renting scooters

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?

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???

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="" />

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.

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.

"...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.

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

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="" />

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).

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.

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.

OK, even more reason not to do it, as the cost for a scooter is almost the same as a car..

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

Demand has a great way of lowering prices and making the island traffic change to a safer way to travel.

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="" />

Have fun...let us know.

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.

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

Those Harley rental prices are outrageous. You probably rent Lincoln limo for that amount.

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!

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!!