The Taxi Operators Association asks for evidence that supports market expansion rather than improving current operations
Media release from the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA):
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA) has reviewed the Minister of Transport’s statement on the proposed Motor Car (Ridesharing) Amendment Act 2026 and is compelled to address the continued absence of data, consultation, and policy accountability underpinning this legislation.
The Minister asserts that this proposal is grounded in evidence and consultation. However, the statement relies heavily on historical perception-based data while failing to present any current, transparent economic or operational analysis specific to the introduction of rideshare into Bermuda’s regulated Public Service Vehicle (PSV) market.
The same data cited confirms that taxis continue to service the overwhelming majority of visitors, approximately 87% annually, while overall visitor satisfaction remains high. This raises a fundamental question: where is the evidence that structural market expansion is required, rather than operational improvement of the existing system?
The BTOA further notes that this is not a new issue. The introduction of rideshare has been pursued across successive Transport Ministers, including under the tenure of former Minister Wayne Furbert.
Since 2024, the Association has:
Publicly stated its opposition to rideshare without consultation and economic analysis; Submitted the “Connecting Bermuda, Driving Progress” Transport plan outlining industry-led modernization and digital dispatch solutions;
Engaged stakeholders across tourism, hospitality, and transport sectors;
Requested operational data, enforcement strategies, and policy clarity from the Ministry, the Public Service Vehicles Licensing Board (PSVLB), and the Transport Control Department (TCD).
These efforts have been documented through formal submissions and public commentary. To date, no structured response, consultation process, or data disclosure has been provided by the Ministry under either the current Minister or his predecessor. This is not a matter of disagreement. It is a sustained absence of engagement.
The Minister’s statement references a “transportation gap,” yet provides no operational data on:
∙ Actual unmet demand;
∙ Taxi utilisation rates;
∙ Trip acceptance or completion rates;
∙ Geographic service distribution.
Without this data, the justification for introducing a new transport service category remains unsubstantiated.
Equally concerning is the reliance on the 2019 Transport Green Paper. While the Green Paper identified systemic challenges, the majority of its recommended reforms, particularly those related to enforcement, data collection, and operational management, remain unimplemented. To now advance new legislation without addressing these foundational issues reflects a continuation of policy without delivery.
The BTOA also rejects any attempt to portray Bermuda’s transport challenges in simplified or selective terms. The data cited by the Minister reflects input from visitors, residents, and business stakeholders collectively, indicating system-wide operational inefficiencies rather than a demographic or class-based issue.
At its core, this issue reflects a broader governance concern. For over two decades, and across successive administrations, the transport system has faced:
∙ Limited enforcement of existing laws;
∙ Absence of reliable operational data;
∙ Inconsistent policy implementation;
∙ Lack of sustained industry engagement.
The introduction of rideshare does not resolve these issues. It risks compounding them. Expanding supply within a finite, capacity-constrained island economy without first addressing structural inefficiencies will not improve outcomes; it will dilute them.
The BTOA remains committed to modernization and has demonstrated this through industry-led initiatives and investment in digital dispatch solutions. However, modernization requires discipline: data before policy, consultation before implementation, and enforcement before expansion.
The Association also notes that formal submissions made in late 2025, as well as recent correspondence entered into the official record of the House of Assembly, remain unanswered. We therefore ask: on what basis is this legislation being advanced in the absence of engagement with the very industry it directly regulates?
The BTOA will await the full publication of the draft legislation and will take all appropriate steps to ensure that its implementation complies with statutory authority, procedural fairness, and economic responsibility.
