Figures for ridesharing show a marked increase in uptake — with no complaints submitted from the public about the new service.

The update provided at the House of Assembly by Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, also revealed a rise in numbers of applications.

Bermuda’s ridesharing programme was launched on June 10 in a bid to boost transportation options and modernisation.

Mr Darrell told the House that results have been “positive” and added that they indicate “the introduction of regulated ridesharing is achieving its intended purpose.”

He stated: “When this Government introduced regulated ridesharing, we did so with a clear principle in mind: taxi first, ridesharing when needed.

“The policy was designed not to displace Bermuda's taxi operators, but to complement their service by addressing transportation gaps during peak periods.

“By providing additional capacity when it is most needed, we are helping to ensure that both residents and visitors have reliable access to transportation, particularly during evenings, weekends, public holidays, major events and other times when residents and visitors may experience difficulty.

“Between June 10 and July 15, Bermuda's ridesharing programme recorded 1,466 rides, averaging approximately 41 rides per day during its first five weeks of operation.

“Early adoption was strong, with 220 rides completed during the programme's first six days. By July 15, cumulative ridership had risen to 1,466 rides, demonstrating sustained growth and increasing public uptake.

“The highest single-day total was recorded on July 11, when 105 rides were completed.

“Interest in the programme also continues to grow. To date, approximately 100 applications have been submitted for participation in Bermuda's ridesharing programme.

“Approximately 30 applicants have been approved, with the remaining applications continuing to move through the required review and processing stages.

“While the ministry is working to process applications efficiently, it is also important that this is done properly. Each application must be reviewed against the established requirements, including Bermuda Police Service vetting, PSV licensing, vehicle inspection, insurance and other safety and operational standards.

“This due diligence is essential to protect passengers, support public confidence and ensure the programme expands responsibly.”

He added: “The location data indicates ridesharing activity across Bermuda, including hotels, restaurants, beaches, residential neighbourhoods, Hamilton, Dockyard, St George's, the airport, medical facilities, shopping areas and community locations.”

He added: “At least 268 rides involved identifiable hotels, resorts, guest properties or visitor accommodations. This demonstrates that the programme is already contributing to Bermuda's tourism product and helping to improve the visitor experience.

“While the tourism benefits are evident, the data also highlights the value of ridesharing for Bermuda residents.

“Importantly, ridesharing is also supporting Bermuda's taxi industry.

“Since launch, ridesharing has completed more than 1,000 passenger movements. These are rides that may otherwise have placed additional pressure on the existing taxi network during busy periods, evenings, weekends, events and high-demand visitor days.”

Opposition MP Craig Cannonier asked if any formal complaints had come in on the service. Mr Darrell told the House that none had been received thus far by the Public Vehicle Licensing Board.