A video shared on social media shows the moment a Cuban cyclist had an accident on the highway at night after losing control of his bicycle due to falling into a pothole.
The images shared on Facebook by the user Saúl Manuel quickly went viral and sparked a wave of comments expressing indignation and sadness among users.
In the footage, a man is seen pedaling on his bicycle, trying to navigate a completely dark and deteriorated road. Moments later, he stumbles into a pothole in the asphalt and ends up falling heavily onto the pavement, in front of those recording from a car.
Users commented that the darkness, combined with the condition of the road, were the causes of the incident, which fortunately did not result in injuries for the cyclist, despite the dangerous moment he experienced, just as two cars were crossing the road at his level.
The comments, mostly empathetic towards the accident victim, highlighted the lack of basic resources for safe travel and the poor condition of the road infrastructure, a situation that many Cubans face during a crisis in public transportation, which forces the use of bicycles, pushcarts, and other inadequate means for navigating the highways.
The reactions were swift. “We are worse off than when Columbus arrived in Cuba,” wrote one user, while another lamented: “What sadness, my God, how long will this last in Cuba?” Others shared similar experiences, like a young man who confessed to fracturing his wrist and palm after falling into a pothole while riding his bicycle.
Several internet users criticized the lack of maintenance of the roads and questioned the allocation of taxes and mandatory fees paid by drivers. “Drivers are heroes, because amidst fines and mistreatment, we travel on destroyed roads,” remarked another user.
The accident also sparked a debate about road safety and the responsibility of driving without lights at night. Some pointed out that, in addition to the potholes, the lack of street lighting and minimum conditions makes any journey a risk.
Among the most repeated expressions in the comments were: "poor thing," "what a shame," "it broke my heart." One user summarized the collective sentiment: "It's a horror movie what we're living through."
This new incident reflects the harsh reality faced by cyclists and drivers in Cuba, caught between crumbling roads, power outages, and a system unable to guarantee safety on the roads.
Recent cyclist accidents in Cuba reflect the country's traffic crisis
The most recent fatal accident occurred on August 7, 2025, on the National Highway, near Matanzas, where a cyclist lost his life after being struck by a car traveling in the Havana-Cienfuegos direction.
According to the official version, the man attempted to cross without stopping at a traffic signal and was struck directly. This incident once again highlighted the vulnerability of cyclists on fast roads, where infrastructure and signage are insufficient to ensure safety.
Weeks earlier, on July 17, 2025, a man of nearly 70 years old passed away in Camagüey while driving a bike taxi. Witnesses recounted that the victim was pedaling along his usual route when, suddenly, he collapsed and lost his life in the middle of the road.
His death generated shock, not only due to the driver's advanced age but also because it highlighted the risks faced by informal transport workers, who are forced to endure exhausting shifts under precarious conditions and with minimal protection.
A few days earlier, on July 11, 2025, on the Moa-Baracoa road (Holguín), there was an accident involving a Diana bus and an electric bicycle. Seven people were injured, one of them seriously.
The images shared on social media highlighted the deterioration of the road and the extent of the impact, which once again underscored the vulnerability of light vehicles to heavy traffic.
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