Safety Tips for Walking the West End Road?

Just curious if there are any safety tips for walking the West End road, whether day or night? My concern is more from the perspective of not-getting-hit-by-a-car rather than crime. We are looking forward to Negril the first week of March this year, staying our first few nights at Seastar and then last four nights at Negril Tree House on the beach. Stayed at Rondel on the beach last year and walked Norman Manley every night without fear or issue, actually I looked forward to our evening walk back and forth from Italian Cafe and the Hop Spot, Alfreds, Bourbon Beach or wherever we were going. Hopefully the West End road is just as safe as Norman Manley but it looked a little perilous last year especially with the close cars and many curves. Do I really need to take a taxi door to door each time? Thanks in advance!

You just have to be observant & careful. We've walked it a few times ... no worries!

As far as being "just as safe", it isn't ... it's more compact, so it is definitely up to you to watch out for your own arse! But fun nonetheless!!!

These are the things I've learned. Walk on the same side as the locals do. Watch your step when walking in an area with only drainage. Most of the time a no thank you will do with the vendors. There is this one guy called Dalbert who works sometimes at Debar and the lighthouse. I usually see him when walking and he will join me. Usually we talk about life. He will want a few dollars his way at the end. Use a flash light at night.

Stay alert. I am amazed sometimes at the speed of the cars on the narrow road. They come out of nowhere fast.

I listen closely for traffic - you can hear if someone is driving too fast. Just wait at areas where you have to be close to the pavement on curves if you hear traffic coming, then continue. I'm not a long time West Ender, but I got pretty good at navigating the road between Cathcha Falling Star and Canoe. I walked alone most of the time and the vendors soon knew I wasn't stopping to buy.

I have to say, the Security guard at Catcha was nervous that I was leaving alone on foot the first few times, but soon understood I was careful.

I will be honest - I prefer the beach because of walking safety (that and easy water access). I am not comfortable walking many parts of the west end road after drinking more than a couple of drinks. No, you don't need a taxi EVERY time you go door to door, but after drinks and after dark I think its a good idea!

Places are farther apart on the West End than walking the beach, and Seastar is pretty far out. So make sure you know how far you'd be walking - the Negril Map is great for that. Seastar to the Lighthouse, for instance, no problem - Seastar to Canoe Bar, taxi it.
Also, this is one time I disagree with doing what the locals do. They walk same side of road as the cars with their backs to traffic - and depend on the car drivers to not hit them - insane, IMHO. Especially on roads like the West End with no sidewalks and some areas with no shoulder and you have to walk in the street, and even crazier at night. I was taught you always walk facing traffic - reason being if they don't see you, at least you see them coming and have a chance to get out of the way.
It won't matter to the car drivers - they are used to seeing people in the streets, just will see your face rather than your back. But it will make a difference to you - not having to depend on listening for cars coming up behind you, not having to look both behind you and in front of you as you walk on uneven pavement. Keep it simple, just walk facing traffic so all danger is in front of you. I think the reason the locals do it has more to do with ease of catching a route taxi, not safety.

The key to walking or driving is the "on de lef man"

Unless you've spent a lot of time in left hand drive places you will look the wrong way for traffic.

If you forget you'll look over your shoulder for traffic while walking on the right. This can get you killed.

If you want to see this in action watch a first time car renter back out of a driveway......

Cap

Got yanked out of the way of a car after a night of drinking by my wife cuz I looked the wrong way. The driver of the taxi we were catching was pretty freaked out. Of course I said i saw it coming but I sure as heck didn't.

Walk in the shade where possible. That said, try to face traffic at all times.
When walking from Seastar to the Wise Choice store at the end of the lane and around the corner; walk on the Tikes Bikes frontage and not the road to avoid cars turning in and out of Wise Choice. Just mind your step because it's un-even ground at that point.

it makes the hairs stand some times, but all in all we walked it almost everyday for two weeks the first trip, and a bunch of times the second. So far without any real issue. Walk facing the traffic, and any time the opportunity arises, and a shoulder or bump, slab, etc arises. We hop on it and keep going. Get to me the best people along the way. Food is just fantastic. Soon. Come!

Take a flashlight.

You will encounter uneven surfaces and a flashlight makes a huge difference. That has been our experience.

I actually walk on whatever side of the road has the wider shoulder. Sometimes, it is necessary to cross over to the other side of the road, if the shoulder on your side disappears. Often times there will be locals hanging out on the side of the road with the wider shoulder, and they will look out for traffic and tell you when it's safe to cross.

We always walk the west end road during our stays and just remain cautious. As Buckeye states... always walk facing traffic and listen for what's coming. If you hear a car and don't see a safe place ahead stay where you're at. There are a lot of pockets along the way to get out of the way of cars. At night we always bring a flash light to see where we're stepping and to make it easier for the drivers to see us. If we're making a night of it and have partaken in too many of the local flavors we will definitely take a taxi.

As for vendors... it's much simpler up on the cliffs. Fewer vendors and, unlike on the beach, a simple "No Thanks" will suffice with Every Vendor. No pressure sales.

Get out and explore, it really is a great part of Negril that we have come to love even more than the beach. Our longest walk to date has been from Out Of Town Pastry to the "Leaving Negril" sign down by the AI's on the beach and back. Just a great way to take it all in. Have Fun!!!

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Originally Posted by Russ In Mn

Our longest walk to date has been from Out Of Town Pastry to the "Leaving Negril" sign down by the AI's on the beach and back. Just a great way to take it all in. Have Fun!!!

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Got me beat! My longest is Wild Parrot to Sea Star.

Flip... would love to join both you and PGW on one of your walks. From what I've read ours are not as eventful. You have to admit... It's a great way to see it all.

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Originally Posted by Russ In Mn

Flip... would love to join both you and PGW on one of your walks. From what I've read ours are not as eventful. You have to admit... It's a great way to see it all.

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Indeed. But this walk was just Jackie and I and not too eventful. A few beers here and there for sure though.

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Originally Posted by Russ In Mn

Flip... would love to join both you and PGW on one of your walks. From what I've read ours are not as eventful. You have to admit... It's a great way to see it all.

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Gee,you mean when Flip does a walk he is not having sex every 10 minutes?

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Originally Posted by islandlynn

Just curious if there are any safety tips for walking the West End road, whether day or night? My concern is more from the perspective of not-getting-hit-by-a-car rather than crime. We are looking forward to Negril the first week of March this year, staying our first few nights at Seastar and then last four nights at Negril Tree House on the beach. Stayed at Rondel on the beach last year and walked Norman Manley every night without fear or issue, actually I looked forward to our evening walk back and forth from Italian Cafe and the Hop Spot, Alfreds, Bourbon Beach or wherever we were going. Hopefully the West End road is just as safe as Norman Manley but it looked a little perilous last year especially with the close cars and many curves. Do I really need to take a taxi door to door each time? Thanks in advance!

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The road is very narrow in some spots.... for the last six years I always walk facing the on coming traffic :)

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