HAVANA — As Cuba's energy crisis has halted public transportation and forced gasoline rationing across the island, commuters in Havana have increasingly turned to the Ciclobús — a diesel-powered bus specially fitted to carry passengers and their personal vehicles through the underwater tunnel linking Old Havana to eastern Havana. The service, owned by Havana's state-run transport company, transports more than 2,000 people per day on what is the island's shortest public transportation route, covering 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) in about 15 minutes.
Cuba rations gasoline to 20 liters (5 gallons) per vehicle through an appointment process that can take weeks or months. Cars are scarce on Havana's streets, while thousands of bicycles and small electric motorcycles have filled the gap. Fuel shortages have led more Cubans to rely on bicycles, electric tricycles, scooters and motorcycles for daily commutes, increasing demand for the Ciclobús. President Donald Trump imposed an energy blockade on Cuba in January.
Bicycles, motorcycles and scooters are not permitted to travel through the Havana Bay Tunnel on their own, making the Ciclobús essential for commuters who depend on two-wheeled transportation. The alternative land route around Havana Bay covers 16 kilometers (10 miles) through sparsely populated and poorly paved industrial port areas.
The bus can accommodate about 60 travelers and their vehicles per trip. It features a front seating section and an open bay comprising half of its metallic frame for cargo. Riders board via a specialized ramp and stay with their vehicles during the trip, holding onto wall-mounted grab bars for balance. After boarding near the tunnel entrance in Old Havana, the Ciclobús passes through the underwater passage in darkness before emerging in eastern Havana, a residential area home to hundreds of thousands of residents.
The Ciclobús fare ranges from 2 to 5 Cuban pesos depending on whether a bicycle or motorcycle is transported. By comparison, a shared taxi ride through the tunnel from eastern Havana neighborhoods costs 1,000 Cuban pesos (about $2), a steep price given that a Cuban worker's monthly salary can be 7,000 Cuban pesos (about $14).
"My husband owns a bicycle, so I'm riding as his companion. It's an option we have, because there's no public transportation and we can't afford to pay for a private taxi, so we ride the Ciclobús," said Ingrid Quintana.
"Most jobs are on the other side, in the city, and that's why we have to ride it to get across," said Bárbaro Cabral, a 32-year-old gym teacher.
The Ciclobús service began in the 1990s during Cuba's Special Period, a crisis triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union that left the island isolated. During that era, President Fidel Castro distributed Chinese-made bicycles to the population. Demand for the Ciclobús decreased over time as residents shifted to regular buses or shared taxis, but the current fuel shortages have reversed that trend.