No Donkey-Drawn Carts on Bonaire's Main Roads at Night

In Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, local lore claims there has long been a curious transport regulation forbidding donkey-drawn carts from using main roads after sunset. This rule is said to have originated in the early 20th century when such carts were a primary means of moving goods and people around the islands. The prohibition was allegedly introduced for safety reasons, as unlit carts posed hazards to emerging motor vehicles and pedestrians once darkness fell. While modern transport infrastructure and regulations have largely replaced donkey carts, stories of this curious restriction persist in local tales. The rule is rarely, if ever, enforced today and may not appear in current statutory texts, but it serves as a quirky reminder of the islands’ transport history blending traditional and modern modes. The exact details and legal basis remain somewhat unclear, and this alleged old law is often cited more as amusing local trivia than an active regulation. Still, it reflects the unique cultural and historical context of transport challenges in a small Caribbean territory.