House passes contentious ride-share legislation
Legislation designed to open the door to a ride-sharing service was passed by MPs despite calls from members of the Opposition to put it on hold.
Government legislators highlighted the importance of the Motor Car (Ride-sharing) Amendment Act 2026 to help fill a gap in the transportation sector.
However, members of the One Bermuda Alliance argued that accountability and enforcement issues needed to be addressed before the Bill could be passed.
Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, told the House of Assembly on Friday: “I think everyone is in agreement that transportation availability in this country is a problem.”
He said data provided by the Transport Control Department indicated fluctuations around taxi availability throughout the week.
The House heard that the average waiting time for a taxi in 2025 was 37 minutes.
Mr Darrell said that the “most shocking” statistic recorded by the TCD last year was that there were 82,284 unanswered requests for taxis.
He shot down criticism from the Opposition about a lack of enforcement within the taxi industry.
“Enforcement is happening and it will continue to happen,” the minister said.
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association has said that there had been a lack of comprehensive consultation on the matter. It claimed that there was insufficient data and policy accountability underpinning the legislation.
Mr Darrell told MPs that he had met an “extensive list” of interested parties, including those in the tourism industry.
“The issue here is that there are more stakeholders than just one particular organisation,” he added.
Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, Culture and Transport, said the issue hinged on “people’s livelihoods in Bermuda”.
“This is a mix of livelihoods and convenience and as leaders we have to consider that,” he added.
Mr Robinson added: “As we know in smaller jurisdictions ride-share usually leads to — or any UberX app — usually leads to the decimation of the taxi industry.”
He claimed that the island’s taxi drivers were not consulted on the legislation which he said did not address “systemic issues in the system”.
David Burt, the Premier, said the ride-share legislation would augment the taxi industry by providing additional lift during peak times.
He said the move could not be compared to the United States ride-sharing company Uber, which he said was unregulated.
The Premier said that as a tourism destination “we cannot be a place where people cannot get from A to B”.
He told the House that in 2015 he decided to start the ride-hailing business Hitch — in which he is a shareholder — after he was stranded while on a trip around the island.
“This is the reality,” he said of his experience. “The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
Ben Smith, the Leader of the Opposition, said there was a lack of information on enforcement within the taxi service industry.
He said while there were many taxi drivers who worked “to be the ambassadors” of the island’s tourism sector, there were issues, such as punctuality, which affected transportation services.
Mr Smith told MPs: “We have to fix the problem. We can’t duck it … the issue is accountability within the industry.”
The Motor Car (Ride-sharing) Amendment Act 2026 was drafted to provide for the introduction and operation of “a ride-sharing service network to augment the public transportation system, to improve accessibility to all locations and reduce passenger wait times”.
A ride-sharing service, the legislation stated, means the transporting of a passenger by a ride-sharing operator using a ride-sharing vehicle from an arranged collection point to an arranged drop-off point.
The operator accepts a request from a customer through a despatching service and the service ends “when the last passenger of each journey exits the ride-sharing vehicle”.
A ride-sharing operator would be someone granted a licence to operate a public service vehicle, who provides a ride-sharing service using a ride-sharing vehicle.
In turn, a ride-sharing vehicle would be a private motor vehicle approved by the Public Service Vehicles Licensing Board for use by a ride-sharing operator, when that operator is connected to a digital network and providing a ride-sharing service.
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association said earlier that ride-sharing involves multiple people using the same vehicle to travel along a shared general route.
Ride-hailing, it added, was the use of apps such as Uber or Lyft to connect with private vehicles for hire.
The BTOA said that ride-sharing was unpredictable and lacked privacy.
It highlighted the benefits of taxi services, which are licensed by governments, and are legally required to have passenger liability insurance and regulated pricing.
Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, said the taxi sector was “notoriously difficult to deal with”.
He added that while he had no issue with ride-share, “there are so many things that have been identified first that we should try with all haste before we take that next step”.
Mr Fahy said that in every jurisdiction where the transport model was introduced, it had “decimated the taxi industry”.
He told the House that the legislation brought a “fundamental change” to the island’s transportation sector.
“We have lots of stories of how taxi drivers have put their family through college,” he said. “These are business people, people who have invested.”
He recalled recommendations of the 2019 Transport Green Paper, which he said could have been considered before the introduction of the ride-share legislation.
The shadow minister recommended that legislators should take six months to address challenges affecting the taxi industry before the legislation was implemented.
The Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bermuda Hotel Association, Skyport and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce released a joint statement welcoming schemes that help to make sure “Bermuda delivers a seamless and enjoyable on-island experience”.
They said: “Reliable ground transportation is a vital part of that experience and user feedback has consistently highlighted transportation availability — particularly during peak periods and late evenings — as an area where improvements would enhance satisfaction.
“Expanding transportation options through thoughtful innovation reflects the National Tourism Plan’s commitment to reducing friction in the travel experience to support Bermuda’s tourism economy.
“At the same time, we recognise and value Bermuda’s taxi drivers as frontline ambassadors for our island.
“Visitors consistently rate their interactions with taxi operators very highly, and their professionalism, knowledge and hospitality are an important part of the Bermuda experience.
“We support efforts that enhance overall transportation availability for residents, businesses and visitors alike, whilst maintaining the important role that taxis play within Bermuda’s transportation network.”
Zane DeSilva, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities, said as a former tourism and transport minister, he supported the taxi industry.
He said that the 2019 Green Paper outlined problems and possible solutions but “does not set a policy” and instead acted as an invitation for feedback.
Mr DeSilva pointed out that there had been many complaints from tourists about a shortage of taxis and that there was room for improvement within the sector.
“This change in legislation will not take away the livelihood of taxi drivers,” he stressed.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said the legislation provides an option for people with disabilities, such as wheelchair users.
Ms Furbert said it was important to have a reliable transportation service and that in other jurisdictions, “transportation is not a problem because of access”.
None of the MPs voted against the Bill, which was passed.
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