Beep Beep here comes a Pink Elephant
Mar 06 '01
The Bottom Line This is a beautiful island waiting to be discovered. Get on the bus or ferry, call a cab or jump on your moped because you don't want to miss out.
As my name implies, I was a Bermuda Bum for many years. Not only did I learn where to go in Bermuda but also the easiest ways to get around. I will let you in on all the ins and outs of different sections around Bermuda.
Having been a resident I was fortunate to be allowed a car as one of the means available to get from place to place. But being that the government restricts vehicle ownership to one car per family I often had to rely on the public transit system or moped.
Upon arriving to the island there are always ample taxis at the airport to take passengers to their hotels. Cab fare is not too expensive and many Taxi's are in fact slender mini vans and can accommodate as many as six passengers. Be aware that some cabs do charge extra for more than four passengers however. Before hailing a cab though call your hotel, most have shuttle services that will pick you up and drop you to the airport and $20 dollars saved on cab fare to Hamilton will almost pay for one days rental of a moped.
Most Taxi services are owner operators and they are great sources of information. In addition to taking you from place to place they also provide tour service at decent prices. Taxi's are available 24/7 on call and are readily available in downtown Hamilton in the evenings after the buses stop running.
Taxi's are often the most convenient means of getting around to more exclusive locations or when you don't want to mess with traveling by bus. My secret- Group up. Share the ride, four travel for the same price as one so talk to some of the other hotel guests if you didn't come in a group. Remember that Front street in Hamilton serves as the center for many restaurants pubs and clubs and that you can share a ride and than walk to most of them.
The bus service across the island is great and runs throughout the day but during the evening runs a lot less often. The buses make there way through all of the island via the three main roads, North Shore, South Shore and Middle Road. In addition service during the day goes through many additional routes such as to Fort St. Catherine in St. Georges and up to the lighthouse in St David's. Being that most hotels are on North or South Shore and that the Beaches line the island on either side they make for a great way to see the island.
The buses are large for the roadways so I will warn you. They are called Pink Elephants by the locals. I know why such a strange name, right? Well they are mostly pink and take up most of the roads and in fact are legally allowed to cross the center line. This wouldn't be a big deal if the roads weren't so narrow and winding but they are.
The buses are best suited for day travel to and from St George’s and Hamilton as well as the Aquarium in Flats Village. It also is a great way to move from hotel to beach along the same coast line. When crossing away from one shore or the other however it sometimes requires a transfer. If your heading into Hamilton for dinner and dancing and planning on having a few drinks then it is best to go by bus and return by taxi. Also be aware the bus depot in Hamilton is away from Front Street. It is within walking distance but make sure to ask the bus driver for directions if your not sure where you are heading.
Feeling adventuresome? Take a seat across from the door and watch out the glass on the doorway as the coral wall rolls by inches away. I think the bus drivers were monorail operators with as close as we came some times, but we never hit the wall. Occasionally the buses will clip an overhanging branch from a tree but in over 6 years I never saw one bite the wall.
Ferry service runs in Hamilton and crosses over to several points along South Hampton Parish and is a great means of taking in some sights on a lazy trip from some of the hotels which are serviced by the ferry. The ferry also is a great way to go and check out the dockyard. There you will be able to check out the fabulous exhibits and nautical collections.
Last but by no means least is the true way to see the island. Moped!
These motorized bikes may seem a bit intimidating to some but they allow you the freedom of going where you want when you want and also can save you some money. Yes they are like little motorcycles but many have boxes or baskets to carry your beach gear or shopping and the speed limit is only 35 kph or about 20 mph so don't fret too much.
Mopeds get fabulous gas mileage and are available for around $25 per day and that includes your helmet and even brief training to get you going if your not too confident. Parking is available for mopeds only in some areas and they can take you to some areas that other vehicles simply can't get to.
Plan on getting a little wet as the island often has quick passing spring and summer showers and make an adventure out of it and you will quickly see why to get a true feel for a Bermuda vacation you need to try out a moped.
Want to know the insiders secret about who's who in Bermuda, well it used to be that the locals that is to say Bermudian's would ride near the center of the lane on their mopeds, where as personnel from the now closed base would drive in the center of the lane and the tourists would creep along near the outside edge. Don't let that get you down though because it actually helps. I know I was always more wary around a tourist operating a moped as I wheeled by them and like most residents would gladly stop and lend a hand to a tourist in need.
One of my favorite memories in Bermuda was just after arriving, I was traveling to Hamilton along North Shore and ran over a palm leave. No big deal right, well my back tire ran flat. There I was 16 years old, 10pm on a dark section of road and not knowing my way around. The first vehicle to go by was a cab, he stopped asked if I was ok and said he would call in for someone to pick me up since he had a fare. Not only did someone come in about 10 minutes to get me they brought a little pick up and we loaded the moped in the back of it and they took me the remaining 4 miles or so into Hamilton. They helped me unload the moped locked it to a bike rack and when I asked them how much I owed them they gave me a business card and said call them when I was ready to head back and they would pick me up and using them for my return that evening was payment enough.
The public transit system is inexpensive for getting around and the cab service is top notch. Throw on top of that using a moped to get around and you will have this 22 square mile island wired for whatever you decide to do. Just remember don't drink and drive and unlike the states you drive on the left and you are sure to have a great time.
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Epinions.com ID:
bermudabum
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Member: Dave
Location: Tidewater, VA
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 25 members
About Me:
Grab a rum swizzle and hear what this Bermuda*Beach*Bum and single dad has to say.
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