Bicycles in the Caribbean

[challenge]

Going cruising through the Caribbean, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, DR, etc.

Does anybody know if there are any rules on bringing bicycles with you? We'll be bringing two and my mate seems to think there will be an issue bringing bikes, from a legal customs standpoint. Yet I can't find any information on why we wouldn't be allowed to bring bikes.

[Hud3]

No issues whatsoever as long as you don't give the appearance that you're bringing them in order to sell them.

[mikefp60]

No issue. Except maybe where to ride them where you have at least a 50/50 chance of coming back alive.

[jim_thomsen]

We used our bikes all the time while cruising around Europe. But after a few months in the Caribbean we gave them away to a cruisier heading to Europe. Usually I did not feel that we even had a 50/50 chance of coming back alive, so we seldom used them. I am sure this is not true on all the islands, but it seemed like it to me.

[Svsilvergirl]

Humor me , I'm a lil slow here. Whats so dangerous about a bike on the Caribbean ?

[CoastalCowboy]

Svsilvergirl,

Have you ever ridden in a taxi in the islands? If so, try to imagine being in that traffic on a bicycle.

[jim_thomsen]

The roads are generally narrow and without shoulders. And since few local people ride bikes the cars are not watching for them.
But we do know people who have used bikes on many of the islands and they are still alive, so maybe I just worry too much (and was spoiled by riding in Europe.)

[Svsilvergirl]

Nope no taxi rides. Close to the Caribbean I've been is cancun and a few places that were a days drive in a rental car. Prolly be a few years before we wander to the Caribbean , starting out on the wrong coast. Sea of Cortez next year , and we will see where the wind blows us from there.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Svsilvergirl

Humor me , I'm a lil slow here. Whats so dangerous about a bike on the Caribbean ?

I'm willing to bet that Nassau is the least bicycle-friendly city in the Western Hemisphere, and the fact that they're all driving on the wrong side of the road doesn't help things a bit.

Locals don't ride bikes, and drivers just don't look for bicycles. There is no infrastructure to facilitate bicycle traffic. You want bike lanes? In Nassau you don't even get a gutter to ride on.

[Tingum]

The smaller Bahamian Islands are reasonably safe, mind the craters; however riding in nassau is a death wish!!!!!!!!!! Customs will not be a problem, drivers will!!!!!!!!!!!

[stevensc]

Originally Posted by Svsilvergirl

Humor me , I'm a lil slow here. Whats so dangerous about a bike on the Caribbean ?

The driver of anything bigger or heavier.
Steve W

[Blue Stocking]

You guys make me laugh. If you don't possess the sensory skills to allow for traffic which drives on the left, consider MY safety, and walk.
100,000 tourists a year rent mopeds in Bermuda, with surprisingly few accidents.

[SkiprJohn]

I hauled my bike ashore on a couple islands there and it was not fun or safe as it was in other areas of the world and the hills are pretty steep on most islands. Even running in St. Maarten was a bit on the edge. Drivers are not used to see cyclists and the roads are extremely narrow.
kind regards,

[speciald@ocens.]

Riding a bicycle is safer than a riding a scooter or motorcycle on Sint Maarten but the roads are for the most part - not cycle friendly. My wife says they should initiate a donor program as motorcycle deaths are alsmost weekly occurances. I have an uncomforable ride in my 4-wheel drive car on most of the roads. Todat, every road was flooded all across the dutch side with some pot holes big enough to swallow a bicycle. I sold my scooter before coming south this year.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

You guys make me laugh. If you don't possess the sensory skills to allow for traffic which drives on the left, consider MY safety, and walk.
100,000 tourists a year rent mopeds in Bermuda, with surprisingly few accidents.

But, Blue Stocking, there are a number of road rash and other mishaps in the emergency room every day. Me, I like to take buses. Thanks for all your help in Bermuda, by the way. We ended up leaving without the autopilot and hand steered to Puerto Rico, an easy trip. Our two crew got a ride to the Turks and Caicos right away. See you nexxt summer, I hope.