Basic traffic theory
4. Division of traffic
4.3. Land traffic
Land traffic on Sint Maarten
As a pedestrian, driver, passenger and cyclist you belong to land traffic. As soon as you take part in traffic, you must know and properly apply the main rule of traffic: Be considerate of each other.
This main rule applies everywhere in the world, including on our beautiful island of Sint Maarten. Whether you are walking through the busy streets of Philipsburg, cycling along the coast toward Simpson Bay, or taking a ride with your family to the beach at Orient Bay — you must always be considerate of other road users.
What are you not allowed to do according to the main rule?
- You may not unnecessarily obstruct traffic
- You may not endanger other traffic
- You may not do anything that could create danger in traffic
This means for example that you should not suddenly stop in the middle of the road to take a photo, or that you should not suddenly turn without signaling. On Sint Maarten you unfortunately see this happen sometimes, especially by tourists who get excited when they spot iguanas or other animals along the road.
Road users on Sint Maarten
In traffic you are never alone. You will definitely encounter other road users. One person is on a bicycle, another is in a car. Sometimes you also see children on a skateboard. This, just like rollerblading and playing on the road, is forbidden and very dangerous — especially on an island where many cars and minibuses drive that have limited visibility of small children.
Road users that we can encounter in traffic on Sint Maarten include for example:
- A parent with a stroller walking to the playground
- Tourists walking through Philipsburg or Marigot
- Cyclists on their way to school or work
- Car drivers and minibus drivers
- Workers pushing a wheelbarrow at construction sites
- Occasionally horse riders, especially in the more rural parts of the island
Different types of road users
By road users we mean:
- People who are transported on the public road by means of a vehicle, for example cars, bicycles, fat bikes
- People who push certain vehicles, for example a parent with a stroller or an ice cream vendor with their cart
- People on foot on the public road
Who is allowed where?
You will have noticed that some road users use the roadway and others use the shoulder or the sidewalk. Every road user therefore has their own place on the road. These are clear agreements that we must stick to. This is for our own safety and that of other road users.
On Sint Maarten sidewalks are mainly found in Philipsburg and some of the busier areas. In other parts of the island you often walk on the shoulder or even on the road itself, because there are no sidewalks. This makes it extra important that everyone knows the rules!
Only the following vehicles may use the roadway: cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and fat bikes, and horses with riders. These are the motorized vehicles and the non-motorized vehicles.
Other road users may not use the roadway. These include: a parent with a stroller, a worker with a wheelbarrow, mobility vehicles, people on roller skates, toy vehicles, children on scooters or go-karts.
Special situations on Sint Maarten
On Sint Maarten we also have special traffic situations. Iguanas sometimes cross the road, especially when it is warm. You must always slow down and give them space to cross safely. In some neighborhoods you may also encounter goats or chickens on the road.
Near the harbor in Philipsburg you sometimes see large trucks transporting containers. These need a lot of space to turn and other road users must take that into account.
The three main groups of land traffic
This is how we have arrived at the following division of land traffic on Sint Maarten:
- Pedestrians — For example: people going somewhere on foot, tourists walking through Philipsburg, children walking to school
- Non-motorized vehicles (have no engine) — For example: regular bicycles, carts, horses with riders
- Motorized vehicles (have an engine) — For example: cars, fat bikes, scooters, buses, trucks
By understanding this division and applying the main rule "be considerate of each other," we can make sure that land traffic on Sint Maarten stays safe for everyone!