Transport in the Bahamas

The Bahamas are an archipelago: within an island, people usually travel by road, while travel between islands is by plane or ship. On New Providence and Grand Bahama, privately operated buses are usually called jitney buses (Jitney) or omnibuses. The Department of Road Traffic publishes bus routes mainly for Nassau and New Providence, but it does not operate a uniform nationwide transport network. Coverage, operating times and service therefore depend heavily on the provider and the island. On the Family Islands, local taxis, rental cars, shuttles, water taxis, ferries, mail boats and private boats supplement the available services. Additional requirements apply to commercial passenger transport. Drivers need a public-service driving licence (Public Service Driver’s Licence) as well as the appropriate franchise and vehicle authorisation. Published requirements include Bahamian citizenship, a minimum age of 21, BahamaHost, having held a driving licence for more than three years, an interview and a practical examination. Jitney vehicles need, among other things, a valid public-service driving authorisation, insurance, a business licence, a Franchise Grant Letter, a certificate for the approved route and an inspection. Jitney inspections take place twice a year, generally on Mondays in May and October. Cars and light trucks drive on the left in the Bahamas. To obtain a driving licence, the Department of Road Traffic requires a theory and practical test. The first driving licence is valid for one year; afterwards, depending on the option selected, terms of one or three years are available. Driving licences and vehicle registrations each expire at the end of the holder’s birth month. For a vehicle transfer, people who are not Bahamian citizens also need a passport and immigration permit. For a new vehicle, the relevant documents include insurance, a sales contract or invoice, a customs vehicle information slip (Customs Vehicle Information Slip), proof of age, a valid Bahamian driving licence, inspection and registration. Published fees differ depending on the source. MyGateway lists BS$25 for a one-year driving licence or BS$75 for three years, BS$15 for a learner’s permit, and total amounts of BS$195, BS$645 and BS$795 for vehicle classes A, B and C respectively. Another fee table from the Department of Road Traffic lists BS$160, BS$560 and BS$710 for new registration and inspection of classes A, B and C, respectively, plus additional amounts of BS$35, BS$15 and BS$15. The current information from the Department of Road Traffic or MyGateway should therefore be checked before payment. A functioning national rail network has not been documented. For travel between islands, Bahamasair and regional airlines, ferries, mail boats and private or local boats therefore serve as practical alternatives. The Department of Aviation maintains a directory listing approximately 61 airports; the official tourism system names 20 international airports. Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is the main hub, and many connections to the Family Islands go through Nassau. Bahamas Ferries connects Nassau with, among others, the Abacos, Andros, Cat Island, the Exumas, Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Freeport. Timetables can change at short notice depending on the provider, weather and island connection. There is no documented nationwide cycling network. Cyclists usually share roads or other traffic areas; they should ride on the left close to the edge of the carriageway and may ride no more than two abreast. Traffic signs and signals also apply to cyclists. At night, front and rear lights and reflectors are required, while the Highway Code recommends a helmet. Riding on footways is not permitted under the Road Traffic Regulations. Pedestrians should use available footways; where there is no footway, the Highway Code recommends the right edge of the road while facing oncoming traffic. Zebra crossings and signal-controlled crossings are preferable, and crossing behind a bus or car increases the risk of an accident. The Department of Ports regulates local maritime traffic, harbour control, and the registration, licensing and inspection of ships and other watercraft. Watercraft must be registered before operation; commercial operators need a commercial master’s licence (Master’s Licence) beforehand. Class B applies to certain harbour areas, Class A to all harbour areas and Class D to commercially operated watercraft. A five-knot speed limit applies in Nassau Harbour; speeding and creating wash are not permitted there. Waste or plastic must not enter the water, and the prescribed lights must be displayed at night. For road traffic, a valid driving licence, third-party insurance, registration and an inspection certificate are among the key requirements. Seat belts must be used, and vehicles must not be overloaded. The Highway Code gives limits of more than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood or more than 35 mcg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath. Jitney drivers should stop at safe locations, come to a complete stop and not overcrowd vehicles; passengers should use available seat belts. Complaints about public-service drivers can be addressed to the Complaints Unit of the Department of Road Traffic or to the police. The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas oversees aviation safety. Transport depends heavily on imported petrol and diesel. Used vehicles from the United States and Japan may affect consumption and emissions; shipping mainly uses diesel and bunker fuel, while aviation uses jet fuel and Avgas. The National Energy Policy 2025–2030 identifies electric-vehicle incentives, charging infrastructure, renewable fuels for ships and aircraft, electric-bus and hybrid-ferry pilot projects, emissions targets, efficiency standards, intelligent transport systems, feeding electricity from vehicle batteries back into the grid, low-sulphur diesel, biofuels and shore power. These points are to be understood as strategy and planning objectives; nationwide implementation is not documented in the available research. Roads, drainage, harbours and airports are continuously expanded or maintained because they are essential for supplies, passenger transport and tourism.