New Price Caps For Cuba’s Private Taxi Drivers / 14ymedio

An “almendrón” (fixed-route shared-taxi) in Fraternity Park, in Havana. (14ymedio)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 9 February 2017 — Private taxi drivers in Havana woke up this Thursday with the news of the imposition of price caps on the six most important routes served by their vehicles. The government has taken the measure so as “not to allow an increase over the maximum set prices,” according to an official note.

In July of last year local authorities decreed maximum fares for the so-called almendrones*, but the drivers responded by shortening the sections and breaking the cost of the journey into multiple parts. This week’s announcement seeks to “protect the population” from that maneuver that makes transportation expensive.

Taxi drivers who violate the stipulated fares risk being denounced by customers or surprised during an inspection. The penalty is the cancellation of the operating license under which they work and may include “confiscation of means of transport” according to the text, that is the seizure of their cars.

The measure is taken at a time when economic difficulties in Venezuela have caused it to fail to fulfill its commitments to supply oil to the island. This situation has forced the Government to reduce the volumes of fuel allocated to state entities.

As a result of these cuts, the price of oil diverted from the state sector has increased in price on the black market. From 8 Cuban pesos (CUP) per liter it rose suddenly to 15, while in the state gas stations, it is still being sold at 24 CUP a liter.

Reference prices of routes according to origin and destination, with intermediate sections are as follows:

ROUTE 1: PARQUE EL CURITA TO LA PALMA. PRICE. 15.00 CUP

  1. Departure or return from El Curita Park, up to La Calzada Diez de Octubre and Via Blanca. PRICE. 5.00 CUP, to La Vibora, PRICE 10.00 CUP and up to La Palma, PRICE 15.00 CUP.
  2. Departure or return from La Calzada Diez de Octubre and Via Blanca to La Viñora, PRICE 5.00 CUP and to La Palma, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
  3. Departure or return from La Viñora to La Palma, PRICE 5.00 CUP

ROUTE 2: PARQUE EL CURITA TO LA VEREDA, LA LISA. PRICE. 20.00 CUP

  1. Departure or return from El Curita Park, to Calzada Cerro and Boyeros, PRICE 5.00 CUP, up to 100th and 51st, PRICE 10.00 CUP, to Plaza Marianao, PRICE 15.00 CUP and up to La Vereda, La Lisa, PRICE 20.00 CUP.
  2. Departure or return from la Calzada Cerro and Boyeros, up to 100th and 51st. PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Plaza de Marianao, PRICE 10.00 CUP and up to La Vereda. PRICE 15.00 CUP.
  3. Departure or return from 100th and 51st, up to Marianao Plaza, PRICE 5.00 CUP and up to La Vereda, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
  4. Departure or return from Plaza Marianao, to La Vereda. PRICE 5.00 CUP.

ROUTE 3: PARQUE EL CURITA TO THE MILITARY HOSPITAL, PRICE 10.00 CUP

  1. Departure or return from Parque El Curita, to 21st and L (Coppelia), Vedado, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Hospital Militar, PRICE 10.00.
  2. Departure or return from 21st and L (Coppelia) Vedado, to Hospital Militar, PRICE 5.00 CUP.
  3. Departure or return from 41st and 42nd in Playa, to Military Hospital, PRICE 5.00 CUP.

ROUTE 4: PARK THE CURITA TO SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS. PRICE. 20.00 CUP

  1. Departure or return from Parque El Curita, to Calzada Cerro and Boyeros or Ciudad Deportiva, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Boyeros and Punte 100, PRICE 10.00 CUP, to Fontanar, PRICE 15.00 CUP and to Santiago de Las Vegas, PRICE 20.00 CUP.
  2. Departure or return from the Calzada Cerro and Boyeros or Ciudad Deportiva, to Boyeros and Punte 100, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Fontanar, PRICE 10.00 CUP and to Santiago de Las Vegas, PRICE 15.00 CUP.
  3. Departure or return from Boyeros and Punte 100, until Fontanar, PRICE 5.00 CUP and to Santiago de Las Vegas, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
  4. Departure or return from Fontanar, to Santiago de Las Vegas. PRICE. 5.00 CUP.

ROUTE 5: PARQUE EL CURITA TO PARADERO PLAYA. PRICE. 20.00 CUP

  1. Departure or return from the Parque El Curita, to 21st and L (Coppelia) Vedado, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Line Tunnel,. PRICE. 10.00 CUP, until 3rd and 70 or 31st and 60th, PRICE 15.00 CUP and to Paradero Playa, PRICE 20.00 CUP.
  2. Output or return from 21st and L (Coppelia), Vedado, to the Line Tunnel, PRICE 5.00, until 3rd and 70th or 31st and 60th, PRICE 10.00 CUP and to Paradero Playa, PRICE 15.00 CUP.
  3. Output or return from Linea Tunnel, up to 3rd and 70th or 31st and 60th, PRICE 5.00 CUP and to Paradero Playa, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
  4. Departure or return from 3 and 70 or 31 and 60 in Playa, to Paradero Playa, PRICE 5.00 CUP.

ROUTE 6: PARK THE CURITA TO GUANABACOA. PRICE. 20.00 CUP.

  1. Departure or return from El Curita Park, to Miguel Enríquez Hospital, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to the Virgen del Camino, PRICE 10.00 CUP, to Regla Cemetery, PRICE 10.00 CUP, up to Via Blanca and Corral Falso. PRICE 15.00 CUP and up to Guanabacoa, PRICE 20.00 CUP.
  2. Departure or return from the Miguel Enríquez Hospital, to the Virgen del Camino, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Via Blanca and Corral Falso, PRICE 10.00 CUP and to Guanabacoa, PRICE 15.00 CUP.
  3. Departure or return from la Virgen del Camino, to Via Blanca and Corral Falso, PRICE 5.00 CUP and to Guanabacoa, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
  4. Departure or return from Via Blanca and Calzada Guanabacoa, to Guanabacoa, PRICE 5.00 CUP.

*Translator’s note: “Almendrón” is a term that refers to vehicles used as private fixed-route shared taxis. The word means “almond” and is a reference to the shape of the 1950s American cars that are commonly used in this service.