TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Boardwalk officially closed to traffic

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Hopefully, since this was at the request of the police, they will start ticketing and towing people.

Good! It’s about time!
Last month I had the first time experience of trying to traverse Front Street using a cane due to my somewhat limited mobility. As if the street itself isn’t bad enough, with its’ sinking paving stone areas and it’s’ on again-gone again sidewalks, ducking in and out between the illegally parked cars made it a miserable experience.
My only hope is the rulings will be strictly enforced for all who push the limits rather than singling out only tourists.

Unless they actually enforce it, the signs are viewed as nothing but a suggestion to many and will be totally ignored.

And why only for 10 weeks?

We went once maybe twice to Philipsburg, and this is the reason I would never go back. As one poster said having to dodge and walk around vehicles left in the middle of the streets. Is a "joke" IMHO!! As another poster said " And why only for 10 weeks?" IMHO, this should be permanent with only emergency vehicles passing through. Take notice of NYC "Times square" ! People said it would hurt business, (before D******) by closing off the streets. In fact businesses thrived more than ever before the closures!! I'd go back if they made it full time closed to vehicles!! For those with walking issues, offer a trolley service for free!!

Colour1

i find ur comment a bit tacky, yes ur rite about the parking, but the retailers are the ones who suffer by ur comments.....i don't see a major hindrance of walking in and out of parked cars, but it's not a big deal, and i am 72.....JMHO

Maybe I have the wrong area in mind...but this is the BoardWALK by the water isn't it? Not a street for vehicles but a WALK for humans. I don't remember ANY traffic on it during my infrequent trips to that area.

I probably have the wrong area in mind....I hope

Pretty sure that is the boardwalk in question.

boucharda---No, they are talking about the Boardwalk, which was NEVER designed as a street, for sure. Look at the picture affiliated with the original story. That is the BOARDWALK in the picture, not some street. There were several other issues regarding parking discussed in the story, but the headline has to do with the Boardwalk.

bizzomtom--the political part of the post has been removed. However, I would state that we are a bulletin board and not a texting session with a friend.

Agreed.

Granted the picture and article features the Boardwalk but it also addressed the situation on Front Street.

Bizzotom,

I don’t mean to be a cranky old lady but I will respectfully disagree with you. Up until April I would never have given this problem a thought but things do change.
I am 75 (almost….😊) and currently require a cane to get around. Walking Front Street in November was extremely difficult for many reasons and walking in and out of all the illegally parked cars on the street was the biggest for me. The areas where a storefront opened directly on the street were problematic as were the disappearing sidewalks. And then, the ever sinking paving blocks on the road itself only served to exacerbate the problem. My DH dropped me off in the area of Old Street and parked the car and hoofed it back. I will note, that area has some of the wider sidewalks along with benches for those who need to take a short break.

With regard to the Boardwalk on the water side, it was NEVER intended to be a road and the merchants who subsequently opened businesses there should have known this and probably did but choose to ignore it. We used to go to town for dinner at a favorite restaurant prior to its closing and on several evenings we got to enjoy the lovely sounds of mopeds aka suicycles racing up and down the Boardwalk. Inappropriate dinner music to my ears. Not to mention vehicles driving with their lights out there as well.

My only hope is they put the restrictions and signs in place and then - ENFORCE THEM STRICTLY.

You!! cranky??? I've never seen you without that beautiful smile!!

I agree this is a good move. The only question I have is:

Where is Horizon Hotel as mentioned in this article?

Across the alley (same side of the street) from Saint Martin of Tours Catholic church.

Thank you rural