Cuba public transportation challenges and regulations

Cuba is addressing significant challenges in its national mobility and public transportation sectors through both regulatory changes and managing infrastructure difficulties.

On one hand, the public transport system faces high costs and deteriorating conditions. In the Morón-Camagüey route, train services resumed after fuel shortages, but passengers have criticized ticket prices that represent nearly half of the monthly minimum wage. Similarly, in Las Tunas, state bus fares remain a heavy burden for residents, with a single trip costing approximately one-fourth of the monthly minimum wage.

To mitigate mobility issues, the Ministry of Transport (Mitrans) has implemented measures to ease licensing for electric vehicles, including tricycles, motorcycles, and mopeds. These regulations allow owners to obtain Transport Operation Licenses by proving legal ownership, even without prior registration. Additionally, new instructions permit drivers with less than three years of experience to receive exceptional authorizations.

Expanding on these efforts, Mitrans has introduced policies to facilitate the purchase and import of vehicles. This includes exemptions from special sales taxes for electric vehicles, provided they are purchased alongside certified renewable energy charging stations.