The aggressive and widespread marketing of Government bus coupons at the Airport, on cruise ships and in hotels has provoked the ire of the taxi industry.

One driver claimed some stores were even offering free coupons with purchases.

Hotels were compounding the problem by promoting buses over taxis to visitors as the cheaper alternative, he said.

Taxi drivers on Front Street this week complained that direct competition from Government buses and ferries meant drivers were being forced to work longer and longer hours to make ends meet.

"It is a serious problem,'' said one Bermuda Taxi Federation executive member. "We're tired of being kicked around.'' At a meeting of the Bermuda Taxi Federation on Thursday night, more than 100 people in the taxi industry came out to voice their grievances.

BTF president Mr. Wendell Tucker called the meeting a "very serious'' one.

Discussions focused on the widespread sale of bus tokens, new licence applications for new mini buses, the ferry service between Dockyard and St.

George's and rising operating costs.

While Mr. Tucker refused to disclose the outcome of the meeting, preferring to use "quiet diplomacy'', he said that talks had been scheduled with various Government agencies to hammer out solutions to drivers' concerns.

BTF executive members would also be canvassing taxi drivers on Front Street and at the hotels for their views, he said.

The BTF is also behind a series of petitions protesting the licensing of new mini bus licence applications.

The widespread sale of bus coupons was another major concern to the taxi industry, he said.

"They are being sold all over the place. Visitors are being given the false impression that they are getting a good bargain but in fact they are paying more. It is direct competition with the taxi industry.'' That opinion was echoed on the street where drivers complained hotels were dispelling the impression that taxis were too expensive.

While a party of six paid $4 each for a bus ride from Horseshoe Bay to Hamilton, a cab fare was just $13, less than half the price, one driver claimed.

He also claimed increased competition from Government, with sightseeing buses, chartered buses transporting visitors directly from hotels to the Airport and the ferry between St. George's and Dockyard ferry, was hurting taxi drivers.

"It costs us,'' he said. "It is upsetting.'' And the sale of coupons on board cruise ships meant disembarking passengers bypassed taxi ranks and headed straight for the buses.

"When people get off the ships they just wait for the bus...it's just another knock on the head for us.'' "We've been mugged by the Government. We're controlled,'' said a 30-year veteran of the taxi business.

Taxi drivers, banned from soliciting rides, had to stand back and watch as Government laid on sightseeing services and distributed coupons, he said.

On the other hand, taxi drivers were limited in what they could do to drum up business.

And rising car maintenance costs twinned with increased competition meant he was forced to work 16 hours a day to make ends meet.

Others, Mr. Tucker said, spent up to 18 hours behind the wheel to reach their target income.