Up to two times the Government of Havana announced, with its usual hype, the inauguration of new electric transport routes in the municipality of Playa. The first time, two weeks ago, the official press assured that a tricycle service would begin on november 15but this did not materialize.
Days later, and without giving any explanation, Havana Tribune changed the release date: it would be the following Monday, November 21, when a total of 20 electric tricycles would begin to circulate –which would increase to 25 later– organized in three routes –from 3rd and 80 to the Ceguera Hospital, from 120 avenue to the Hospital La Blindness and from 120 to La Puntilla–, from 7 am to 7 pm.
“The population will have an affordable, fast and efficient alternative, as a complement to the public service by bus, generating a source of local jobs,” the provincial newspaper boasted.
However, the vehicles were nowhere to be found. In La Puntilla, for example, the supposed final stop on one of the routes, none of the residents said they had seen the new means of transport, which would come to alleviate the increasingly pressing mobility crisis in the capital, especially due to the lack of fuel.
There was also no signage at the supposed stops on the routes, such as Calle 0 and 1ra.
“It was by chance, I caught up with it when I was going 3rd, but so few people know about it, that when I got on there was only one passenger, and only one more woman got on the whole way”
Julio, who works near the Sierra Maestra building, headquarters of the Cimex Corporation, already thought they were “ghost tricycles” when, this Friday, he was finally able to get on one. “It was by chance, I caught up with it when I was going 3rd, but so few people know about it, that when I got on there was only one passenger, and only one more woman got on the whole way.”
The vehicle, with capacity for 6 people and 120 kilometers of autonomy, was driven by a woman, like other electric tricycles. that roll through Havanabut on these new routes, the driver clarified, men have been hired.
With a cost of 4 pesos, people usually pay 5 without waiting for the change. “I’m not going to claim a peso,” Julio explained. “No, I’m not going to give it to you either,” the driver replied with a laugh, in a country where small bills or coins are increasingly useless for daily payments.
As for the power supply, there is no news of those photovoltaic panels that one day were promised for the Ecotaxis of Centro Habana. “This is connected to the current, normal, without solar panels or anything like that,” explained the driver of the vehicle. “Those things that only work are on the television, outside of there, nothing more,” the passenger responded with self-confidence.
Without saying so, the new tricycles are trying to force the boatmen who do the Playa routes to lower their prices. A section in an almendrón costs at least 50 pesos, but the possibility of forcing a drop in the cost of the ticket is far away. While the old Chevrolet or Ford circulate constantly through the streets of the municipality, the new official commitment is barely visible. Some have three wheels, but the other many years of dealing with inflation and state experiments.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio He is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
