A video apparently recorded with a GoPro camera by a moving cyclist has sparked outrage on social media after showing the dangerous maneuver of a Yutong bus driver on an avenue in Havana.
The images showed how the driver overtook the cyclist without respecting the minimum safety distance, putting them in an extremely risky situation.
The incident, which apparently did not result in any injuries, was shared in the group Facebook 'Accidentes Buses & Camiones' with the message: “Revoke their license before they hurt someone!”.
The video shows how the heavy vehicle dangerously invades the cyclist's space, forcing him to maneuver awkwardly to avoid being run over. The cyclist managed to capture the bus's license plate (B193281) and called for the authorities to take immediate action against the driver in the post.
In Cuba, public and private transportation often operates under precarious conditions or with little oversight. The rise of alternative mobility, such as bicycles, has highlighted the lack of road safety culture and respect from many drivers towards the more vulnerable road users.
Recklessness, inadequate infrastructure, and victims: the dangerous road reality in Cuba
The incident captured in Havana, where a cyclist was dangerously overtaken by a Yutong bus, adds to a concerning string of recent accidents in the country that reflect the vulnerability of the most fragile road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, against heavy vehicles.
On August 6th, a cyclist lost his life after being struck by a car at kilometer 142 of the National Highway in Matanzas. The man was attempting to cross from Jagüey Grande to Australia and did not stop at the traffic signal.
Although authorities assigned responsibility to the cyclist, the incident highlights the risks faced by those using alternative means of transportation on high-speed roads.
A month earlier, on July 11, a collision between a Diana bus from the Moa Transport Company and an electric bicycle left seven injured in Holguín. The cyclist suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital, while neighbors reported a lack of control and the poor condition of the roads.
At the beginning of June, in Guisa (Granma), a truck overturned while trying to avoid a cyclist, resulting in the death of two people and leaving several others injured. According to witnesses, the accident occurred due to the glare caused by another vehicle that did not switch off its high beams.
Filed under: