future. Instead, we think there are ongoing moves to relax rules and make changes which can only lead to increased congestion. There seems to be a lack of will, despite traffic discussions and traffic reports, to do anything very much about congestion. In fact, there is evidence in the embarrassing state of the pavements themselves that consideration of the roads has been virtually abandoned. We seem to have poured money into road widening which increases speeds and ignored the road bed itself.

Bermuda has two recent factors which will increase cars on the roads -- second hand cars and cuts in the early morning and evening West End ferry services.

It is only logical that locals will buy more cars if they are cheaper and can be traded in freely at a decent price rather than being exported or dumped and it is logical that people who should be encouraged to use the ferry will now have to use the roads to get to work. Ferry service should ideally be convenient and not a trial. We also think that people who are new arrivals on the Island will buy a second hand car instead of a cycle if they can buy a cheaper car that they have a chance of selling.

We see no real inclination to cope with the problems because there is a general selfish intent to have a car available wherever and whenever and Government is reluctant to anger car owners.

Therefore Bermuda must look at alternatives. We have to start by setting aside the lobby for cars and cycles to stay as they are, and look at more amenable alternatives.

Bermuda with its short distances is the ideal place to be considering electric cars. They need not be large or lavish because Bermudians do not drive long distances.

Some vacation towns in California are experimenting with golf carts, used slower than 25 mph, by both residents and visitors. There the carts can be operated for 25 to 50 cents per day and are fitted first with safety features, including headlights and safety belts.

Bermuda should be looking at ways to give visitors easy and inexpensive access to facilities which would increase their enjoyment. We should also be looking at small hotel operated buses to get visitors to and from the Airport, the beaches and Hamilton. The object should be the convenience and enjoyment of visitors. We should also be considering designated Government buses non-stop from cruise ships in Hamilton to St. George's for day trips with sightseeing as an incidental. Perhaps they should run to St. George's at 10 a.m. and back to the ship leaving St. George's at 4 p.m.

We also think that school buses should collect and deliver to the central schools from the East and West Ends rather than having the students walk to the Hamilton bus depot. We think that would be both better transportation and safer for the young people.

Bermuda should also be looking at removing higher cc cycles from the roads by considering cycles as transportation rather than as trophies. We should work on the ideal of efficiency of transportation with care for the Country. Much of what Bermuda allows today is excessive in size and in power for Bermuda's real needs yet we go on increasing the size.

We know that there are less people on the roads because there are less work permits and that will be used as an argument for the status quo but similar people will return as tourism recovers. We think that now is the time for decisions because if we wait we will only have more people with easy access to cars.