Lack of accessible public transportation in Bermuda has placed a strain on the only two mini-buses equipped to carry wheelchair-bound residents and visitors.

That, in turn, The Royal Gazette has learned, has placed a financial burden on those who need accessible transportation most.

Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association member Ms Clare Hatcher said insurance for the Association's bus alone cost $1,250 a year, while annual insurance for the Summerhaven bus was $1,500, maintenance was $1,300, and parts cost $1,500.

Summerhaven residents were responsible for maintaining the bus and scheduling of volunteer drivers.

And while they recently secured volunteer drivers for two full days, Ms Hatcher said, before this residents had to go into the city when the driver was going into work and remain there until the driver was ready to leave, which could be eight hours later.

She also noted that an increasing number of wheelchair-bound visitors were coming to Bermuda on cruise ships which were completely accessible.

"So they find it very accessible to get here, but find they have real difficulties when they get here,'' Ms Hatcher said.

Visitors have already reserved the special buses up to May, she added.

Bookings were up by 30 percent over last year.

Other than the buses, there was only one taxi driver who had made his car accessible.

Summerhaven resident Mr. Willard Fox confirmed that the Summerhaven bus was under heavy demand. He noted the Summerhaven bus could accommodate four electric wheelchairs and five people at one time, while the other bus could only take two wheelchairs and four people.

And he explained that the Summerhaven bus was the only one that could take electric wheelchairs because it had a "heavy-duty'' backlift.

"Electric wheelchairs are becoming popular in the US and Bermuda. And airlines are telling them (wheelchair-bound visitors) they can bring them here,'' Mr. Fox said.

"We have been very busy. Even during the off season, it (the Summerhaven bus) is definitely being used. It is on the road every weekend.'' The bus was also used to take wheelchair users to hospital in emergency cases.

Mr. Fox explained that he and other wheelchair users who have "upper body ability'' have often given up their space on the bus and taken a taxi so that other wheelchair users could ride on the bus.

This underscored the need to keep both buses on the road, Ms Hatcher said. And therefore the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association had organising two fund-raisers over the weekend.

The Spanish Point Boat Club had been chosen as the venue because of its accessibility, Ms Hatcher pointed out.

Last night there was a square dance and ceilidh, featuring music from Ireland, Scotland and the US.

And tonight there will be a concert featuring New York's "king of the strings'' Larry Seigel and violin virtuoso Paul Peabody.

Tickets -- available at the Music Box and Opus One on Reid Street or at the door -- will be $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children.

While the Association was hoping to raise as much money as possible for the buses, Ms Hatcher pointed out that the use of special buses for those in wheelchairs was a "band-aid approach'' to dealing with accessible transportation in Bermuda.

She said the Association's goal was to have accessible public transportation islandwide.

The Somerset ferry was accessible and there were plans to make the Warwick/Paget ferry suitable for wheelchair users, she noted.

But she added that nothing had yet come out of talk of a subsidy for accessible taxis.

"We have been discussing this with Government for a number of years,'' she said. "Government did agree that if anyone were to bring in an accessible taxi, they would not charge them duty.'' Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess said Government carefully reviewed the suggestion of accessible public transportation and concluded that accessible public buses was not "the best route'' to take.

"We believe that the physically challenged are better served by transportation that will take them from point to point,'' he said, adding that regular buses would not take wheelchair-bound passengers to their exact destination.

"They would still have to get off the bus and travel some distance to their destination,'' he said.

Mr. Burgess also noted that Government was encouraged by at least two people interested in bringing in accessible private vehicles.

However, Mr. Fox did not share his views.

Asked about the need for accessible public transportation, he said: "I wish it was yesterday. Taxis don't work that much during the winter and it is very cold waiting for a taxi.'' ACCESSIBLE BUS -- Volunteer driver Mr. Andre Musenden helps Summerhaven resident Mr. Jerry Fough to board the Summerhaven bus which is the only bus on the island equipped to carry four electric wheelchairs and five people at one time.