The world of bicycle in Cuba

Known by a variety of names such as velo taxi, pedicab, bike cab, bike taxi or rickshaw on the island of Cuba, "bicitaxis" are a very popular mode of transportation.

It's the cheapest way to get around. A short trip (10 to 15 minutes) only costs about 10 to 20 Cuban pesos - that's less than one US dollar.

Cuba's tropical weather, rich musical traditions, famed cigars and classic cars were for decades off-limits to most Americans under Cold War-era sanctions, but those restrictions have been lifted.

Now the US government is rolling back changes made by the Obama administration. Since June 2017, individual trips are no longer be permitted.

This rickshaw is named after one of the most popular Cuban songs, which translates as "the yellow tractor."

The tricycle is a common way of transport on the Caribbean island.

One of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, Camagüey constitutes an exceptional example of a traditional urban settlement. The historic center of the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008.

The Cuban media - television, radio, newspapers and internet - is controlled by government.

Cuba's nearly 12 million inhabitants are mostly Spanisch and Africans who came to the island over the past 500 years.

In Cárdenas, traditional carriages with tops operate as public transportation.

Since 2013 the Cuban government has been promoting the use of bicycles as an alternative to face problems of public transport.

Riding amid the traffic - usually with hundreds of other cyclists rather than in automobile-clogged streets - also means learning a whole new set of skills.

Traveling around the city by bicycle is a beautiful experience for tourists. Most Cubans accept it as the only way to get around.

Instilling a renewed bike culture in Cuba is still underway - but this economically sound option remains the most sustainable one.