Transport workers in Lima, Peru, mobilized Thursday, March 5, 2026, to demand increased government action against rising crime targeting the transportation sector. The protests come as drivers face increasing threats of extortion and violence, raising concerns about safety and the stability of public transit.
The Association of Urban Transport Carriers of Peru (ATSUPER) organized the demonstration, bringing transport workers to the streets of downtown Lima. According to a spokesperson for ATSUPER, Frank Gómez, the group marched on foot toward the Congress and Presidential Palace to seek a response from officials. “We have taken the decision not to go with vehicles due to the fuel issue, people want to rationalize, it will just be a march,” Gómez said. “We are seeing if it will be Plaza Dos de Mayo or Plaza San Martín. To Congress and the Palace because we have not yet had a response from Minister Miralles or the president.”
ATSUPER represents more than 100 formal public transportation companies and has been seeking a meeting with President José María Balcázar since he took office to address the ongoing security concerns. The association is also calling for the full implementation of Law 32490, which provides preventative measures and compensation for the families of drivers who have been killed.
Despite the planned demonstration, reports indicate that public transportation services in Lima continued to operate normally on Thursday.
The protests underscore the growing anxieties within the transportation industry regarding safety and the need for stronger government intervention to combat criminal activity. The situation highlights the challenges facing Peru’s public transit system and the urgent need for solutions to protect both workers and passengers.
