BTOA To Hold ‘Emergency Meetings’
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association will hold meetings on July 23 and 24 over concerns about the “pending introduction of Ride-Share services using unregulated private vehicles.”
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association [BTOA] will be hosting two Emergency Meetings on 23 and 24 July 2025 to directly address growing concerns over the government’s pending introduction of Ride-Share services using unregulated private vehicles.
“The first meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, 23 July at 7:00 PM at Christ Church, Devonshire, will be open to all Public Service Vehicle [PSV] owners, both members and non-members. This meeting will serve as a platform for industry-wide feedback on how these proposals may affect livelihoods, safety standards, and service quality in Bermuda’s transportation sector.
“The second meeting, taking place on Wednesday, 24 July at 7:00 PM, will be a Members-Only BTOA Meeting, where internal strategies and actions will be finalized in response to the concerns raised by the wider industry.
“Both meetings aim to gather input that will inform BTOA’s official advocacy strategy and actions moving forward.
“We are calling on all PSV owners and BTOA members to stand together, speak up, and help shape the response to legislation that could alter Bermuda’s transport landscape.
“The BTOA reaffirms its commitment to representing the interests of Bermuda’s professional taxi and PSV industry through consultation, action, and collaboration.”
Has anyone considered that a typical motorcar insurance policy in Bermuda excludes the use of the vehicle for commercial purposes?
Getting in a ride share vehicle in Bermuda will be like getting into a “gypsy cab”. There will be no insurance if something goes wrong.
This is very true but is not considered by people desperate for transportation when taxis are so totally unrekiable. It is not a question of if a serious crash involving a gypsy cab is going to happen but when a crash involving a gy[sy cab is going to happen and the insurance company says NO, not covering that. The vehicle is being used commercially.
The same thing is happening on the water with people chartering unlicensed and uninsured for commercial use boats skippered by unlicensed pilots. Someday there will be an accident, possibly a loss of life, and the insurance will not touch it.
You can sue the gypsy cab or boat owner all you want. Their assets won’t cover the loss.
” taxis are so totally unrekiable”
I do not find taxis unreliable. I take a taxi at least once a week and they come to collect me when requested.
they have brought it upon themselves with high price, lousy service, and complete disregard for the public no matter how you slice the loaf they did it to themselves now they will belly ache
I arrived on Thursday’s Miami flight, no cabs. Disgraceful. Line of tourists at least twenty carloads long, not a cab in sight. Come on…it’s not like the Miami flight is some sort of surprise that they didn’t anticipate. Very poor optic for our arriving tourists, poor service for us all. I’ve zero sympathy for the cabs, not sorry. It cost upwards of 20 bucks to get into SG, too. Other industries get far less protection and support, and still this is the standard that persists.
You have not lived unless you have taken a gypsy cab in Bermuda, where only 3 of the 4 cylinders seem to be working, and the car struggles to go up a hill with a slight incline.
Every meeting that the BTOA has is an emergency meeting. Seems like they can’t accomplish anything in regular meetings.
Nothing much comes out of emergency meetings either since month after month, year after year, the service remains the same. Very very bad.
Based on the Gov proposal:
1. Proof of insurance for this service is required to apply for a license.
2. A ride-share can only be hailed via a service (App) and the ride-sharw will only be contacted if a Taxi doesn’t respond.
For my own clarity, what is the genesis of the complaints from the taxi owners? Based on #2, a ride-share cannot be used unless a taxi doesn’t take the job.
“Based on the Gov proposal:”
You identified the problem right there (and in your moniker).