How Lima Allocates Its Land

The use of space in Lima made me feel a degree of culture shock. On the drive to the hostel from the airport, it was glaringly obvious to me that Lima did not prioritize having wider lanes on the road. Even with the lanes that are in place, they’re perceived as mere suggestions to the erratic drivers here. Cuzco is also guilty of this, but the driving there was relatively calmer than it was in Lima, so I can forgive them. While on the road, I have seen that there are advertisements to vote for politicians painted along the sides of the road because these campaigns realize that location is important for advertising.

It’s nice to see that the government does make efforts to change how the people see the city of Lima. I’ve seen playgrounds and exercise equipment near Larcomar, and I have also seen signs on the way to one of our side trips that the mayor of the Corrillos District plans on having a sports field and a relaxation area to improve the public’s well-being. Seeing that was uplifting news that showed me that at least some efforts are being made that value the lives of the citizens. This could also be a sign of the mayor trying to do what he thinks will have his constituents favor him over others that may run against him.

The rideshare scooters around Lima says volumes that the city has been making strides towards bettering the environment. There have been a number of people that have zoomed past me on Grin scooters, meaning that at least some people have benefited from this addition. This, as well as the recycling bins that I have failed to see even around Nashville, have amazed me; unfortunately, Lima will not see the results of these efforts for years to come.

While there is space allocated for these amenities around the city, I couldn’t help but realize that Lima is not a very accessible city. The same goes for Cuzco as well, but I thought that this may have only been prevalent there. I’ll admit that there are crosswalks that lead up to wheelchair accessible ramps on sidewalks, but that’s as far as it goes, apart from the rare elevator in the airport. It is easy to forget about improving infrastructure that doesn’t directly impact yourself, but it should be part of the government’s job to give a voice to the voiceless rather than remembering to maintain payphones on the streets.