New microbuses in Havana receive a warm welcome, but doubts and complaints persist

With just two days of operation, the new microbuses introduced in Havana have started to integrate into the transport routine for some sectors of the population. The Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, announced on his Facebook profile that the service began this Monday with 50 vehicles distributed across seven routes, departing from high-demand locations such as hospitals, educational centers, and official public transport stops.

The publication of the branch's headline, fully replicated by Tribuna, highlights that the single fare price is 20 Cuban pesos (CUP) and that the service operates from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a rotation at noon so that drivers can have lunch without completely interrupting the operation. Rodríguez Dávila stated that “many Havana residents have already incorporated the new routes into their routines,” although he acknowledged that there are still some who are just beginning to become familiar with the service, which they have learned about through television, comments from acquaintances, or posts on social media.

According to its report, "the waiting time was rated as short and the majority agreed that the experience has been 'far superior' to what they were accustomed to." In the minister's opinion, "the feedback collected indicates a high acceptance of the service, with an emphasis on the comfort of the vehicles, the affordable fare, and the usefulness of the routes," and he noted that many users have expressed a desire for these initiatives to be sustained and expanded to other areas of the city and the country.

From the drivers' perspective, there are also reports of favorable impressions. Several drivers who were already operating the well-known "gacelas" assessed this new phase as more beneficial, with better technical conditions and more organized work schemes.

Rodríguez Dávila added that "the workers were encouraged by the positive atmosphere among the passengers and by the opportunity to contribute to a tangible improvement in urban mobility."

He also assured that the service is under constant evaluation and adjustment: “It is designed as a flexible and efficient contribution to the urban transport system, which will be continuously assessed and adjusted according to the actual operating conditions and the suggestions of the public.”

Among the images shared by the minister was a poster with details of the seven established routes. All operate with a fixed fare of 20 CUP.

Citizen Reactions: Praise, Proposals, and Alerts

In Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila's own post, dozens of comments from users who have utilized the service or seen the minibuses on the streets piled up. Most messages praise the comfort, the speed of the service, and the organization at key stops. "The segment from Vedado to La Palma is extremely fast and very comfortable... the price is quite reasonable," wrote one user, while another noted: "Total acceptance from the population."

Concrete proposals were also put forward, such as including the new routes in mobile applications, improving the visibility of identification signs, and extending the routes to areas that still lack effective access to public transportation. Among the suggestions, mentions were repeatedly made of places like Alamar, San Miguel del Padrón, Boyeros, and the Villa Panamericana.

Warnings about potential future problems were not lacking. "Everything starts off well, but then it deteriorates... let's hope the same doesn't happen this time," commented one user. Another added, "You can't strip one saint to dress another. The buses are in total decline." There were also calls for collective discipline: "We need to take care of these vehicles and maintain respect and education from both passengers and drivers."

Forced adjustments and structural crisis

The implementation of the new microbuses comes after an initial controversy sparked by the Ministry of Transport's decision to assign all 100 vehicles exclusively to Havana. In response to citizen criticism, the Ministry revised its decision: only 50 remained in the capital, while the rest were distributed among Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Camagüey, Villa Clara, and Ciego de Ávila.

This change highlighted the discontent regarding the centralization in resource allocation and rekindled criticisms about the state of public transportation. The distribution of broken vehicles—such as the out-of-service “gacelas”—to the provinces also came under scrutiny.

The microbuses, manufactured in China (Foton brand) with 14 seats, were acquired with state sector funds and managed by Metrotaxi. Their arrival was presented as an alternative to alleviate the transportation crisis, although this does not represent an expansion of the fleet, but rather a partial replacement of inactive vehicles. Their air conditioning has been highlighted as a feature, although it has not been clarified whether regular maintenance will be ensured.

In this context, the transportation crisis in the capital continues to be characterized by fuel shortages, a decline in the number of trips, and the deterioration of alternative means such as electric tricycles, whose operation relies on an energy network in crisis.

Relief or band-aid?

The deployment of the new microbuses represents a temporary relief for some sectors of the Havana population, but it does not change the overall landscape of urban transportation on the island. Authorities have promised to conduct a constant evaluation of the service, although the history of rapid deterioration and lack of control fuels skepticism among many users.

The citizenry, for its part, has shown that it is willing to express opinions, make proposals, and keep watch. As a commentator wrote on social media: "What is new must be safeguarded, but we must also demand that it be upheld."

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Microbuses in Havana