# Transport in Lima > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Transport_in_Lima > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Transport_in_Lima.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Lima > Source revision: 1353780775 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Transport in Lima" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (August 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Public transport in Lima** consists of [buses](/source/Bus), [minibuses](/source/Minibus) (known as *micros*), [taxis](/source/Taxi), and [mototaxis](/source/Mototaxis) (tuk-tuk). *Micros* are the most common means of public transportation in [Lima](/source/Lima) and many other cities in [Peru](/source/Peru). There are also more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) of [cycle paths](/source/Cycle_path) in the city. The word *micro* is commonly used in Peruvian Spanish as an abbreviation for *microbús* (minibus). While bigger vehicles are known as *micros*, smaller vehicles are known as either *combis* or *micros*. These are privately owned vehicles that are considered to be both economical and convenient, but also risky. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] *Micros* drive from one street corner to another along all the major arterial city roads. Stickers saying, for example, "*Todo Angamos*" or "*Todo Benavides*", can be seen on their windscreens, which indicates that the *micro* runs the whole length of [Avenida Angamos](/source/Angamos_Avenue) or [Avenida Alfredo Benavides](/source/Avenida_Alfredo_Benavides). These microbuses travel dangerously fast, frequently crashing and speeding off before their passengers have safely entered the vehicle. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] As there are few bus stops, passengers are picked up and dropped off anywhere along their route by the *micros* and *combis*, despite this being prohibited. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Tickets became compulsory in the late 1980s. As no transfer tickets are issued, double fares are often used by people when a *micro* does not travel to their desired destination, although as the routes are not controlled, many *micros* will travel to most destinations within the city limits. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The only places where *micros* are no longer allowed to circulate is in the crosstown streets within downtown Lima, which means anyone travelling from the west to east must walk or take a taxi, with *micros* travelling north to south only through either the west or east sides' main arteries, [Tacna Avenue](/source/Avenida_Tacna) and [Abancay Avenue](/source/Avenida_Abancay), respectively. The new [Metropolitano](/source/El_Metropolitano) [bus rapid transit](/source/Bus_rapid_transit) system and the first line of the [Lima Metro](/source/Lima_Metro) have attempted to modernise transport in Lima. ## Lima Metro Main article: [Lima Metro](/source/Lima_Metro) [AnsaldoBreda](/source/AnsaldoBreda) Train in [Villa el Salvador](/source/Villa_el_Salvador) station The Lima Metro is the electric mass transit system of the Lima Metropolitan Area in Peru. It currently consists of one line of 35 kilometres (22 mi) and 26 stations, joining the southern area of the metropolis with the centre and the north east of the city. Five additional lines are planned. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 2010, the government of [Alan García](/source/Alan_Garc%C3%ADa) resumed construction of the Lima Metro starting with Line 1. This saw the construction and implementation of 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi), combined with a total of 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) of [viaduct](/source/Viaduct), from the [Atocongo Bridge](/source/Atocongo_station) to downtown Lima. The Lima Metro Line 1 was built by a consortium made up by two engineering and construction companies [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] and began commercial operations in early 2012. There have been 19 new [Alstom](/source/Alstom) trains since November 2012, adding to the current fleet of five [AnsaldoBreda](/source/AnsaldoBreda) trains, which is major impulse of the service. Since July 2014, the line was extended by 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) to run to the northern district of [San Juan de Lurigancho](/source/San_Juan_de_Lurigancho). Line 2 is an east to west underground metro line currently under construction with plans to link this line to the [Jorge Chavez International Airport](/source/Jorge_Chavez_International_Airport), which will begin the first stage of the future Line 4. Line 2 was initially expected to begin partial operation in 2016,[1] and full operation for both lines in 2019. However, due to various delays,[2] Line 2 only became operational on 21 December 2023 as part of a three-month trial run and is predicted to be fully operational through all 27 stations by 2028.[3] ## El Metropolitano Main article: [El Metropolitano](/source/El_Metropolitano) The *Metropolitano* is a [bus rapid transit](/source/Bus_rapid_transit) (BRT) system that integrates the main bus corridor, known by the Spanish acronym COSAC 1 (*Corredor Segregado de Alta Capacidad*, which means "segregated high capacity bus corridor" in English). This system links the principal points of the [Lima Metropolitan Area](/source/Lima_Metropolitan_Area) with 33 kilometres (21 mi) of long line from [Independencia](/source/Independencia_District%2C_Lima) in the north of the city to [Chorrillos](/source/Chorrillos_District) in the south of the city. It has 38 stations along 33 kilometres (21 mi) of busway. This system is similar to the [TransMilenio](/source/TransMilenio) of [Bogotá](/source/Bogot%C3%A1), and inspired by the **[National Urban Transport Company](/source/ENATRU)** (in Spanish*: Empresa Nacional de Transporte Urbano, ENATRU*)[4] which was the first urban transport system in [Peru](/source/Peru) that also inspired other companies, such as the [Rede Integrada de Transporte](/source/Rede_Integrada_de_Transporte), which started the era of BRT.[5] ## Sistema Integrado de Transporte The **Sistema Integrado de Transporte (SIT)** ("Integrated Transport System" in English) is a bus system developed by the local government to reorganise the current route system. SIT aims to reduce the number of urban routes, renew the bus fleet currently operating by many private companies and to reduce (and eventually replace) most *combis* from the city. As of July 2020, SIT currently operates 16 routes: [SAN MARTIN DE PORRES](/source/San_Mart%C3%ADn_de_Porres_District) – [SURCO](/source/Santiago_de_Surco) (107) [ATE](/source/Ate_District) – [SAN MIGUEL](/source/San_Miguel_District%2C_Lima) (201, 202, 204, 206 and 209), [RIMAC](/source/R%C3%ADmac_District) – [SURCO](/source/Santiago_de_Surco) (301, 302, 303 and 306), [San Juan de Lurigancho](/source/San_Juan_de_Lurigancho) – [MAGDALENA](/source/Magdalena_del_Mar_District) (404, 405, 409, 412), and [DOWNTOWN LIMA](/source/Lima_District) – [SAN MIGUEL](/source/San_Miguel_District%2C_Lima) (508) ## Buses Bus in [Lima](/source/Lima) In the 1990s, during the government of president [Alberto Fujimori](/source/Alberto_Fujimori), there was an insufficient number of buses to transport people around the city, so the use of secondhand vehicles (mostly *combis*) from others countries was permitted.[6] Since the end of the 2000s, many *combis* were replaced by buses between 9 metres (30 ft) and 18 metres (59 ft) in length. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### Vehicles The most popular vehicle types used by the buses in Lima are [Volvo](/source/Volvo_Buses), the Brazilian [CAIO](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CAIO_buses&action=edit&redlink=1), [Marcopolo](/source/Marcopolo_S.A.), [Comil](/source/Comil), and also bus brands like [MODASA](/source/Modasa_(bus_manufacturer)), METALBUS, [Yutong](/source/Yutong), KING LONG, and [GOLDEN DRAGON](/source/Golden_Dragon_(company)). ### Routes Each transport company has its own routes, which usually pass through many districts. Some of the routes in the [Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area](/source/Lima_and_Callao_Metropolitan_Area) are: - [Ate](/source/Ate_District) – [Callao](/source/Callao) (Routes 4901, 4902, 4904, 4905, 4908, 4911, 9401, 9404 and 9405) - [Carabayllo](/source/Carabayllo_District) – [Miraflores](/source/Miraflores_District%2C_Lima) (Routes 1702, 1705 and 1706) - [Carabayllo](/source/Carabayllo_District) – [Pachacámac](/source/Pachacamac_District) (Routes 1803, 8102, 8104, 8105, 8106, 8107 and 8108) - [Villa el Salvador](/source/Villa_el_Salvador) – [Ventanilla](/source/Ventanilla_District) (Routes 9801 and 9802) - [San Martin de Porres](/source/San_Mart%C3%ADn_de_Porres_District) – [Pachacámac](/source/Pachacamac_District) (Routes 2803, 2804, 2805, 8201, 8203, 8205, 8209, 8211, 8212, 8213 and 8214) - [San Bartolo](/source/San_Bartolo_District) – [San Miguel](/source/San_Miguel_District%2C_Lima) (Routes 8510 and 8511) - [Santiago de Surco](/source/Santiago_de_Surco) – [Ancón](/source/Anc%C3%B3n_District) (Routes 1702 and 1804) - [Villa el Salvador](/source/Villa_el_Salvador) – [San Juan de Lurigancho](/source/San_Juan_de_Lurigancho) (Routes 8306 and 3807) Some older routes were defined by their old numbering until the early 1990s. The old route number is usually prominently displayed on the passenger side of the front window, as a backward reference. Many modern routes, however, do not have this number. As of 2007, old route numbers that are still well known are numbers 2 (route 9504), 8 (route 3810), 9 (route 8403), 23 (routes 8519, 8520 and 3806), 31 (route 3707), 48 (route 3612), 71 (route 4908), 91 (routes 4405 and 4703) and 94 (route 3906). [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] If one company has many routes and generally overlaps with other routes, these different routes may be differentiated by letters: 104A, 104B, 104C, and so on. For instance: 104A (this route is not available) goes from Penal section of San Juan de Lurigancho to San Miguel via downtown on the east side; 104B (route 3509) goes from Mangomarca section of SJL (the original terminus) to San Miguel via the east side; and 104C (this route is not available) goes from Mangomarca to [Miraflores](/source/Miraflores_District%2C_Lima), via the west side. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Taxis [Daewoo Tico](/source/Daewoo_Tico) taxi in downtown Lima Taxis in the city are considered to be an economical mode of transport. As there are no meters, a price must be agreed with the driver prior to commencing the journey. However, many taxi drivers may overcharge inexperienced foreigners with high cab fares. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] They vary in sizes from small four door compacts (generally Korean [Daewoo Ticos](/source/Daewoo_Tico)) to large vans. They are ubiquitous, accounting for a large part of the car stock. Often they can be any car with a taxi sticker on the windscreen. As in other major cities the way to flag them down is to wave your hand up high. There are many different taxi companies in Lima, one of which is Taxi Seguro, which can be contacted directly and collect passengers in company cars. The most common cars used as taxis in Lima are [Kia Rio](/source/Kia_Rio), [Chevrolet Sail](/source/Chevrolet_Sail), [Toyota Yaris](/source/Toyota_Yaris) and some [Toyota](/source/Toyota) and [Nissan](/source/Nissan) station wagon models. In recent years, [vehicle for hire](/source/Vehicle_for_hire) [mobile apps](/source/Mobile_apps) have become more popular, since they usually provide a more comfortable experience than regular taxis, which are often considered not as safe. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Some of the most used taxi apps in Lima are [Beat](/source/Beat_(app)) and [Uber](/source/Uber), and to a lesser extent [Cabify](/source/Cabify) and [DiDi](/source/DiDi). The taxis will travel to a multitude of different locations. Citizens of Lima commonly joke that they have the most educated taxi drivers in the world. The joke is based on the fact that taxi-running is a major source of income for unemployed or under-employed people, including professionals with a university degrees who either rent or own the cars they drive.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] A whole economy spreads from investments in vehicle acquisition to be later rented as taxi cabs. Taxis are the most efficient and fastest way of transportation in Lima, although they are also considered somewhat risky during rush-hour traffic as criminals have been known to disguise themselves as taxi drivers to later steal from passengers at gunpoint.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] An indication of the security of the Taxi is to check if it has the label of the *Setame* on the windshield, which stands for *Servicio de Taxi Metropolitano*, the administrative authority that regulates taxi cabs. *Setame* taxis are in most cases painted in a distinctive yellow colour. Taxis without the *Setame* label are considered to be informal and risky.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] However, in recent times, the *Setame* label is no longer synonymous with safety, with people choosing modern IOS/ Android taxi services to solicit a safe option of transport.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] [Mototaxis](/source/Mototaxis) and [pedicabs](/source/Pedicab) are used in peripheral districts such as [Puente Piedra](/source/Puente_Piedra_District) and [Lurín](/source/Lur%C3%ADn_District) where there is no heavy traffic, although with the spread of urbanization and routes, they are losing ground to regular *micros*. ## Public transport statistics The average amount of time people spend commuting on public transport in Lima during the week is 95 minutes, with 35% of commuters travelling for more than 2 hours every day.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The average amount of time people wait at a bus stop or station is 14 minutes, while 19% of commuters wait for over 20 minutes on average every day.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The average distance people usually travel in a single journey on public transport is 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi), while 17% travel for over 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) in a single direction.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Private cars Normal transit on the [Javier Prado avenue](/source/Avenida_Javier_Prado). In the last two decades, car sales have been growing annually. Now Lima has approximately 1.4 million cars, with industry plans to sell around of 200,000 new vehicles in the coming years. This method of commuting is one of the most common, which is a result of a growing economy and a better rate of income among the citizens of Lima.[7] ## Air transport Lima is served by the [Jorge Chavez International Airport](/source/Jorge_Ch%C3%A1vez_International_Airport), located in [Callao](/source/Callao). It is the largest airport of the country with the largest amount of domestic and international air traffic. It also serves as a major hub in the Latin American air network. Lima also has other airports in [San Bartolo](/source/San_Bartolo_District) and the [Las Palmas Air Force Base](/source/Las_Palmas_Air_Base).[8] ## Pollution Few richer transportation companies use modern bodies made in [Brazil](/source/Brazil) or [Argentina](/source/Argentina). Smaller companies use smaller vehicles such as minibuses and minivans. Since almost all of these vehicles are poorly maintained, they produce a great amount of pollution. Statistics show that in July 2001, the amount of [nitrogen dioxide](/source/Nitrogen_dioxide) (NO2) was of 236.66 mg/m3, the maximum allowable quantity being 100 mg/m3 [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]. The presence of small particles of different materials (dust, lead and other metals), was also high during this month: 294.12 mg/m3, while the allowed limit is 150 mg/m3 [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]. ## See also - [Lima Metro](/source/Lima_Metro) - [El Metropolitano](/source/El_Metropolitano) - [List of metro systems](/source/List_of_metro_systems) - [List of bus rapid transit systems](/source/List_of_bus_rapid_transit_systems) v t e Lima Metropolitan Area Culture Demographics Flag History Timeline Landmarks Mayors People Sport Transport Districts Cono Centro Barranco Breña Jesús María La Victoria Lima Lince Magdalena del Mar Miraflores Pueblo Libre Rímac San Borja San Isidro San Miguel Santiago de Surco Surquillo Cono Este Ate Chaclacayo Cieneguilla El Agustino La Molina Lurigancho-Chosica San Juan de Lurigancho San Luis Santa Anita Cono Norte Ancón Carabayllo Comas Independencia Los Olivos Puente Piedra San Martín de Porres Santa Rosa Cono Sur Chorrillos Lurín Pachacamac Pucusana Punta Hermosa Punta Negra San Bartolo San Juan de Miraflores Santa María del Mar Villa el Salvador Villa María del Triunfo Callao Bellavista Callao Carmen de la Legua Reynoso La Perla La Punta Mi Perú Ventanilla ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Primer tramo de Línea 2 del Metro de Lima operará en el 2016 | El Comercio Perú"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120315114207/http://elcomercio.pe/lima/1386895/noticia-primer-tramo-linea-metro-lima-operara-2016). *elcomercio.pe*. Archived from [the original](http://elcomercio.pe/lima/1386895/noticia-primer-tramo-linea-metro-lima-operara-2016) on 15 March 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Paz Campuzano, Oscar (11 July 2018). ["Obras pendientes en Lima: megaproyectos de infraestructura en espera"](https://elcomercio.pe/lima/obras/obras-pendientes-lima-megaproyectos-infraestructura-siguen-espera-noticia-534961-noticia/). *El Comercio* (in Spanish). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1605-3052](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1605-3052). Retrieved 23 January 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_3-0)** Prensa 2 (22 December 2023). ["Línea 2 del Metro de Lima inició su "marcha blanca": cómo viajar gratis, estaciones y horarios"](https://www.peru-retail.com/inauguracion-de-la-nueva-linea-2-del-metro-de-lima-marcha-blanca-con-viajes-gratuitos/). *Perú Retail* (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2024.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Protransporte. ["Metropolitano"](http://www.metropolitano.gob.pe/). *www.metropolitano.gob.pe*. Retrieved 4 January 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Transporte Lima - Las rutas de las combis de Lima"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110411204408/http://transportelima.com/). *www.transportelima.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.TransporteLima.com/) on 11 April 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Decreto ley N° 26120 – modifica la ley de Promoción de la Inversión privada en las Empresas Del Estado, 2"](http://proinversion.gob.pe/RepositorioAPS/0/0/JER/MARCOLEGALTRIBUTARIO/15-D_L_26120.pdf) (PDF). *pdf*. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["La industria automotriz ya enciende sus motores para vender 210 mil vehículos | LaRepublica.pe"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140113151532/http://www.larepublica.pe/13-01-2014/la-industria-automotriz-ya-enciende-sus-motores-para-vender-210-mil-vehiculos). *www.larepublica.pe*. Archived from [the original](http://www.larepublica.pe/13-01-2014/la-industria-automotriz-ya-enciende-sus-motores-para-vender-210-mil-vehiculos) on 13 January 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Great Circle Mapper"](http://gc.kls2.com/). *gc.kls2.com*. Retrieved 4 January 2023. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Transport in Lima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Lima) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Lima?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.