🤫 Unwritten Rules of Martha's Vineyard

common etiquette according to locals

If you’re new to Martha’s Vineyard, blending in requires more than a Black Dog wardrobe (in fact, maybe skip that?). The island has its own set of unwritten rules that every Washashore should know, from driving etiquette to respecting nature.

Here are 20+ tips from year-round islanders on what unspoken rules are most important to respect:

Keep MV Weird

⛴️ Ferry Etiquette

• Be careful with your car alarm on the ferry - Be mindful of your car alarm on the ferry—many islanders stay in their cars, and a misfiring alarm disturbs the peace. If you lock your car, bypass the alarm and listen for announcements calling out your car's make and model.

🚗 Driving Etiquette

• Merging at the triangle - islanders respect the “every-other” rule to keep the flow of traffic consistent when there is a backup heading into Edgartown

• Right of Way - Politely yield right of way by flapping your hand. But doing this too much (specifically at the Edg-VH Road intersection) can actually increase traffic so be mindful.

• Stay in your own lane - Don’t enter another lane to pass a cyclist and don’t pull around people if they are waiting to turn.

• No honking

• Dirt Roads - If someone pulls over on a dirt road so you can pass, give a little wave of acknowledgment

• Don’t rent a moped

• No stopping your car on Circuit Ave in the height of summer to let people out of your car. If you are trying to get someone’s parking spot - only stop if a person is already in their car and have their reverse lights on. Also, no bikes on Circuit.

• Rotaries - No car or road has the right of way at the Rotary EXCEPT those IN the rotary already, you must yield

• Tune into WMVY Radio always!

🗣️ Lingo

The top two Red Flag phrases:

• You’re *On* Martha’s Vineyard — not in it

• Oak Bluffs — not Oaks Bluff (One Oak, Many Bluffs)

🌿 Respect Nature

• Leave the stone walls as they are

• Don’t mess with the clay at the Cliffs

• Throw back sea glass/marble if it's not ready

• Don’t park on the sea grass

• Do not pick someone else’s hydrangeas

• Carry in, Carry Out — clean up after yourself at the beach and bring your trash home with you

👤Respect Space and Others

• Space out at the beach — fill in equidistant from the people on both sides of you and never sit in front of anyone if you can help it

• Leave celebrities alone — let them relax. No selfies or autographs

• Stay off the porches of the campground houses unless invited

• Post Office - if someone with a walker is behind you at the post office, let them get in front of you

• Appreciate your local tradesmen

• Learn the rich history of the Wampanoag people, Inkwell Beach, and the island’s Brazilian community in order to show respect to our past history and present diverse community.

🦺 Personal Safety

• Educate yourself about how to deal with ticks — everyone on MV knows someone affected by Lyme, Alpha Gal or other tick-borne diseases. Be proactive and know the basics about testing ticks, testing yourself, protecting your pets, and spraying your yard

• Never swim or paddle board alone

• Wear an orange neon vest during hunting season if you are hiking

Do you feel passionately about any unwritten rules? Tell me!