We recognise that if a rental goes well and people have a good time sightseeing safely, then mopeds can be an enjoyable part of a Bermuda vacation. However when rides go badly and people are injured, it can turn a vacation into a nightmare.

There was a time when the roads were less crowded and Bermudian drivers were more considerate and a moped ride could be a great way to sightsee with freedom at a cost which was very acceptable when compared to very pricey taxis. There were accidents then but we think they were less likely than they are under today's conditions.

We have to recognise that road rash, or worse, is not part of a happy honeymoon nor is it a good souvenir of a Bermuda holiday to take home and show to friends and relatives.

A great many locals now advise their visiting friends and relatives not to hire or to ride mopeds because they are well aware of the dangers. It may well be that as a Country we have to adopt that attitude.

One of the primary responsibilities of a quality resort is to look after the welfare of its visitors. We doubt Bermuda looks after those who are encouraged to rent mopeds because we know the dangers but the very fact that we take their money suggests that they are safe within reason. That is no longer true and we are surprised that more visitors do not sue for general endangerment.

After all, we encourage people who have little familiarity with motorised cycles to ride off on their wrong side of the road into our crazed traffic after very little training, often with a wobbly pillion passenger.

Bermuda should be taking a serious look at replacing the convenience of mopeds with other forms of transportation because visitors should be able to travel about Bermuda rather than being confined to their hotels or cruise ships.

We think Bermuda should be looking at courtesy buses from the hotels to Hamilton, Dockyard or St. George's so that visitors can enjoy what Bermuda offers. Small "visitor vehicles''could act like mini buses and take people where they want to go. If taxi drivers would be alarmed by this, then give them first choice to operate such transport. There is the real possibility of a jitney "train'' along South Shore Road from Harmony Club to Church Bay to allow visitors to access the beaches and the visitor facilities in the area.

The replacement possibilities are endless but we do very little to get them moving.