Paper Bike Lanes for a Fragmented City. Cycling Infrastructure and Experience in San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru.

The unequal urban growth of Lima has produced physical discontinuities in peripheral districts. Such is the case in the district of San Martín de Porres, located in the so-called Cono Norte, where unequal access to the available cycling infrastructure is evident.

This research examines the physical conditions for cycling mobility and their effects on the travel experience and the users' sense of appropriation of the road space. To this end, an exploratory-analytical approach is used. First, a cartographic survey of the main bike lanes was conducted, recording their continuity, physical and operational barriers. Then, attributes of connectivity and urban permeability were measured, such as intersection density, block size, and the quality of intersections. With this information, a synthetic fragmentation indicator was built, which allowed for a more precise analysis of the conditions affecting cycling mobility in the district. Finally, mobile ethnography was applied, in which conflicts of use, diversion strategies, and moments of tension were recorded.

The results show that, although there is a cycling network of approximately 20 km, it is disjointed. The mobile ethnography revealed that users are in constant dispute over the lane. Examples of this are observed at the intersections of Av. Universitaria with Av. Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo and Av. Universitaria with Av. Perú, where interruptions are noticeable, especially at the crossings. In these areas, the bike lane narrows and lacks safe separation from the highway, while deteriorated pavement and the invasion of trash worsen the conditions. The research highlights the importance of improving the existing bike lanes in peripheral districts, as the current deficiencies generate circulation conflicts and affect user safety. Improving them before expanding would ensure a more efficient and safer cycling network.