Minister & Stakeholders Meet Over Quadricycles
The Minister of Tourism, Transport & Municipalities Michael Fahy announced today that he has met with a number of stakeholders in respect of proposed amendments to the Motor Car Act to allow for the rental of quadricycles in Bermuda.
“Stakeholders included the Bermuda Taxi Owners & Operators, the two minibus associations and the taxi dispatch companies,” a spokesperson said.
“Road safety concerns included increased congestion and the effect on stakeholders’ business. It was agreed that the amended bill would make it clear that it is in respect of quadricycle rentals only.
The Renault Twizy, which has previously been mentioned as one of the models under consideration:
The Minister said, “I am pleased with the suggestions made by the various stakeholders and I undertook to make a number of changes to give comfort to the industry about the intent of Government, and that is to allow for rental of quadricycle vehicles in Bermuda – not regular cars.
“I reiterated that there is no intent of any kind to allow for a full rental vehicle market in Bermuda. The bill, as tabled, restricts the size of such vehicles to be allowed on the road. We shall also be tabling regulations in relation to the cycle and quadricyle liveries and other road safety matters.”
“The government is committed to enhancing the products available to our visitors and it is anticipated that the use of such vehicles will have a minimal impact on our industry partners.
“There are a number of other items that need to be addressed with respect to transport and I look forward to continuing discussions with industry partners to resolve standing issues. The amended bill will be tabled in the November session.”
You notice they put the iron hand (minus the velvet)where they intend to stir the pot and he loves every minute of it.Back in the day he would have been known as your typical hatchet man…….don’t sue me
Could somebody tell us what these thngs have to do with taxis & minibuses? If anyone they ave much to do with the cycle rental companys. These 150cc things are a waste on our hilly terrain but carry on.
The tourists that are afraid to get on bikes normally would use taxis, minibuses or the public transport. Has the Minister put a limit to the amount of these vehicles? If the answer is no, then it would be unfair because there is a limit to the amount of taxis and minibuses.
So people should have a limit on something becasue it is safer? Logic makes no sense.
I looked for a taxi on Front Street at 6.00pm last Friday. None there.
So would u find one of these on Front Strert at 6pm?
I don’t think so, so that’s not a fair comment from you.
I hope you weren’t driving…have another drink Paul.
The point, for the slow-witted, appears to be that taxis do not give a good service.
Try not wearing beer goggles.
Ever tried stopping a taxi in Bermuda when you are slightly darker than white? if you have ? then I know you, know
Helen Waite very well . because as a local taxis rarely stop ! so thumbs up for the rentals ! and for those that travel with an elderly parent or disabled companion Bermuda will now be an option!!!!!!!
that’s not fair. I’m as pale as they get and I can never get a taxi either! The taxis are terrible period, don’t make it into a race thing.
Honestly? How many times has this happened to you or people you know? I’m really surprised and would encourage you to provide details to the Taxi Association so that the matter can be fully followed-up.
What do these things have to do with race?
Racist taxi drivers or taxi drivers who profile potential customers is another matter.
And tourists with young families need hire cars. Or they will go elsewhere.
They may do ok on our roads. Im not sold on them being able to suitably handle hills, theyre like heavier bikes.
I think taxis and minibuses have a small issue here that they have blown out of proportion. Maybe more people will use the “twizzies” more than rental cycles and that will negatively impact their profits substantially.
I think this is a good idea once we work out logistics where we can park them and how many also will bermudians be able to rent.
I never agree with fahy but i can see this is a good idea
Import Tata Nanos! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Nano
$2k a piece.
Tri/triangle let it go.
Your not involved.
“Stakeholders”.
Shalom.
Everyone who drives Bermuda roads is involved. My interest is the visitors interest. They want to be able to rent cars. Real cars. Just like they are able anywhere in the world.
Only real hire cars will do. And there really don’t need to be that many.
Can’t wait to hear the proposed daily rental rates for these “quadricycles” will be, the first cost is from $7000 to over 10 with options, a scooter costs like $600 wholesale and they rent for more than a Mustang costs stateside. Enterprise is having a $9.99 per day deal on small, actual cars. Are they still proposing that tourists need to have a Bermuda license?
Not your concern
Oh excuse me, who died and left you in charge? You sound like one of the friends and family why not just answer the questions?
Should someone feel the need to consult you in order to launch a product or business in Bermuda. The answer is NO! So as I said, any private venture that does not directly involve you is not your concern.
Then why is it on the news, clown? I will decide what is my concern and what isn’t.
Why is it on the news? Obviously so they can pander to your need to have questions answered. Maybe you should send the quad cycle livery your contact details, they could use your advanced financial analysis and business acumen on how to run an electric quad cycle livery.
Precisely! It wouldn’t be cheap but my first suggestion would be for them to fire or cut ties with you and double down on PR.
Why do you care? Are you concerned the people who rent them out might lose money?
Had they hired me to peruse their business plan/price point I might have, one concern is visitors options being limited to high priced 15hp mini cars only and requiring local licenses. When I see three commenters try to tell people to stop asking questions about a news story know I hit a nerve.
where is it stated local licenses are required, did you read the comments on the draft legislation?
They announced it previously, try keeping up, they may have changed their minds when Massachusetts decided to stop recognizing our 20mph license in their state a few days later. lol.
An idiot can ask more questions than a genius can answer.
Go back to your cave.
Don’t be comparing prices with major cities where the big car rentals are. Try Block Island, which calls itself “The Bermuda of the North”, where a 24 hour car rental can be $300.
Who knows what these silly bikes with 4 wheels are going to be!!
I’m sure that the price is part of their “business plan” so they know what it is.
And opposition by special interests groups to such a move is exactly why our cousins down south do so much better when in the tourism field.
Last month I had friends come to bermuda and rent a local house for their stay in st. George’s.
On one if the days they wanted to get to Clearwater and called for a taxi. They were told the wait would be over an hour.
They caught the bus to number one gate and luckily a local gave them a ride in their own personal vehicle.
When they wanted to head back to their accomodation they texted me and asked me to call for a taxi. So I did and was told about half an hour. I let them know and they said they would hang around and wait.
I called them after I knocked off to see how they made out. They told me that the taxi never showed and had to walk back to their rental across the bridge.
These weren’t young individuals either. Needless to say they were not impressed one bit.
So I have a hard time feeling too bad for taxi drivers when so many, not all provide such bad service.
Maybe a little competition will force them to up their game.
This ^^^
Taxis are their own worst enemy. Who has any sympathy for them when they simply won’t step up their game & provide the service the customer wants?
Here here, and heck, another here.
Market competition is what will drive the taxi drivers to do better. Nobody is entitled to anything – get your asses into gear and provide better service, frequent user stamp cards etc to BECOME the better option.
Free market!
Stupid idea, more congestion
Is Bermuda in the tourism business or not? About time Bermudians started to think more of what their customers want & less of their own selfish wants.
Agreed. tourism is a stupid idea…more congestion. Small minded approach.
There is still a one car limit allowed by households will this limit be changed and also I have difficulty finding parking now at horseshoe beach Hamilton St George and dockyard how would the parking issue be addressed
Preferred, & plenty of it, parking should be designated for the smaller vehicles.
Dunno, parking at horseshoe is not all that great and then town and dockyard don’t have all that much parking to begin with.
Taxi drivers don’t own the tourism industry. They are holding it hostage and are thwarting progress and the Bermuda tourism product. It is partially why it is stagnant.
Get out of the way and let competition reign. Not everyone will use these vehicles. There will still be a market for you.
Stop blocking/hindering what is otherwise normal in other islands that compete with us.
Sheesh.
So where are they going to park these ” quads ” it’s hard to find bike parking in Hamilton let alone car parking. Are they Going to pay an inflated 81$ to park in Hamilton for the day or just park in the air? Yes park in the air
I like the idea; not all tourists/visitors are comfortable on two wheels, but still wish to be able to travel independently. However, I presume that appropriate trials will be carried out to see which vehicle (if any) will be suitable for our road system, and I await developments.
Why not just rent class A cars. Much better idea than these silly quadrathings.
Clearly the specifications of this quadricycle puts it outside of a regular car, even a class A car. So why did the Government call it a rental car in the legislation in the first place? This is the type of bizarre and misguided communications that gets this government into trouble.
So when can the public buy them?
Now there is another possibility to reduce traffic congestion. Not long ago a previous Minister overuled TCD & allowed “almost legal” larger cars. The island now swarms with these largest class cars. Are the people who drive these things bigger than the rest of us who drive the smaller class cars?
Maybe the G & H class cars should be phased out. Maybe to encourage people to drive more size appropriate vehicles for the Island dropping the single vehicle per houshold rule & permitting two per household with the catch being that BOTH must be class A or smaller.
“THE THING” is death trap.
Our visitors own much larger vehicles and are better drivers than we have here, our visitors are far from incompetent as you would have us believe, stop treating people like children.
Give our repeat visitors a Bermuda driving license based on their own Driving license.
If you are going to rent cars to visitors rent them proper class “A” vehicles or better, at least those have 4 seats and a degree of protection and many auto dealers can participate in the bonanza.
It is Called share the wealth and jobs with all existing Dealers and Garages
Bermudians can rent BMW’s and what ever in the USA. in Europe visitors can rent a Porsche .
Don’t insult another man intelligence with a Sardine can.
The way some people drive here its a wonder they would rent vehicle to us.
Bermudian can not get an International Driving License here, Why not ?
Why are new ideas ALWAYS met with negativity on this Island? ALWAYS!
This island has a negative approach to virtually every thing from the top down, you would not want me to tell you why !
You get told NO! for virtually everything, We are not free, we are under control.
We are the Island of NO and TAXES !
Go figure !