New Price Caps For Cuba’s Private Taxi Drivers

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

14ymedio, 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

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.
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.

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

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.
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.
Departure or return from 100th and 51st, up to Marianao Plaza, PRICE
5.00 CUP and up to La Vereda, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
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

Departure or return from Parque El Curita, to 21st and L (Coppelia),
Vedado, PRICE 5.00 CUP, to Hospital Militar, PRICE 10.00.
Departure or return from 21st and L (Coppelia) Vedado, to Hospital
Militar, PRICE 5.00 CUP.
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

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.
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.
Departure or return from Boyeros and Punte 100, until
Fontanar, PRICE 5.00 CUP and to Santiago de Las Vegas, PRICE 10.00 CUP.
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

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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Source: New Price Caps For Cuba's Private Taxi Drivers / 14ymedio –
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/new-price-caps-for-cubas-private-taxi-drivers-14ymedio/