In the bustling capital city of Havana, where classic cars, mopeds, and rickshaws are a common sight, a new environmentally friendly mode of transport has emerged – bamboo bicycles crafted by a local workshop.
Velo Cuba, a bicycle shop and tour company, is producing these lightweight and eco-conscious bicycles as part of a program funded by the Netherlands’ embassy in the country.
Visitors to the city’s zoo and the coastal areas can already spot these two-wheelers being taken for a spin.
According to Nayvis Diaz, the founder of Velo Cuba, “Cuba boasts 28 species of bamboo, and luckily, we have two or three of these species required for making these bicycles.”
The workshop has collaborated with volunteers from various backgrounds, including stay-at-home mothers and the deaf community, to train residents in bicycle production and repair.
Yaquelin Gonzalez, who is deaf, expressed the importance of learning a profession, saying, “This will be beneficial for our future.”
Cuba faces ongoing challenges with transportation and stable employment, especially after the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini