Amendment Tabled To Allow For Rental Cars
[Updated] The Motor Car Amendment [No. 2] Act 2016 was tabled in the House of Assembly, with the Bill seeking to amend the Motor Car Act 1951 to include provisions for a motor car rental scheme.
The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum says, “This Bill seeks to amend to amend the Motor Car Act 1951 [the “principal Act”] to include provisions for a motor car livery scheme including the types of motor cars that are available as a rental, the specifications of and licence duty for those motor cars, the licence fee applicable for the operation of a motor car livery, and for connected purposes.”
The full Motor Car Amendment [No. 2] Act 2016 follow below [PDF here]:
Update 11.49am: Minister Michael Fahy held a press conference today to provide details about the proposal, saying that the matter is scheduled to be debated in the House this Friday.
Minister Fahy said, “The incentive behind the proposal to broaden the types of vehicles for rent on the island is twofold – firstly, allowing tourists the option of renting a motorized vehicle other than a scooter will make us more competitive with other jurisdictions. Tourists, like all of us, want options; not all of them feel safe driving a scooter but would still like to remain autonomous when it comes to exploring the island.
“Secondly, and most importantly, this is an issue of safety. Gone are the days of thousands of tourists weaving on relatively empty roads on mopeds leisurely exploring Bermuda. Practically any local person can tell you an anecdotal horror story about witnessing a floundering tourist come off a rental scooter.”
“We currently have short-listed about ten makes of vehicle which we feel would be appropriate for this purpose, all of which are private car A-class in size or smaller in terms of dimensions.
“However the engine sizes and horsepower of the vehicles for consideration, as outlined in the Bill, essentially mean that they will be unable to take more than two passengers and have little to no capacity for carrying luggage of any kind. Whilst we have called the vehicles livery motor cars they are more akin to quadri-cycles, although three-wheeled vehicles are not excluded from consideration.”
Minister Fahy’s full remarks are below:
Good morning,
Today I am here to announce details in respect of the Ministry of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities’ proposed amendments to the Motor Car Act 1951 that speaks to the types of vehicles proposed for use as rental vehicles in Bermuda. The Motor Car Amendment [No .2] Act 2016 is scheduled to be debated in the House this Friday which follows the tabling of the Bill on Friday last week.
The incentive behind the proposal to broaden the types of vehicles for rent on the island is twofold – firstly, allowing tourists the option of renting a motorized vehicle other than a scooter will make us more competitive with other jurisdictions.
Tourists, like all of us, want options; not all of them feel safe driving a scooter but would still like to remain autonomous when it comes to exploring the island. Secondly, and most importantly, this is an issue of safety. Gone are the days of thousands of tourists weaving on relatively empty roads on mopeds leisurely exploring Bermuda.
Practically any local person can tell you an anecdotal horror story about witnessing a floundering tourist come off a rental scooter. And, depending on the severity of the accident, that could be that person’s holiday ruined. I personally witnessed in 2011 a woman lose her leg in front of her family in Somerset when she collided with a bus. It was devastating for her and her entire family who had to see that.
I take this opportunity to stress that we are taking a very conservative approach to this initiative and that there will be many restrictions in place in terms of which vehicles can be used for this venture. We currently have short-listed about ten makes of vehicle which we feel would be appropriate for this purpose, all of which are private car A-class in size or smaller in terms of dimensions.
However the engine sizes and horsepower of the vehicles for consideration, as outlined in the Bill, essentially mean that they will be unable to take more than two passengers and have little to no capacity for carrying luggage of any kind. Whilst we have called the vehicles livery motor cars they are more akin to quadri-cycles, although three-wheeled vehicles are not excluded from consideration.
The proposed Act is very clear that the design or build of the body of a livery motor car will be regulated and controlled so as to be conducive to road safety in Bermuda; and so as to preserve as far as possible the amenities of Bermuda. They will have to go through rigorous testing in order to be deemed suitable.
There will also be restrictions in place as to what a potential motor car livery business should look like and how it should operate. For example, for an individual to establish a motor car livery business, that person must have a license to operate a motor car livery, which can be obtained on written application to the Minister.
It will be an offence to operate a motor car livery without such a license. That license will expire one calendar year after the date of issue. This will essentially mean that TCD inspectors will examine a proposed site and their operations before recommending to the Minister the granting of such a license.
Additional provisions listed in the Bill specify that the Minister may grant or refuse a license to operate a livery subject to any terms and conditions deemed appropriate, and that the Minister may, at any time, vary the conditions attached to a license.
In considering an application, the suitability of the premises from which it is intended to operate a livery, the suitability of the equipment in such premises and the qualifications of the staff which it is proposed to employ in the operation of the livery will all be taken into account.
The Minister will have the power to revoke a license if it appears that there has been a material change in the suitability of the premises, equipment or staff connected with the livery since the license was granted; or that the licensee has not complied with any of the conditions attached to their license.
Additionally, no livery motor car will be permitted to be rented to a person under the age of 18 years or a person who does not hold a valid driver’s license.
The Ministry hopes to begin work on the regulations this summer, which will outline further criteria for the proposed industry and we shall consult with the various stakeholders further so there is a full understanding of the types of vehicles that may be licensed prior to the regulations being put into operation.
Let me now address a number of issues that have arisen in the last day or so as a direct result of misinformation being spread by the Shadow Minister of Transport – who I note has not made a single call or sent any email to the Ministry seeking clarification before speaking to the media.
- 1. This bill has not been brought to benefit any MP or Senator of the OBA. It is wholly disingenuous to suggest something like this. In fact this was directly spoken to by MP Glen Smith in today’s Royal Gazette.
- 2. This scheme will not have a detrimental effect on the taxi industry. The types of vehicles we are talking about are small and as I have outlined the cc’s of the vehicles under consideration simply would be unable to handle any more than a driver and a passenger. In fact visitor numbers are increasing and in my view they will continue to do so. Any small number of persons that may use one of the new vehicles will be offset by the rising numbers of tourists very easily.
- 3. The numbers on the road will be small – these vehicles are not inexpensive and would need to be properly stored and each livery would need to be approved by the Minister. The Shadow Minister would have you believe that thousands of vehicles will be suddenly on Bermuda’s roads. That is impossible given the way in which the regulations will be drafted and indeed the fact that these vehicles need to be stored. In point of fact even if an existing livery invested heavily in newly approved vehicles they would need a place to park those vehicles, most likely on their existing site – which would be far less in number than the numbers of scooters they currently possess.
- 4. The legislation was not brought by stealth. There have been on-going discussions for many years about increasing the types of vehicles that might be made available to support our tourism industry. We have not elected to go with a full car rental piece of legislation since it simply would not make sense; rather we have chosen a half-way house to give additional safer options to our visitors. We need to decide whether we are in the tourism industry and give opportunities for Bermudians across the board to engage in servicing that industry. This scheme will do exactly that. In fact the only place other than Bermuda that I am personally aware of that does not allow anything other than a scooter for rent is Capri, Italy.
- 5. As regards parking, whilst the types of vehicles we are talking about are small, they would use a regular car parking space. However, by the very nature of the vehicle size requirements laid out in the proposed Act there will not be a detrimental effect on the number of spaces available overall. Put simply, the number of licensed vehicles on the road has decreased from a peak in 2008 of 51,215 to 47,692 in 2015 – a difference of 3523 vehicles; so there certainly is parking capacity – especially since we are talking about limited numbers of new livery vehicles – not thousands.
- 6. The Bill will provide new opportunities for Bermudian entrepreneurs to engage in the tourism industry and fill a gap in the market. In our hey-day we had in excess of 6000 livery cycles on the road – today that number is approximately 2000. With tourism numbers on the rise, Bermudians will benefit.
Finally we have reached out this morning to the two largest taxi operator associations so that the Ministry can meet with them and alleviate any concerns. I am confident that this initiative will benefit Bermudian entrepreneurs and be an asset to our tourism product. I am happy to answer any questions.
Thank You.
Seems reasonable. Small Vehicles with stringent licensing program.
Don’t know why everyone is getting bent out of shape when all the Government is looking to do is make roads safer for tourists?
You can’t find a bike spot in town, where are they going to put “buggy bays” to park these things? Minister has too much power to dictate specs etc, and will “high net worth individuals” and “job creators” be expected to drive a 15hp toy car or will they get V8 7 series BMWs’ like the Premier and the Governor to rent?
Fahy referred to the Renault Twizy, an electric mini-car, the Twizy has 17hp so it is exceeds the limit like the 5 yr old CBR150 TCD have wrongfully refused to re-license.
I use to dislike Fahy so much!! I am actually rooting for him to continue to disregard Bermudians and their concerns!! Dislike my comment all you want but FAHY is sealing OBA’s fate and his anti Bermudian stance will get him a one way ticket out of Politics and I’m hoping,back to Canada!P.O.S
Should Cox have gone back to Canada as well?
Friends and family!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE DO NOT NEED RENTAL CARS OF ANY SORT! WTH ARE THEY THINKING, THE ROADS ALREADY HAVE TO MANY VEHICLES ON THEM!
We have 5,000 less people on the Island than we did 5 years ago and we have had a massive decline in the number of cycle liveries on the Island. These vehicles if you bothered to read the legislation are really no bigger than a golf cart and therefore would cause no more congestion than a death trap moped. On top of that, they will be hugely safer and able to travel at a speed for conducive to traffic flow in Bermuda.
It is funny, people want more tourists but they do not want tourists to enjoy Bermuda in a modern way. It is ludicrous that we allow tourists to rent livery cycles and not a safer alternative.
I don’t know why people think Bermuda has to be like everywhere else in the world. We were once unique now slowly but surely because people want change we will be like other countries. It sickens me to think that we have to incorporate others way of living.
People complain about the traffic on the roads already and now you/they want more four wheeled vehicles. Regardless of the type of transportation you put tourist on/in there will always be accidents. I’ve seen it for myself while driving behind them, they rarely pay attention to where going as they are trying to see everything thats going on around them.
These are the same people renting livery cycles. They’re just proposing replacing the mode of transport to make is safe and more appealing to tourists. If traffic is a concern, then we can limit the times these are allowed on the road i.e./ not allowed into Hamilton during rush hour.
Why would a large volume of tourists be in rush hour in the first place? to get to work?
these days 10 tourist on bikes form Hamilton to Dockyard from 4:30 can cause traffic jam for hours , imagine 200 tourists on the road (cruise ship) from Dockyard to Hamilton and back
The same reason why they are on the buses during rush hour!!! Maybe to get in as much of the island they can in such a short vacation time!?
Obviously you don’t catch the bus; yes the tourist our on the bus during rush hour.
How would they know it will be rush hour traffic!!! Shopping in city, stores closing, have to get back to hotel/ship to get ready for evening activites.. Reasons as to why they would be in city. People are so daft in their thinking I swear…… SIGH!!!!
Leaving east tourist attractions to head back up country to the ships?
And how would you police that? how would you stop that??
why would tourists want to travel in rush hour?
It would be self policing. Just them the times to avoid to stop them spending their vacation in a traffic jam.
Other than an hour in the morning and evening at very specific spots, the roads in Bermuda are generally deserted.
you never been on the docks around 6pm have you. The amount of tourist getting on the ferry to dockyard is insane, why cause their all heading back to get ready for dinner. Now throw them into the 6pm traffic and see how fun it is.
Self policing really? tell me do you know all the rush times of the areas you go an visit? Me its a rough guess but even still as I said before, if their all heading back for dinner on the ships guess what they will be in traffic with the rest of us.
But I thought they were all taking taxis everywhere at the moment. You’re saying this will have no effect on taxis then.
I totally agree. What are they thinking – come one OBA, our roads are WAY too congested now, to allow even more vehicles is crazy. The only ones making good on this deal will be the persons bringing in the cars and making the rental money on them. NOT GOOD – I stand behind PLP’s comments on this one …
The roads are not congested except for rush hour / school run.
Try being behind a tour bus stopping every few feet and your making time to work, some people don’t work the basic 9-5 Monday-Friday. So can you imagine the rental cars stopping the same way… Disaster waiting to happen, especially on corners (covering eyes).
But how is it ‘more vehicles’, kim powell? I thought we’re being asked to believe that currently they’re all taking taxis everywhere.
It would be great if we could allow visitors with drivers licences to drive the cars of the persons that they are visiting, even if you were only allowed to drive the car of the person with whom you are staying. No additional cars on the island, but this would free up the public transport for cruise ship visitors and Bermudian’s.
If some one is staying with someone the as i recall they can already do this. so this is strictly about cuise and air passangers who have no one on island.
Just the Tip, Guest must hold a valid Bermuda Drivers License, just inquired with TCD and my Insurance Co.
I believe if you have been on the island for a three week period then you can apply for a Bermuda drivers licence, but without this you cannot drive a car here, even if you have a valid licence from elsewhere, and the car is insured.
Lets think about this . I’ve Seen so many tourist riding on the wrong side of the road. Now you want them driving around in cars. This is only going to cause more accidents. They don’t know about driving on our tiny roads. And this will surely cause more traffic jams smh.
So a tourist on the wrong side of the road in a bike vs a small car is safer? Shall we just ban tourists from the roads becasue of right and left. maybe someone should ban you from driving in the US becasue there drive on a different side and you come from Bermuda??
Traffic Jams? Are tourists going to work in Hamilton all of a sudden?
Seriously, think about what you just wrote.
if the have an accident in the right spot they will cause the traffic jam. also yes they will add to the traffic on the road which will add to the traffic problems, more in the evening then in the mornings.
So rental bikes do not cause traffic when they have accidents?
didn’t say that, was pointing how they could contribute to a traffic jam. To answer you, yes the bikes to cause traffic when they have accidents hopefully what is being preposed by the government with out any consultation from any group will not cause even more issues.
I was also going to comment how so many of those who oppose somethings like this and speak of the dangers of tourists riding on the wrong side of the road, have no issue with Bermudians going to Canada or the US and driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, at speeds in excess of Bermuda’s speed limit, and in weather conditions that are unlike Bermuda’s!!! Funny how that works! A small vehicle of these types would be much safer than a moped.
Let me get this straight…
You will not approve a truck license to an accomplished contractor…but you will increase traffic for car rentals….
I am soooo sick of stupid…
You cannot fix stupid…
You cannot educate lead into gold at all….
Can you?
Yo cannot!
Read the legislation, not a car!
What does contractors, trucks and tourism travelling safely on bermuda’s roads have to do with one another.
More tourist, more hotels= more wore work for contractors. Comprende?
oh yeah, being able to rent a “buggy”for some crazy high price is gonna just reel ‘em in.
Well the tourists don’t want to rent these little cars, then the business will cease. And the complainers and whiners will have nothing to complain and whine about.
You…yo…u
Not the legislation needed. Taxi owners’ loss is someone else’s gain. The beneficiaries of this legislation don’t need more. Keep squeezing mates. Let’s see if the Taxi owners stand-up to this one. Quo Fata Ferunt
How is a small buggie that carries no luggage competing with Taxis, they are competing with Cycle liveries?
Why should the Taxis dictate the modernisation of Bermuda’s tourism product. If anything this type of legislation enables safer and more accessible transport which will entice more tourism meaning more taxi pick-up and drop offs to and from the airport and for dinners etc.
Taxis aren’t reliable. You never know if they will show up or not. Maybe this is what the taxi drivers need – a little competition might help them to get their priorities straight.
thats what people said when the mini buses were introduced. That was what was said when GPS was forced down their throats. All either have done is take more money out of the drivers pockets while gas and repairs increase.
Taxis are so unreliable . They are not interested in short fares. I wanted to go from the airport to St George. The elderly Bermudian taxi driver dashed to take my suitcase with a smile . As soon as I said St George he refused to talk to me all the way home . So perhaps the taxi drivers might be more pleasant to Bermudians if they had these small buggies as competition and they might be glad of my $14 for a 5 minute drive !
Well , I really don’t know how a taxi person makes it. I have a feeling there is a reason why the drivers are mainly old retirees. Someone should make a short film on the life of a taxi driver in Bermuda. They cant be taking home that much money.
what is a good day, what is a bad day and what is an average day.
I really don’t see what the fuss is about – this is a great idea! More and safer options for tourists will give a boost to arrivals helping everyone from local stores to taxi drivers! seems like they will keep them in small numbers – I think tourists should be kept safe and at least have the option for a non scooter type rental. I don’t think you can say something with 5hp is a car! Plus they look green! Bermuda moving forward.. Eco tourism in our future!
Great idea and simply gives our tourists one more transportation option.
I personally know of tourists that find mopeds dangerous, taxis too expensive and buses inconvenient. This gives our guests one more option and a safer option than mopeds.
I did hear the shadow minister last night trying to envisage about “who will benefit” from this proposal. He speculated that only several sitting MP’s would stand to benefit by selling more cars. As usual, in typical myopic, thinking he forgot to remember that our guests, our tourists, our actual visitors will be the most significant beneficiaries.
Come on opposition, focus on the customer for once….even if you don’t have the benefit of ever owning a business.
Agreed – certainly better than telling potential visitors to go to one of the islands down south instead of Bermuda because you CAN rent a car there.
Can still say that, you rent regular cars, jeeps, pick-ups, mini- buses and motorcycles in the Caribbean, not new-fangled 15hp golf carts.
And the public consultation on this idea was when and where?
Why? Do we need consultation every time a new SUV is licensed and new rumble strip is laid on the road? Consultation will serve what purpose? so the layman can continue to think backwards and attempt to disrupt.
This legislation opens the market to entrepreneurs, it improves the tourism product and makes the roads safer. Any politician that cannot see that does not have Bermuda’s interests at heart!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH MAKING THE ROAD SAFER FOR TOURISTS?
Well a lot of things can happen.
insurance premiums can go up.
accidents
if tourists could kill local or another tourists I think there is something on the book to detain and trial them already on the books
most of the tourists are old and a lot of accident are caused by old folks.
road rage can go up.
how would gas prices be affected (may be a good thing)
may make a market for used electric car on island (may be a good thing)
my point is it has to be well thought out.
The general election in 2012.
we voted these lot in to make decisions. if every piece of legislation has to have public input and town hall meetings nothing would ever get done. (of course with bigger issues I agree with public consultation)
There has been discussion of the idea over the past few years.
I think the consultation on this has been better than, for example, the public consultation prior to the introduction of legislation allowing limousines ten or so years ago. That came as a complete surprise to everyone except for the lucky person who had miraculously already bought and had shipped here two limousines of the exact type allowed under then then-new law.
wrong is wrong no matter who does it, this is just so ridiculous they are so lacking, what I have noticed is that almost every thing connected to this minister is so volatile this is what you get from an unelected minister, he comes across as one, who says trust me I know your holding the blade I’m got the handle and I’ve done this before.
Fantastic idea! Much safer than the bikes.
The OBA govt was elected TO GOVERN. They are NOT required to consult on everything and anything they do – For Heaven’s Sake Bermuda !! IT IS CALLED PROGRESS (which the PLP and their supporters seems not to have heard of since they are DETERMINED to keep Bermuda in the dark ages.)
All I can say is WELL DONE AND WHAT TOOK SO LONG?
not a good idea 1) think about this one any good summer day you go to horsehoe or any beach that gets packed with tourist, what do you see a parking lot full of rental bikes, now if you allow rental cars where are they going to park them. we can’t just make more open spaces. there are still going to be tourist who rent bikes so you can’t get rid of the bike parking. 2) if they want to go to town, yes it might be an irritant now having to follow behind a trail of 5 or 6 bikes but if you allow rental cars when they get to town where are they going to park? and imagine the congestion of them driving around on the other side of the road.
3) where are these rental cars going to be housed, were not talking about bringing in 50 or 70 cars its will be in the hundreds we dont have the space, again, to just be adding more to our traffic economy.
this idea is only to fill the pockets of those that thought of the idea for their own personal greed.
so i say no to rental vehicles for tourist. lets improve the services we already have. bringing one more picnic basket to a broken table isn’t going to fix the table.
What rental bikes? They all are pushed into a tour bus now.
Fully supported!
Will they come under the same licensing category as a moped or scooter? If so, will I be able to retire my scary scooter and buy one?
Hope they become available for locals to buy. Seems they might be a safe alternative to a bike or larger car.
Rental cars, of course the solution to the tourism problem that has never been considered before. For crying out loud is it this sort of innovative thinking that our tax dollars pay for? It’s not as if car rentals are a new technology. Bermuda tourism thrived in the past without casinos and without rental cars. The solution is more complex than just knee jerking simple ideas out there.
That said I think Auto Solutions should get the exclusive contract for supplying the automobiles.
Nobody said this was THE answer. It is just one part of improving the tourism experience in Bermuda, which is decades overdue. As you said, we had a successful tourism industry – in the past! Let’s move with the times, or at least let’s try to catch up.
Mate – rental cars aren’t a novel idea by any means – nor are casinos… hmmm… lets see here…. when did our tourism product start regressing…. now when did other islands start having safe options for tourists and casinos and other OPTIONS FOR THINGS TO DO for tourists…. you think there is a correlation?? Bermuda can be as beautiful as anywhere on earth… which it easily is… but if no one can get there to see it then they won’t know will they??? You can go sit on a beach anywhere for a lot cheaper than Bermuda – which is all people can do if they have to rely on taxi’s and buses. don’t you want to share what makes Bermuda special to you? Sunsets on north shore? Fishing off the rocks? a good fish sandwich? the list is endless and if these people are just sitting around Tuckers Point for a week they will never know how special Bermuda is! I am proud of my island and i for one am happy that people will be able to see what i see EVERYDAY! Peace and love to all my fellow Bermudians
Look at the bright side.
Once the AC is over there will be plenty of parking space up West.
Now Hamilton?
Oh boy…………………..
Oh , PLEASE , no !!!
I see already all those, who are used to drive on the other side of the road , involved in many accidents.
don’t we have already too many cars on the island ?
My husband and I travel every 6 months to Bermuda, we love it there, we roam the island and we have friends there, but our transportation options are limited due to my husband’s mobility scooter.
We used to rent a scooter but after hearing about all the deaths we stopped. My husband and I do the bus as much as we can but sometimes they are on strike and the ferrys don’t run the St Georges route in the winter. We aren’t interested in paying huneeds of dollars for taxi fares. My husband lived on Bermuda for 2 years in the 60s and he knows how to drive on other side of road.
I can understand renting cars to people who are tourist, but maybe If a person come there every 6 months would be nice.
If you choose not to do rental cars, can you at least make buses mobility scooter abled, our mobility scooter is small but aren’t allowed on buses. You all need to make buses handicap accessible please
Do you come here to visit people who have a car that you can use? I believe that if you are here for at least three weeks then you can sit a Bermuda driving test and obtain a licence.
I come from 6 to 13 days at a time. My husband has work in the States. However we do have friends there. We come to Bermuda for our friends and it’s where we wish we could move to. We even own cell phones from cellone.bm
I don’t think someone coming off a cruise ship should be able to rent cars since their stay is so short and most only come 1 time..I’ve been comin so much that my home in the States could pass for a BermudIan home
We stay at accommodations which is a private home and we have a drive way to park car. Anyhow I have a taxi/friend name Jamie Trimmingham, his family was the Trimminghams of Bermuda
This is a horrible, horrible idea.
No this has not come by stealth, but I honestly didn’t think anyone was daft enough to think it was a good idea.
Just on the parking issue, it’s still difficult to park in places like town, apparently it’s okay to go back to the insanity we used to have.
Would they be subject to the pay and display everyone else is? Will they get tickets? Heck, will they get tickets for driving offences?
Most tourist-related venues don’t have much parking to begin with, where do they think these places will find more space?
This has been in the media and has been talked about for ages…..SMDH at Ostritch Oliver
Tell Fake Hunger striker to get out the chair!
Please change your name.
If we are going to rent cars to tourists wouldn’t it make sense to provide them with vehicles big enough to accommodate a family with small kids and their car seats, therefore increasing the types of tourists that we can attract?
Totally agree. If they want to limit the number of these rental vehicles then the best way is to rent them to families first (yes they’ll have to be actual car size) and then restrict the number of days that they can rent them for.
If a family of four has to rent two of the mini cars, then they take up two car spaces. Renting one small size car would mean they only take up one space.
I really hope this goes through – it’s about time we offer our visitors a safer and more reliable option to travel.
Taxis are also not safe enough – because you can order one in the East End and it may never come. This weekend my husband found and picked up two visitors who were stranded in St Davids and had been waiting 40 minutes for their taxi to come, and had missed the wedding they’d flown all the way to Bermuda to attend! This is SO embarrassing. If the taxis have a problem with offering more transportation options for visitors, they need to up their game and show up whey they say they will show up.
just imagine riding along and o snap here comes a tourist in their rental car on the wrong side of the road. but they they’ll be safer. they don’t have the experience to drive on our tiny ,windy roads. Its not the us. and Bermuda is too small for rentals cars. Where are they going to park?. imagine Hamilton packed with 20 rental cars driving around slow as sh;t. more accidents.
If they fixed the parking legislation they can charge the tourists to park!
This wrong side of the road argument is getting tiresome. Tens of thousands of tourists from the US & Canada go to Scotland every year, rent cars, and drive on the opposite side of the road from what they are used to. If you’ve ever been in the Scottish highlands, their roads are more narrow and more winding than ours in many places, yet they legally drive at 80kmh on these same roads! No matter the country, there are some that can’t handle a vehicle properly, Bermudians included!
Witnessed a tourist on a bike come up Queen Street by Thistle House and Link Bermuda and turned left on to Church Street, Thank god the traffic was stopped outside of Gibbons Co, someone by American Airlines stopped her and made her turn around. Minister Fahy should know they have enough nails in the OBA coffin, this will only nail it shut. Who owns the two major car dealerships here? 2 OBA politicians.
Has more to do with the entrepreneurs you don’t know about than those politicians…wait and see and you’ll be surprised
I think it is a good idea but Not a workable one. I also think that people are really upset at the manner in which it is being introduced so that they cant even begin to look at the pros and cons objectively.
WE DON’T NEED RENTAL CARS FOR TOURISTS…THESE GUYS DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DRIVE ON OUR ROADS LET ALONE DRIVE A MOPED ON OUR ROADS SMDH!! Please just say no….
Considering all of our tourists come from places where they only drive cars it is safe to say that they will be safer, for all commuters, in a more stable vehicle as opposed to small wheel bikes.
But going off your logic Bermudians should be prohibited from driving anywhere else on the world as they drive faster than us, have different road structures (i.e. exits, on-ramps, off-ramps, highways, freeways etc.) as well as driving on the right hand side of the road.
How would you like that?
Wider roads are easier to navigate than our roads.
It’s like Fahy can’t sleep unless he causes controversy. Does he know this isn’t a reality show? That he is messing with actual people’s lives and livelihoods? Or does he get some sort of satisfaction from it all. SMH!
Do you honestly think he’s just whipped this up. This legislation was a long time coming. He’s just the messenger. It’s high time we all grow up and stop making everything personal
Yes, I think this is all him. Dunkley doesn’t have any real power in my opinion, especially when he couldn’t make him change his office.
Where was all you guys outrage when over 50 mini buses were given permits years back?
Where was your concern on others ‘livelihoods?’
So I will say you didn’t care back then about others ‘livelihoods’ and you don’t care now.
It is simply the Party who is introducing the amendment that irks you.
50 mini buses is different from enabling every tourist that comes the opportunity not to use taxis and mini buses. 50 mini buses can’t carry all of the tourists, they were extra competition. If all of the tourists rent cars, the mini buses, taxis, even the public buses LOSE most of their revenue!
What about the safety of the tourists? You think they won’t speed as is their custom? To compare them driving here to us driving out there is backwards because their lanes are wider than ours! I can see harbour road now, with accidents from tourists striking the wall because they are looking at the view, etc.
But its OK that these same tourists strike the wall riding a scooter?
I don’t see you expressing any concern about the completely inadequate 5 minute riding competency test that a tourist takes when renting a bike. Do you know what the standard lane widths are in the US, Canada, England, Ireland versus BDA or did you simply make an assumption that Bermuda roads are dramatically thinner. This data is available to you and is just a few keystrokes away. These are golf cart size vehicles…not Hummers. Lots of spare lane to go around. You’re also generalizing that speeding is common overseas. How do you support that? All foreigners are lawless and lead footed?
Bottom line is that we are currently putting tourists at risk and perpetuating the issue of being an expensive yet low value travel destination. Will a tourist at some point hit a wall in a 4 wheeler…of course they will. Do they have a better chance of walking away from that crash than they would on a scooter…good chance. Will taxi drivers lose income…its hard to say. Improve the tourism product, increase tourists travelling to the island and they might actually see more revenue. Its probably more rational to try to fill the larder than fighting over scraps.
You don’t see because you haven’t looked. No one is forcing the tourists to ride bikes. That’s their choice.
I don’t see how being able to rent a car for tourists will help tourism. Show me the numbers where rental cars improved tourism?
What really happens when a tourist crashes into a local on a bike. Who’s got the insurance to pay for OUR DAMAGES, etc?! The rental place? WHOOO?
Who covers any damage when a bermudian crashes a rental car overseas?
Well that would be the insurance that is mandated to be bought prior to renting.
I swear some complain just hear to themselves speak.
What happens now when a tourist gets into an accident on a bike?
And to alleviate your concerns I imagine if you rented one of these you would also have to pay for insurance coverage for the time you have it just as you have to when you rent a car in another country.
So if a cheap scooter costs $300 a week to rent these will be like $3,000 then.
Have they all lost their bloody minds for the mighty dollar? These tourist can’t handle a bike. And now you’re gonna give them more power and a bigger vehicle to cross the yellow line and take out a motorcyclist or another car. If you wanna march and protest something now’s the time. Our roads are to crowded now and to small. I would not wanna be on I motorcycle if this passes. SMH!
Pretty obvious isn’t it…two wheels versus four…stability. I doubt that you or anyone in Bermuda voluntarily rents a scooter when travelling overseas. I would venture to guess you probably go for the biggest SUV they have available.
I hear support and refusal cries but my people have learned to be a bunch of b!tch and moaners about things that they couldn’t or wouldn’t spearhead whether it be by the refusal of the current administration sic OBA until it suits their agenda or because my people are genuinely not interested but I think this is a good idea that will not cut into the pockets of an already saturated industry sad to say that the taxi industry is full of ppl trying to make retirement something a little less boring whilst making pocket change or as a second income which is unfortunate as I wish i had a second income with the fellas that aren’t really taxi drivers but use their taxis as a cover for other business.
The people who use the I taxis as a sole income unfortunately will face more competition but it will not in my opinion be detrimental in the sense that it couldn’t be committed.
A taxi like any other service industry has to remain competitive and perhaps a eeview of the industry as a whole shoal have been conducted in addition to a limit on the amount of taxis there are and a constant revive of the operator’s rhemselves as I am usr that whomever is responsible for taxi operators doesn’t frequent church street to see the calibre of drivers up there if that is the litmus of the industry……
This is way overdue. Bermuda’s reputation as a high end tourist destination is in reality a historic reference. That reputation that was built by a generation past. The island is now like a ageing super model living off of her laurels. The rest of the world is not standing still. For each of those trying to rebuild the local brand there seems to be a dozen naysayers throwing up road blocks. There is a younger generation that seems eager to build for their future. My observation is that there is an older demographic that is getting in their way. They are building for their future, not our retirement.
How many traffic jams have been caused by a tourist decking out on a bike. Those traffic delays are no doubt much longer as we have to wait for either an ambulance or the coroner to arrive on scene. How is a tourist in a 4 wheeler at 8:30AM going to make traffic any worse than a tourist on a scooter at 8:30AM? The logic of this argument defies me. The video circulating of the tourist dropping her bike twice on Harbour Road in a span of 3 minutes should send a clear message to us all and is no joke.
For those who say…but these tourists are not familiar to our roads…that is utterly ridiculous! They need to be licensed drivers somewhere. How about if someone says that to us the next time we travel overseas…Oh…you’re Bermudian…sorry we cannot rent you a car…you are not used to driving on our freeways or on the right hand side of the road. I can only imagine the protestations.
I applaud those who are pursuing forward movement on some of these grossly overdue issues. I don’t care what party you are affiliated with as long as you represent the people, build for our future and do your job responsibly and with integrity. Michael Fahy is addressing some sensitive issues. This may not make him popular with some, however I personally admire his conviction. We cannot continue to express concerns about unemployment and the lack of opportunities yet continue to do things as we did yesterday. That is a choice however and if we chose to stagnate then we must be willing to live with the consequences. Hopefully those who are feeling the pinch the most are having their voices heard.
High end cars don’t come with 15hp.
I have heard support and refusal cries but my people have learned to be a bunch of b!tch and moaners about things that they couldn’t or wouldn’t spearhead whether it be by the refusal of the current administration sic OBA until it suits their agenda or because my people are genuinely not interested but I think this is a good idea that will not cut into the pockets of an already saturated industry sad to say that the taxi industry is full of ppl trying to make retirement something a little less boring whilst making pocket change or as a second income which is unfortunate as I wish i had a second income with the fellas that aren’t really taxi drivers but use their taxis as a cover for other business.
The people who use the I taxis as a sole income unfortunately will face more competition but it will not in my opinion be detrimental in the sense that it couldn’t be committed.
A taxi like any other service industry has to remain competitive and perhaps a eeview of the industry as a whole shoal have been conducted in addition to a limit on the amount of taxis there are and a constant revive of the operator’s rhemselves as I am usr that whomever is responsible for taxi operators doesn’t frequent church street to see the calibre of drivers up there if that is the litmus of the industry……
i’m sorry but people are on here b!%@hing about how there isn’t enough taxis and your talking about limiting the number even more? how does that make sense?
As for the comment about the drivers on court street, go to Alaska Hall and tell them to thank DR. Brown for you.
I say there is to much traffic on the roads now. But may I have one please would love to run around in one of these. I bet they would cost a fortune. How fast do they go.
I would like to add something. The reason my husband and I travel to Bermuda every 6 months is because of you all. We come because we love the people. All we ask is to make it possible for us to travel where we want to go but we are so limited during the winter times we are normally stuck in Hamilton. We love to go to Rotisserie Grill to eat, we love to roam and meet people. We aren’t beach people but we hang out with the locals. We love to grocery shop at the Market Place. I just want to be able to go into Bermuda instead of being stuck on the outskirts of Bermuda. We are going to Be in Bermuda for 7 days on August 29th…sooooo excited. But taxi driver friend won’t be able to pick us up from airport due to their vacation so we are having to find other ways to Hamilton..so please consider outsiders like us for driving. Heck if you need rides I pick you up
Have a Blessed Day
Buses go by Rotisserie grill often. Bus stop is very close too. That’s a nice bus ride there and back to Hamilton.