No Singing on the Tram: Cuenca's Transit Rules You Probably Didn't Know About

The Video That Started the Conversation

You might have seen the video making the rounds on social media this week: a man boards the Cuenca tranvia (tram) with a guitar, starts playing, and is promptly stopped by a tram controller who politely but firmly tells him that performing on the tram is not allowed.

The reactions have been split right down the middle. Some people think it's charming and that live music on public transit adds character to the city. Others argue that rules are rules, and the tram should be a quiet, orderly space. Both sides have a point — but the law is clear.

What the Rules Actually Say

Here's the thing most people — including many expats who ride the tram regularly — don't realize: the Cuenca tram has a detailed ordinance governing passenger behavior, and it was established back in 2019 when the system was being prepared for launch.

Among the activities explicitly prohibited on the tram:

• Singing or performing music (yes, even if you're good)
• Selling goods or products of any kind
• Begging or soliciting donations
• Eating or drinking (beyond water)
• Playing music on speakers without headphones
• Placing bags on seats when other passengers are standing
• Blocking doors or impeding passenger flow

These rules exist for a reason. The tram is Cuenca's flagship public transit investment — a system that took years of controversy, construction delays, and budget overruns to complete. The municipality wants it to remain clean, orderly, and pleasant to ride. The rules are modeled on transit systems in European and Latin American cities that have similar regulations.

Why Most People Don't Know

The reason this video went viral isn't that the rules are new — it's that most people have never read them. The ordinance was published years ago, but enforcement has been inconsistent and public awareness is low.

If you ride the tram regularly, you've almost certainly seen people doing things that are technically prohibited: eating snacks, playing music on phone speakers, placing bags on empty seats during rush hour. Controllers don't always intervene, which creates the impression that these things are fine.

But they're not — at least not officially. And as the video shows, controllers do have the authority to enforce the rules when they choose to.

The Cultural Context

It's worth understanding why this struck a nerve in Cuenca specifically. This is a city with deep musical traditions. Pasillo, the traditional Ecuadorian genre, has UNESCO recognition partly because of Cuenca's role in keeping it alive. Street musicians are a common sight in the Historic Center, parks, and plazas. Music is woven into the fabric of cuencano identity.

So when a video shows a musician being told to stop playing on the tram, it feels — to some people — like a small indignity. Like the city is choosing sterile efficiency over the spontaneity that makes Cuenca, Cuenca.

Others see it differently: the tram is a shared public space, and not everyone wants to listen to music during their commute, however talented the musician might be. A quiet, predictable ride is its own kind of respect for passengers.

What This Means for Expats

Whether you think the guitar player should have been allowed to keep playing or not, there are some practical takeaways:

• The tram has rules. They're posted (in Spanish) at stations and inside the cars, but they're easy to miss. Now you know
• Don't eat on the tram. This is the one most expats unknowingly violate. That empanada from the station vendor? Eat it before you board or after you get off
• Use headphones. If you're watching videos or listening to music, keep it to yourself. This is enforced more consistently than other rules
• Don't put bags on seats during busy hours. It's both against the rules and considered rude
• Controllers can and do enforce rules. They're generally polite about it, but they have the authority to ask you to stop or, in theory, ask you to exit the tram
• The tram costs $0.35 per ride — still one of the best transit bargains in South America. Respect the system that makes it possible

For what it's worth, Cuenca's tram is genuinely excellent. It's clean, frequent, affordable, and connects key parts of the city. A few rules about singing and snacking are a small price to pay for a transit system that actually works.

And if you do want to hear live music? Head to Parque Calderon on a weekend afternoon. The street musicians there are fantastic — and they're allowed to play.

Source: El Mercurio