By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3659) on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 10:39 pm: |
So everyone wants to make a buck. Cruise ships are here, it's our reality so my friends many taxi drivers race to and from Lac Bay at alarming speeds to drop off and pick up guests. The more runs the more money. Stay off Sorobon road on Fridays from 8-11 AM and 1-3 PM. It's bedlam. Today the good police of Bonaire had a speed trap. My VIP client Tom was stopped doing 69 in a 60 zone. He spend the better part of the day paying his fine of 50,00 ANG and lost an entire day of his windsurf clinic. Meanwhile he reports not one taxi was in the speed trap. Lovely...
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By Lizard0924 (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #322) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 1:04 am: |
Thanks for the heads-up, Ann. We arrive Sunday, and will keep this in mind.
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #722) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 9:16 am: |
I think it's safe to figure that Ann is talking about KPH not MPH. So stay under 35 MPH. Pretty tough for Americans use traveling at 70 or higher.
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By Trevor Hibdige, Lac Bay Villa (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #140) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 9:36 am: |
On the Long Road (from West to Lac Bay) I have seen the look of pure terror on the faces of the passengers in the Minibus Taxi rattling at 120+ kph. Sooner or later it will happen.....
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By Brigitte Kley - Coco Palm Garden (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #786) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 10:10 am: |
I honestly hope the taxis have to pay also !
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By PegiSue, PegiPie*************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8935) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 10:30 am: |
I better tell George to leave his lead foot at home!!! It's too much weight when he dives anyway...
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By JOBY (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 11:03 am: |
Surely no-one on BT is actually suggesting there could be prejudice? It must be coincidence that noone saw a taxi caught by the speed trap
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3661) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 11:09 am: |
I have to add, I am glad there are speed traps now but from what my client told me there was not one taxi in the speed trap and his friend, clocked at over 70 was let go because there were so many in line stopped. I understand the stress and urgency the taxi drivers face to make a buck and to shuttle as many back and forth but it's surreal to see the vans racing passing each other loaded to the brim with tourist..nuff said..
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By Bill LaBarge (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #158) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 12:07 pm: |
Well it's wheels up at 11:30 tonight and we live just off that road.... and I'll be VERY careful.... besides... who needs to go fast on Bonaire.... I slow down the minute the door to the plane opens..... Michael, we have a surprise for you....
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3662) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 1:45 pm: |
Bill, sadly in the past year EVERYONE seems to be in a hurry. Folks pass me all the time only to sit in front of me at a snails pace due to some ahead of us. I get honked at now too..little Bonaire is not always so little and "trankilo" on the roads anymore..
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2089) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 3:40 pm: |
It's well documented that the Bonaireans do many things SLOWLY.. e.g. at the bank, in a check out line at the grocery, bringing the bill at a restaurant etc. However, when it comes to driving, this certainly appears to be the exception.
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2093) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 4:35 pm: |
i ride my bike around the south end of the island many mornings. on cruise ship days i've learned to do a clockwise route so i'm off the road to sorobon by 730. if there is no cruise ship due in i can ride counterclockwise and wave to my windsurf friends as they head to the bay.
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By Fid Chinoy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #147) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 4:57 pm: |
Taxi drivers and other locals more than likely call and warn each other of any speed traps, which would explain why they were not present in the line of offenders.
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By Susan Davis, InfoBonaire, Bon. Insider (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #303) on Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 8:03 am: |
I just came back from a bike ride; headed out at 6:30 AM to beat any traffic. Couldn't believe the number of vehicles (cars, pickups, and heavy trucks), which were flying past me on a Sunday morning on Kaya Gob. Debrot!
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By Donna in the Poconos (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4031) on Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 9:07 am: |
I'll have to admit as a person who does not normally drive slowly, people were flying by me when I was on Bonaire...Andrea(who came with me from the US) asked me why I was "driving so fast" and Amanda(the one residing on Bonaire) said "why is she driving so slow"...the driving pace on Bon certainly does seem to be the exact opposite of the pace of everything else. When we went to Rincon the day before I left, I couldn't believe the speed people were flying around that tiny little town.
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By Ann Johnson, Massage Hut-Sorobon Beach (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 1:47 pm: |
Indeed the speeding in the last year has gotten horrific. In addition to this problem, I have seen a huge increase in passing on the small roads here, and have witnessed two people forced off the road to avoid a head-on collision. When this happens, the offending driver does not stop, and they are well over the speed limit. With the road damage from the rains, this has become even more dangerous.
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By Lorraine Meadows (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1264) on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 9:35 pm: |
Remember when you would drive and people would pass and smile and wave hello?
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2102) on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - 9:36 am: |
while doing my bike ride on the road to sorobon today i saw three or four dead flamingos piled/tied to a utility pole. i wonder if they got hit by a car. mary said she saw a small flock walking across that road recently. it's too bad that people are driving so fast that they can't avoid a few birds walking on the street.
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By Ruth~Sat can't come fast enough!!!~ (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - 10:22 am: |
Pat,
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3671) on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - 12:03 pm: |
Pat, I think I know what happened..the flock flies into the wires and they get strangled. I found 8 once and was horried. I contacted Elsmarie at STINAPA who is well aware. I think the issue needs to be sent to WEB so they can put something on the lines so the birds see the lines? I am not 100% sure but think this is the issue.
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #160) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 8:06 am: |
yes .. that is the issue .. the flamingos plight was recently covered in the papiamentu daily the "Extra" in an effort to get more reflectors in place. the flamingos are not being hit by speeding vehicles..
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