The arrival of the first of the fast ferries in Bermuda on Friday may herald a new ear for public transport in Bermuda.

Quicker and more frequent trips from the West End, where rush hour traffic is at its worst, may well encourage more people to ise the ferries, especially if passengers opt to take the new Rockaway ferry.

Much depends on the availability of parking at the dock and the efficiency of local transport to get people from their neighbourhoods to and from the ferry dock.

The ability of the Marine and Ports Department to put on more trips later into the evening will also have an effect.

It would appear that people now are unwilling to taje the Somerset ferries because tey cannot be certain that they will be able to get home when they choose to. If many Hamilton workers are employed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., failing to put on ferries as late as 8 or 9 p.m. means that people who either work late or wish to stay in Hamilton for dinner or relaxation run the irsk of being stranded.

But if the ferries were run later, the prospect of going to and from work by a fast ferry is a more pleasant and safer prospect than battling traffic to get to the West End.

Government is discussing running mini-buses in the West End to bring people to and from the docks.

This newspaper understands that at one time, consideration was given to employing owners of the six-seater taxis on these routes instead. Given the economic difficultues that taxi drivers claim to be facing, it might be worth reincarnating this idea and using cabs during morning and evening rush hours for a set price.

Ultimately the customers will decide whether they wish to get out of their cars and to take the ferry instead.

Before making that decision, thyey should give the derries a chance. They may be Bermuda's last best chance to end the congestion that bedevils the Island during rush hours.