, my idea of a great day on the island is lying in a comfy chair on the beach while a beach boy brings me wine and cocktails....
.. Lunatic. I like it.. is that because the roads can be narrow? or drivers are nuts? Up until this trip I was content to TAN... but now I want to DO THINGS.. who knows what will happen when I get there???

jerber160 #60077 06/30/2015 09:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,992
Likes: 4
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,992
Likes: 4
No. Traffic is bad, there are speedbumps all over the place, there is loose gravel, which could send you tumbling. No, bad idea. If you want to do something active, go do the zipline, rent a jetski, do the 12 meter regatta, all infinitely safer than a scooter. Get a CAR.


Carol Hill
Carol_Hill #60078 06/30/2015 09:21 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,712
Likes: 1
pat Offline
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,712
Likes: 1
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
No. Traffic is bad, there are speedbumps all over the place, there is loose gravel, which could send you tumbling. No, bad idea. If you want to do something active, go do the zipline, rent a jetski, do the 12 meter regatta, all infinitely safer than a scooter. Get a CAR.


Agree completely!!

There are many 'active' things to do on SXM but scooters would probably be one of, if not the very last thing I'd ever recommend on SXM for ALL the reasons Carol cited and more, and personally speaking, I'm with GaKaye on this one!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Leave the scooters to those who live there and let them be the one with the bumps and bruises. And sometimes much worse!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
pat #60079 06/30/2015 09:41 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
I spend my time teaching people how to drive as fast as they can on racetracks and I consider riding a scooter on the island far too dangerous. My line of what qualifies as "too dangerous" when it comes to activities involving motor vehicles is likely much higher than 99% of people, yet you couldn't pay me to take a scooter around St. Martin. As was stated, far, far too many variables and the consequences are just too dire.


There's a small fortune to be made in racing; just start with a large one.
jerber160 #60080 06/30/2015 09:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
D
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
Not trying to be a contrarian nor mitigate the warnings of previous posters, but this trip we did notice more citizens/visitors riding scooters and bicycles. Hope the trend toward fewer rentals cars continues.

DonLinda #60081 06/30/2015 10:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 173
J
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 173
"...but this trip we did notice more citizens/visitors riding scooters and bicycles."

You can't stop certain people from intensely competing for next years Darwin Award. :>) I'm with Durathror completely: I've ridden bikes, motos and mopeds for decades, but I'd never ride one on SXM.

jerber160 #60082 06/30/2015 10:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Should you chose to disregard the excellent advice you've been given here, and you rent one anyway.....please visit the TTOL sponsor page and purchase your medical evacuation insurance NOW.

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/docs/sponsors.html#top

http://www.skymed.com


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
You should see if you can rent some full body armor first. Have you seen those nuts weave in and out of traffic. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

joyfully #60084 06/30/2015 12:22 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
D
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
That is fine...progress toward a more pedestrian friendly island is not a bad thing. I have not heard of any visitor/tourist accidents.

Mostly what I hear is reckless locals getting hurt by the irresponsible way they drive down the center white stripe.

DonLinda #60085 06/30/2015 12:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 331
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 331
Quote
DonLinda said:
That is fine...progress toward a more pedestrian friendly island is not a bad thing. I have not heard of any visitor/tourist accidents.

Mostly what I hear is reckless locals getting hurt by the irresponsible way they drive down the center white stripe.


I agree...I feel that if you kept up with traffic (not too slow where people wanted to pass) and didn't drive like an idiot (straight down the center stripe) then you would be just as safe as anywhere else on a scooter. People seem to drive too close to the scooters on the island but guess what....people tend to drive too close to motorcycles here in the states as well (cars too).

jerber160 #60086 06/30/2015 01:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
I've rented scooters on the island, but that was a long time ago. Traffic wasn't as bad, but the roads were just as bad. I remember one that I rented didn't have enough power to make it up a steep hill. Unless you're quite experienced with motorized two-wheelers, I'd recommend against it. I've been a motorcyclist for 40+ years and still ride every chance I get, but have no desire to ride in St. Martin.


I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
Biturbo #60087 06/30/2015 01:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
message received, and I even cut and pasted your responses to my friend, who promptly ixnayed the idea. BUT I wasn't thinking of skooters as an 'active' thing to do, but as a means to get from one place to another.

jerber160 #60088 06/30/2015 01:27 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,992
Likes: 4
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,992
Likes: 4
OK, even more reason not to do it, as the cost for a scooter is almost the same as a car..


Carol Hill
jerber160 #60089 06/30/2015 02:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 3
kim Offline
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 3
Rented them back in the 80's would go from Mullet Bay to Marigot no problem, we had a blast back then. Would I do it today, NO WAY. Wouldn't even be remotely fun

Carol_Hill #60090 06/30/2015 05:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
D
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
Demand has a great way of lowering prices and making the island traffic change to a safer way to travel.

DonLinda #60091 06/30/2015 10:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 268
J
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 268
I know most everyone on this site is opposed to scooter rentals. But most also probably think I am crazy for running from OB to GC, to Anse Marcel and to Oyster Bay. Doing those things can be dangerous. But so can getting up in the morning.

I have read many positive reviews for scooter rentals on the island.

Dismissing it out of hand is one option. We are thinking we will give it a try for a day and see if we like it. If we do, we can extend the rental. If not, at least we know.

Like everything else, one has to remember that just because one is on holiday doesn't mean one's brain should be, too. So if it is walking or running on the side of the road, or riding a scooter, or even going for a swim keeping one's brain in gear is critical. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />



jaxon60 #60092 07/01/2015 07:33 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
D
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,697
Have fun...let us know.

DonLinda #60093 07/01/2015 10:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
jaxon, it's not you it's the other nut cases on the road. You can be as careful as you like, does not prevent someone from changing lanes right into you.

sail2wind #60094 07/01/2015 04:00 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 194
pl3 Offline
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 194
A small wheel scooter is a really bad idea, terrible handling on the potholes and not enough power when you need it on hills.
If you really are a rider...

http://hdsxm.com/rentals/

Just watch out for the local wheelie kings splitting lanes on little rice burners

pl3 #60095 07/01/2015 05:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,294
J
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,294
Those Harley rental prices are outrageous. You probably rent Lincoln limo for that amount.

january #60096 08/20/2015 08:55 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 334
Here's an update! I was in Vegas last week and we did a scooter tour of Red Rock Canyon. CAN I TELL YOU HOW GLAD I AM WE DIDN'T TRY THIS ON SXM? I got really comfortable on the main road, but ever after a couple of hours and 5-6 starts and stops, I was still not great! Two way traffic, narrow roads and turnarounds would not have been doable! thanks for talking me out of it!

jerber160 #60097 08/21/2015 09:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 368
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 368
Rarely on our winter vacations do we not see a scooter that has been hit in SXM. I can't think of a thing that we would rather not do!!


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5