Changing Cuba: Monster Buses Vanish From Havana Streets

The Associated Press / Google News ^ | April 18, 2008 | By Will Weissert

[JACKRUSSELL]

Cubans board a bus known as "camello" or camel, a huge two-section enclosed tractor-trailer in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

The driver of a public bus known as "camello" or camel, a huge two section tractor-trailer, checks its engine in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

A public bus known as "camello," or camel, a huge two section tractor-trailer, is parked at a street in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

A ticket collector leans partially out of a window as Cubans get on a bus known as "camello," or camel, a huge two-section enclosed tractor-trailer at a bus station in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

A woman looks out a window from a public bus known as "camello," or camel, a huge two section tractor-trailer in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Cubans make their way next to a bus known as "camello," or camel, a huge two-section enclosed tractor-trailer at a bus station in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

A woman stands next to a bus known as "camello", or camel, a huge two-section enclosed tractor-trailer in a bus station in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade public transportation and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Estela Doira, center, collects bus tickets from passengers inside a public bus known as "camello" or camel, a huge two section tractor-trailer in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion (?1.3 billion) to upgrade its public transportation system and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

A man takes a nap as he rides in a bus known as "camello," or camel, a huge two-section enclosed tractor-trailer in a bus station in Havana, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Cuba is spending $2 billion to upgrade public transportation and has imported 3,000 modern, accordion-style buses to run in and around the capital. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

[JACKRUSSELL]

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[2banana]

We had the same thing in basic training - we called them “cattle cars”

You fought for the one of the 4 window stand up area in the middle of a Benning summer...

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Stop giving Hillary and Obama ideas for public transportation!

[martin_fierro]

Moooooooo.

[mirkwood]

[BallyBill]

Junky smelly busses? Who cares!

Free Healthcare! Woo Hoo!

[BallyBill]

Awesome Power Wagon.

[Yardstick]

Now that is cool. There’s just something about early four wheel drive.

And those tires alone probably cost more than a typical Cuban makes in a year.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Wow. Neat!

[okie01]

Exactly. A “camello” is a “possum-belly for people”.

[bubbacluck]

I find it hard to believe that they can put 400 people in one of those cattle cars. I know it’s a communist country and all, but 400?

[JoeSixPack1]

HUBCAPS!!!!! It has no hubcaps! Oh, the horror!!!!!!

[VOA]

A ticket collector leans partially out of a window as
Cubans get on a bus known as "camello," or camel...

Fifty years of a workers revolution...
and they still don't have free/no-ticket transportation?

[JoeSixPack1]

They must measure by weight only.

If so, 400 people average 80,000lbs. Add the vehicle weight of about 30,000 empty, it makes a gross weight thats still structurally manageable by the vehicle.

Comfort? none!

[Onelifetogive]

Only in Cuba. In other countries people wouldn't put up with so much," whispered retiree Mari Gonzalez...

We get off your lazy asses and do something about it. You are 90 miles from one of the wealthiest places in the world, you have the same climate, plenty of natural resources, and you can hardly afford a penny for a bus ride. Did you ever think this whole Communism thing may actually suck???

[Onelifetogive]

If so, 400 people average 80,000lbs.

Not in Cuba... They rely on the government for food. Likely half that weight...

[YHAOS]

The glories of the workers’ paradise. Just what HRC and BHO want to bestow upon us all. And a medical system just as carefully designed as this transportation system. My heart swells with gratitude.

[LouD]

2B: That’s the first thing I thought of, too.

Remember: “Make your buddy smile!”

[JoeSixPack1]

Can we try square footage ?? :-)