Arequipa - Mercaderes Street Pedestrianization
People-Friendly Design
The first four blocks of Mercaderes, the main shopping street in downtown Arequipa, Peru, were transformed into a pedestrian-only path. The first two blocks were completed in December 2008; the final two were finished four months later. In addition, sidewalks were widened on several downtown streets.
Arequipa - Vehicle Ban
Reducing Air Pollution
The Municipality of Arequipa recently banned the use of shared taxicabs, known as lanchones, older than 25 years old, in an effort to reduce air pollution and modernize public transport in the historic city. The new law prompted a citywide strike among all public transport operators.
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The Context
Arequipa, sitting under the shadow of Peru's snow-capped volcano El Misti, has earned the nickname "The White City," for its glistening cream-colored buildings made of volcanic stone. The second largest city in the country - with just over one million inhabitants - is also the commercial and agricultural hub of southern Peru.
