Bermuda's traffic problem is simply diagnosed. There are too many vehicles and not enough space.

Finding the right cure is more complicated.

More roads could be built or existing roads could be widened or they could have more lanes added, although there is little or no land for such a project.

Laws could be passed to reduce the ownership rights for car and truck ownership, although it would be politically difficult at best and politically suicidal at worst.

So the community is, essentially, left with better use of public transport, and Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown deserves credit to that end for his proposal for free passes for new residents for their first three months on the Island. Dr. Brown may have had no choice in the matter. Since it now takes months to get an appointment for a driving test at the Transport Control Department, his Ministry is obliged to do something.

But the move is in the right spirit, and if it does something to reduce the increase in the number of vehicles on the road, at least temporarily, then it is well worth it.

It has been argued that it will hurt the taxi industry, which already has its own problems with Dr. Brown. But people who are likely to use the buses and ferries regularly - for getting to work and back every day - are unlikely to be able to afford to use taxis to the same extent.

And new residents, especially those who were living in big cities before, are quite accustomed to using public transport anyway, so this is a good market for the Minister to target.

The greater challenge with public transport is to ensure that it runs frequently enough and widely enough to be useful to those who depend upon it. Some progress has been made in this direction. The mini bus routes being tendered make transport around neighbourhoods easier, while the new fast ferry stop at Rockaway will give greater access and parking to the ferry system.

But more needs to be done if people are going to use public transport more frequently.

Dr. Brown could consider targeting other groups for lower fare offers and more efficient forms of public transport. Express buses from Somerset and St. George's to Hamilton might be one approach which could also speed up rush hours.