A fleet of 35 new electric tricycles has been introduced in Havana, operating on two newly established routes with an experimental schedule from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The company Taxis-Cuba announced on Facebook that the effectiveness of this new service will be assessed based on the battery life of the tricycles, aiming to determine its long-term viability and sustainability.
Each route will feature 10 tricycles, with the first route running from the Clínico Hospital on 26th Street to the intersection of 23rd and 26th Streets. The second route will extend from that point to Coppelia, located at the junction of 23rd and L Streets. Additionally, it was noted that the Línea Street route, which previously ended at the Focsa building, has now been extended to reach the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, thereby enhancing transportation access within the city.
The cost for this service is set at 10 pesos per passenger, consistent with other existing routes. This move comes after the Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, announced in September via Facebook that these 35 electric tricycles would enable the creation of two new routes, a measure aimed at addressing Havana's severe passenger mobility crisis.
Rodríguez also mentioned that the fleet of electric tricycles for public passenger transportation in Havana has grown with the addition of these 35 new vehicles, joining the 118 already in operation. Currently, these vehicles serve 17 routes across eight municipalities.
Fare Increase Amid Economic Turmoil
Amid escalating inflation and a worsening public transportation crisis in Cuba, the regime announced that starting August 15, the fare for electric tricycle services in the capital would rise to 10.00 CUP per passenger. This decision, communicated by the General Directorate of Transport of Havana, represents a significant increase from the initial price of 4.00 CUP set when the service was first launched in 2020.