The Government has not provided “concrete answers” on the Transport Control Department’s ability to properly regulate potential ride-share drivers, an Opposition MP said.

Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, Culture and Transport, also urged the Government to consider input from the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association for improvements to the island’s transportation industry.

It came after Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, tabled the Motor Car (Ride-sharing) Amendment Act 2026, which he said was intended to expand transport options rather than replace taxis.

He told MPs that the scheme would “augment and complement” the taxi industry, noting that public transportation was the greatest concern for visitors.

The minister said the legislation sought to improve island-wide accessibility, reduce passenger waiting times and strengthen the reliability of Bermuda’s transportation network.

Mr Darrell said: “This is measured modernisation, not disruption.

“Bermuda must continue evolving its transportation framework to meet the expectations of today’s residents and today’s visitors.”

However, Mr Robinson said later that while the OBA was supportive of the modernisation of transport, “attempts to introduce a new wave of transportation without properly enforcing our current one is skipping over the real issue”.

He added: “The real problem is accountability and enforcement for our service providers and those meant to regulate them.

“The minister has not provided concrete answers on TCD’s ability to properly regulate the potential ride-share drivers or his plan to ensure that proper enforcement occurs.”

Mr Robinson said the island’s taxi industry — which has 600 taxis — was not operating at full capacity.

He asked: “How can we properly measure supply and demand without getting our current system to function optimally?

“How can the public have faith that the ride-share drivers will not fall into the same bad habits without seeing any regulations?”

He added: “This makes the ride-share legislation seem more like the easy way out by simply adding more cars into a system that is already poorly regulated.

“Or even worse, a strong-arming tactic towards taxi drivers, rather than an actual method to improve transportation in Bermuda.”

Mr Robinson said the OBA was open to the consideration of modernisation that improves the experience for customers and properly supports the service providers.

However, he said: “We do not support band-aid fixes but instead opt for systemic ones.”

The Opposition MP claimed that Mr Darrell did not address the concerns of the dispatch companies’ claims of illegal dispatching and unregulated dispatching services, which he said was another structural issue affecting the industry.

He added that while ride-share drivers will be required to operate through dispatching companies “we still have gypsy cabs, so ride-share will not be the magic pill”.

Mr Robinson said the Government is not short on funds and as such, “there is no reason TCD cannot see its traffic officer numbers and resources bolstered”.

He said he is aware of “some level of dissatisfaction” within the community with the taxi service industry.

However, he said: “There is a right and a wrong way to implement a new system.

“Accusations of refusing to meet with the primary service providers, the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, refusing input from them, and not responding to their requests to make improvements to their industry is the wrong way.

“The taxi industry services 87 per cent of our visitors, so let’s apply changes that affect the majority first.”

Last week, Mr Darrell said that taxis were the most widely used mode of transportation — employed by 87 per cent of visitors in 2025 — but “complete satisfaction” was measured at 50.1 per cent.

He added: “Visitors consistently report difficulty securing transportation outside Hamilton and major hotel zones, particularly during peak demand and cruise ship arrivals.

“Introducing ride-sharing provides complementary lift during high-demand periods and in underserved areas. It strengthens capacity without dismantling the existing taxi framework.”

The Government was contacted for comment but none was received by the time of publication.