Bermuda's roads are small enough already, and now with changes for taxi drivers to the Motor Car Act, they may begin to seem even smaller.

In the House of Assembly on Friday, Opposition United Bermuda Party members brought up concerns about what may occur if taxi drivers were allowed to increase the size of their vehicles to 210 inches long and 77 inches wide. The extra size would boost the size of cars by ten inches in length and two inches in width. Limits to engine capacity would also be eliminated.

The increase in size would mean that taxi drivers would be able to bring in luxury vehicles to make visitors to the Island more comfortable, said Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

Shadow Transport Minister Trevor Moniz said pedestrian safety should be taken into account and that with so many Island roads flanked by poorly constructed sidewalks - or no sidewalks at all - there may be larger safety concerns for pedestrians, which had not been taken into consideration.

Dr. Brown said the need for better sidewalks was important, but noted that the Island's buses were much larger than the new vehicles to be brought to the Island.

"It's tough for pedestrians and cyclists as it is because vehicles on the street already go to fast," Walking Club president Laura Gorham said. "People just have to be more careful," she added.