Public transport in Cuba practically does not exist. In the Cuban capital, a city with two million inhabitants, there are only a couple of bus lines. There are not time schedules so people wait for the bus worth the hope that it might come.

This situation is the result of the crisis in the 90s. when many industries collapsed. But even when the Soviet Union withdrew its economical support, it delivered some truck cabins. As Cubans needed transport, they constructed bodies and connected them to truck cabins. This way, “Camellos”, or “Camels” were created. It is the most popular way of transport in Cuba and it can carry up to 100 persons.

People can be seen in main Havana streets, trying to thumb a lift in order to get back home or to job. Taxis for 10 Cuban pesos can also run, and they go through main streets from one part of the city to another. They always take few passengers at one time. Tourists are not allowed to take these cabs; there are yellow cabs for them for which they must pay in CUC (equivalent of Euro). Tourists can also use Coco taxis, a small rickshaw that looks like an egg.

Due to stopped deliveries of fuel oil and spare parts in the 90’s, horses and mules returned to Cuban provinces as main traction forces. 

Massive use of bikes is the solution for shortage of fuel oil. Rickshaws are used as taxi but they are only for Cubans. The authorities make everything in order to avoid these two worlds of Cubans and of tourists to meet so that they did not share points of view.

During the cold war period, Bulgaria send Ladas to Cuba as a form of cooperation between the Socialist countries. It is a very popular private car used by low rank officials. Poland sent Fiats 126p to Cuba. Some of them can be met in the streets of Havana today. They are called “Polaquito”, which confirms it Slavic origin.