This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/11/lima-peru-public-transport-reform
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Lima's urgent priority is to reform public transport | Lima's urgent priority is to reform public transport |
| (7 months later) | |
| The rush hour coincides with nightfall in Lima, Peru's capital (population 8.4 million). Avenida Javier Prado, which crosses the city, is packed with hundreds of buses and brightly coloured combis (mini-buses), all competing to attract passengers, whose number determines the driver's wages. | The rush hour coincides with nightfall in Lima, Peru's capital (population 8.4 million). Avenida Javier Prado, which crosses the city, is packed with hundreds of buses and brightly coloured combis (mini-buses), all competing to attract passengers, whose number determines the driver's wages. |
| The jam amuses tourists, who see it as typical of the modern city, so different from the aristocratic stronghold founded nearly 480 years ago by the Spanish, who set up the court of the viceroyalty of Peru here. But all these different-sized buses are a nightmare for Lima's residents, who spend an average of two to three hours a day in the creaking transit system. | The jam amuses tourists, who see it as typical of the modern city, so different from the aristocratic stronghold founded nearly 480 years ago by the Spanish, who set up the court of the viceroyalty of Peru here. But all these different-sized buses are a nightmare for Lima's residents, who spend an average of two to three hours a day in the creaking transit system. |
| The leftwing leader of the city council, Susana Villarán, who was elected in 2010, is determined to end the mess. "We want to guarantee well ordered transport and get rid of the chaos and accidents which cost so many lives," she said, adding that she will not be discouraged by transport union strikes. | The leftwing leader of the city council, Susana Villarán, who was elected in 2010, is determined to end the mess. "We want to guarantee well ordered transport and get rid of the chaos and accidents which cost so many lives," she said, adding that she will not be discouraged by transport union strikes. |
| Reform of public transport, so often promised but never implemented, is one of the biggest challenges facing the sprawling conurbation which extends more than 40km from north to south. "More than 80% of Lima residents use public transport," says deputy mayor Eduardo Zegarra. He condemns the "slow, poor quality service", which he blames on the "complete lack of control for several decades". | Reform of public transport, so often promised but never implemented, is one of the biggest challenges facing the sprawling conurbation which extends more than 40km from north to south. "More than 80% of Lima residents use public transport," says deputy mayor Eduardo Zegarra. He condemns the "slow, poor quality service", which he blames on the "complete lack of control for several decades". |
| At present 30,000 buses operate in the city, competing with 200,000 taxis, many unlicensed. By regulating public transport and taking the oldest, most polluting vehicles off the road, the city council hopes to halve the number of buses by 2021. Improving the efficiency of vehicles still operating should lead to reduced journey times. "This reform will have a huge impact, in particular on the quality of life of the poorest members of the community living in the outskirts," says Zegarra, adding that one-fifth of Lima's population lives in poverty. | At present 30,000 buses operate in the city, competing with 200,000 taxis, many unlicensed. By regulating public transport and taking the oldest, most polluting vehicles off the road, the city council hopes to halve the number of buses by 2021. Improving the efficiency of vehicles still operating should lead to reduced journey times. "This reform will have a huge impact, in particular on the quality of life of the poorest members of the community living in the outskirts," says Zegarra, adding that one-fifth of Lima's population lives in poverty. |
| After coping with the massive influx of migrants from the Andes and the Amazon basin between 1960 and 1990, population growth in the Peruvian capital has steadied. | After coping with the massive influx of migrants from the Andes and the Amazon basin between 1960 and 1990, population growth in the Peruvian capital has steadied. |
| "It's a city of young people which has really taken shape in the past few decades," Zegarra says. He believes that Lima should stop spreading outwards and rise upwards instead. "More sprawl entails major costs and problems providing basic services," he explains. | "It's a city of young people which has really taken shape in the past few decades," Zegarra says. He believes that Lima should stop spreading outwards and rise upwards instead. "More sprawl entails major costs and problems providing basic services," he explains. |
| "The problem is that policies are being introduced for the benefit of middle-class and wealthy groups, not for working-class," says town planner Gustavo Riofrío, who condemns the lack of government aid for Lima's poorest communities. | "The problem is that policies are being introduced for the benefit of middle-class and wealthy groups, not for working-class," says town planner Gustavo Riofrío, who condemns the lack of government aid for Lima's poorest communities. |
| "There is a lot to be done to promote vertical growth in the most deprived areas where thousands of families live in harsh conditions," Zegarra admits. Despite powerful economic growth in Peru over the past 11 years, more than 1 million Lima residents still lack access to clean drinking water. | "There is a lot to be done to promote vertical growth in the most deprived areas where thousands of families live in harsh conditions," Zegarra admits. Despite powerful economic growth in Peru over the past 11 years, more than 1 million Lima residents still lack access to clean drinking water. |
| This article originally appeared in Le Monde | This article originally appeared in Le Monde |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |