Nonmotorized Transport: Cycling Strategy and Infrastructure Plan for Lima, Peru

This analytical work conducted by the World Bank in 2020 and commissioned by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima cites a lack of sound policy, infrastructure investment, and promotion for developing smarter and greener mobility systems, such as cycling and walking. It outlines several transport problems, including a high rate of car accidents, an inefficient public transport system, an old fleet causing air pollution above the maximum permissible limits, an increase in new car numbers, and poor respect for the rule of law. The road network does not provide safe, comfortable, direct, and integrated transport options due to the lack of dedicated cycle lanes on arterial roads and safe traffic management (motor vehicle speeds and traffic volumes) on local roads. Developing and implementing a cycling system is crucial to develop a sustainable city. Local governments are underfunded, limiting the financial and technical resources needed to implement citywide climate-smart urban transport infrastructure. National, regional, and local regulations often promote car-centric urban development and infrastructure. Although there is a growing demand for using bicycles in the city, policies and infrastructure investments aimed at promoting their use are very limited. This is due to the incipient development of national and local policies and investment incentives on sustainable transport, ineffective strategies for informing the population about benefits of using of nonmotorized transport, and outdated laws and regulations with limited capacity to guarantee the road safety and security of cyclists, along with inadequate infrastructure.