Residents will have “greater flexibility” for transportation options with the Government’s extension of the ridesharing scheme, which will run 24/7 from this month through December 31.

Owen Darrell, the transport minister, insisted that taxis will continue to receive priority for service requests, with ridesharing providing an additional option when taxis are unavailable.

A government spokeswoman said that since the launch of the service in June, rideshare operators have completed 5,729 trips, with 45 drivers registered on the platform.

“This early success reflects the programme’s growing contribution to Bermuda’s transportation network and its role in providing additional capacity for residents and visitors,” she added.

“The continued uptake of the service has helped inform the Government’s decision to amend ridesharing operating hours to 24 hours a day from November 1 to December 31, 2026.

“The extension will provide greater transportation flexibility during the busy festive season while maintaining Bermuda’s established taxi-first framework.”

Mr Darrell said: “As Bermuda prepares for the festive season, we want to ensure that residents and visitors have access to safe and reliable transportation, particularly during evenings and periods of increased demand.

“This extension is a practical measure to provide greater flexibility during one of the busiest times of the year.

“Our commitment to Bermuda’s taxi industry remains unchanged.

“Taxis continue to receive priority for ride requests, with ridesharing providing an additional option when taxis are unavailable.

“Ultimately, our priority is to ensure that everyone can travel safely and conveniently, whether attending a Christmas function, enjoying an evening out or travelling across the island.”

The Motor Car (Ridesharing) Regulations 2026 authorises ridesharing services to operate on Mondays through Fridays from 10pm until 6am and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays at all times between the October 1 of each year and March 31 the following year.

However, the spokeswoman said that the change of the scheme’s operation times, via the Motor Car (Ridesharing) Amendment Regulations 2026, provides residents and visitors with additional transportation options during a period traditionally associated with increased tourism activity, corporate and social functions, celebrations and evening entertainment.

Under the rideshare framework, ride requests made through approved dispatching applications are offered to licensed taxi operators first.

Only when a request has not been accepted within 60 seconds is it made available to ridesharing operators.

The operation ensures that taxis continue to receive priority, with the rideshare scheme providing additional capacity when needed.

The spokeswoman said that the Government recognises the importance of road safety during the festive season, particularly given the increased number of social gatherings where alcohol may be consumed.

As such, she said greater access to transportation options can help encourage responsible decisions and reduce the risks associated with impaired driving.

Individuals interested in participating in the ridesharing programme must have a public service vehicle licence and may apply online for a rideshare operator permit through to March 31, 2027.

Permits issued during this period will be eligible for renewal from April 1, 2027.

In order to reflect the interim permit period, both the permit fee and payroll tax will be prorated through to March 31, 2027.

Before legislators passed a law to introduce ridesharing, the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association claimed there had been a lack of comprehensive consultation on the matter.

It said that there was insufficient data and policy accountability underpinning the Act.

Mr Darrell told the House of Assembly in March that data provided by the Transport Control Department indicated fluctuations around taxi availability throughout the week.

MPs heard that the average waiting time for a taxi in 2025 was 37 minutes.

The minister said at the time that the “most shocking” statistic recorded by the TCD last year was that there were 82,284 unanswered requests for taxis.

Mr Darrell told the House then 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.