A limit is to be put on the number of cars in Bermuda as part of a wide-ranging plan to reduce congestion on the Island's roads.

How that will work in practice is expected to be revealed within the next few weeks. A curb on vehicles is only one plank in a broad initiative to find better ways for Bermuda's population to get around.

Residents should look out for more buses and minibuses, car-pooling schemes, more water taxi ferries and sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly routes to encourage people to get out and about without relying on cars or motorcycles.

Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown did not elaborate on how Government intends to limit the increase in cars on the Island, but said specific measures have been in the works for a number of months and would be revealed within the coming few weeks.

He said the basis of the new schemes are to found in the de-congestion ideas outlined in the 2002 National Transportation Management Plan.

Dr. Brown was asked if there would be a congestion charge similar to central London, or a limit of car usage?

"You can image it will be interesting. It will be a mixture of policy and legislation.

"I think Bermudians have finally agreed with what we said five years ago ? that there were too many vehicles on the road. Now we are hearing it back from the citizenry," he replied.

PLP backbencher George Scott backed Government's car crackdown.

"I don't have a car, I ride a bike so I welcome this."

He said the idea of water taxis was a good one ? but they had to be accessible.

As a result, Mr. Scott said the possibility of opening up tribe roads leading to the ocean, some of which were overgrown, had been floated.