Ferry service petition receives close to 650 signatures
A member of a committee representing Hinson’s Island residents said the lack of a consistent ferry service is leaving people stranded.
Neil Henderson spoke on the importance of the Pink Route to the community after the Government reduced its service in July.
The transport ministry has said mechanical issues are “complex” and it will not compromise on safety.
Campaigners organised an online petition via change.org to restore the daily Pink Route service.
Mr Henderson has been encouraged by the response to the petition, which had garnered 648 signatures as of yesterday afternoon after opening on September 2.
Mr Henderson said: “Many residents are not physically able to operate their own boat. They don’t have the financial resources to own a boat and pay for the ancillary docking which would be required in Hamilton to substitute for the ferry service.
“For a number of residents, this is not feasible, meaning that at the moment they are stranded on Hinson’s on the weekends without a ferry service and have no transport options in the middle of the weekdays.”
The petition stated that reducing service on the route has created a “transportation gap that affects hundreds of Bermudians and visitors alike”.
The Pink Route was suspended at least four times this year before the Ministry of Transport reduced the schedule in July.
The petition added: “The absence of a daily ferry service particularly hinders those who rely on this mode of transport to commute for work, leisure and essential trips around the island.
“Commuters have been forced to seek costly alternatives, often resulting in increased traffic congestion and carbon emissions from road vehicles, an outcome contrary to our community’s values of sustainability and ecological preservation.”
It stated that restoring daily service is necessary “for economic stability and community wellbeing”.
Mr Henderson said: “At a minimum this should be restored to the service in operation prior to the suspension of weekend service in July.”
One commenter, Cara, wrote that a crash on Harbour Road that caused traffic delays last week was a “perfect example of why we need ferry service on this island”.
Carol Tee, who owns an Airbnb property near Belmont ferry, was “devastated” when she learnt the Pink Route had been cut, and said people of all ages use the service.
She told The Royal Gazette last month: “[The Department of Marine and Ports Services] didn’t seem to look out for us — they just say, ‘Oh, we’re cancelling it, and blow everybody else’. That’s terrible.”
Jan Quinn, the manager of a guesthouse, wrote in a Letter to the Editor last month that her customers “rely heavily” on the Pink Route and that reducing the service would have a knock-on effect in the area.
Ms Quinn stated: “Fewer visitors will want to come to this area, and the ones who do will not be going into town for the evening.
“They will stay in and not patronise the restaurants or bars; they will not be hiring a taxi to bring them back later.”
Victoria Cunningham, a One Bermuda Alliance senator and party spokeswoman for health, education, legal affairs and the Cabinet Office, stated in an opinion piece that the Pink Route is “an essential part of life for residents and a key aspect for Bermuda’s tourism product”.
Ms Cunningham added: “For many Bermudians, the ferry is not a luxury, but the most affordable and efficient commute.
“With weekend service gone, families face costly alternatives — taxis, rental scooters or multiple bus transfers.
“Workers spend more time and money, while businesses that rely on weekend visitors see foot traffic decline.”
A similar petition in 2022 received more than 500 signatures in 48 hours and 1,940 in total.
Passengers at the time called Lawrence Scott, then the Minister of Transport, “totally out of touch” and demanded that cuts to the route be reversed.
The ministry restored daily Pink Route service in February 2023.
There is no deadline for signing the new petition, which Mr Henderson hopes can attract as many signatures as the previous one.
A spokeswoman said the Ministry of Transport acknowledged the petition and the “strong public interest in maintaining consistent service for the Paget and Warwick communities”.
However, she highlighted that the service was reduced owing to safety concerns and that the ferries that operate along the route, Corona, Coralita and Georgia, “are 37 years old and well beyond their intended life span”.
The spokeswoman explained: “Mechanical issues have become more frequent and complex, and we will not compromise on safety.
“The current Pink Route schedule has proven both more sustainable and more reliable, with no cancellations since implementation.
“As a result, the existing commuter schedule will remain in place.
“At the same time, new ferry options are under review to help guide future replacement decisions.”
The ministry thanked commuters for their patience and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the disruption.
The spokeswoman concluded: “Our teams, including ferry crews, engineers and support staff, work diligently to maintain service integrity under challenging circumstances.
“Their commitment to public safety and service delivery deserves recognition.”
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