July 19, 2008
Saw that the car on the Jewellery Showroom footpath was removed. Heard some one say that the car had completed 'its assignment' ( it was a prize for the buyers) and it had nothing to do with the fact that I had complained. What ever be the reason, lets be happy that something has worked!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Who owns the footpaths?? Naturally the shop owner!!
The shop is in the central area of Hyderabad. 
This photograph was taken on June 14, 2008 and sent to the GHMC Commissioner and also the Addl. Comm of Police. So far there has been no response despite several remainders. As on July 9, 2008, the situation remains unchanged. The next step is to encourage people to take pictures of footpaths that are obstructed and send them to the authorities copying me on the mail. I think that if many more people were to take up this issue, the authorities will be left with no option but to clear the footpaths.
This photograph was taken on June 14, 2008 and sent to the GHMC Commissioner and also the Addl. Comm of Police. So far there has been no response despite several remainders. As on July 9, 2008, the situation remains unchanged. The next step is to encourage people to take pictures of footpaths that are obstructed and send them to the authorities copying me on the mail. I think that if many more people were to take up this issue, the authorities will be left with no option but to clear the footpaths.Walkability Surveys: Do we need it?
Walkability Surveys
Pedestrians in India are a neglected lot. The callous disregard for their rights is evident in from the fact that there isn’t a single law, legislation, rule or code that voices their rights and gives them the much needed legal platform from which to launch their battle against those who encroach upon their rights. This is not to say that a valid law will necessarily make a pedestrian’s battle against the authorities any easier – the time, the money and the effort that go into a legal battle, as is well-documented, do act as deterrents in a pedestrian raising his voice against a denial of his rights.
So this is why we see pedestrians, choosing to risk their lives on a daily basis by walking alongside fast-moving cars and ominous buses instead of fighting the battle for footpaths. The risk to life isn’t just a myth; statistics suggest that more than 45% of all accidents that take place in the city Hyderabad are pedestrian-related.
There are many aspects in the pedestrian environment that contribute to the overall concept of a walkable community. Walking could be a pleasurable activity and would definitely go a long way in reducing air pollution in our city. People walk everywhere – from home to work, to shop, to school, and to the park. Both ends of all trips in a car or bus are also walk trips.
Q. What is a walkability survey?
A walkability survey is a tool that enables us to collect data about our city’s pedestrian environment in a very systematic way.
Q. Why do walkability survey, when we know that Hyderabad has a poor walkability index? Are we not trying to find out the obvious?
A. We agree with you that Hyderabad would have a poor walkability index. Often the perception of what the problem is need not be the reality. Most people when asked to state the major encroachers on the city’s footpaths answered that it was the hawkers that were the major menace. This is often not the case. On each road the encroacher may vary. On some roads the major encroachers are the Retail Outlets of Big Business houses and in fact on some roads, these business houses have already extended their business premises to the road itself. So a walkability survey will be able to pinpoint the exact nature of the problem. In fact in Hyderabad, in many places, the encroachers are the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s urinals and the transformers of the Electricity distribution agency.
Q. What are the Benefits of the walkability survey?
A. A walkability survey could lead to the following benefits:
(i) To pinpoint the types of encroachment or obstacles that hinder free movement for the pedestrian.
(ii) This in turn could act as a major tool in having a dialogue with the authorities to make pedestrian safety a priority issue.
(iii) This could also lead to the drawing up of more effective action plans based on a problem-solving approach.
(iv) The walkability index is a very powerful tool to make policy makers understand what needs to be done.
(v) It could urge the policy makers to have a Pedestrian Management Plan that will clearly give the dimensions of the footpaths of all the roads and will also indicate the Pedestrian Crossings.
In France, for example, President Jacques Chirac in his 2002 ‘Bastille day’ speech identified road safety as a personal priority for his administration. Political leadership at this high level sent a powerful message to government departments, the police, and the public about the high cost of road traffic deaths and injuries in France. In 2002 more than 7000 people were still being killed each year on French roads. By 2005 fewer than 5000 people were killed, a drop of more than 20%.
We in Hyderabad need to ensure that a similar message comes from our politicians and is thus translated into a serious campaign for ‘The Right to Life’ vis-à-vis the pedestrian.
Pedestrians in India are a neglected lot. The callous disregard for their rights is evident in from the fact that there isn’t a single law, legislation, rule or code that voices their rights and gives them the much needed legal platform from which to launch their battle against those who encroach upon their rights. This is not to say that a valid law will necessarily make a pedestrian’s battle against the authorities any easier – the time, the money and the effort that go into a legal battle, as is well-documented, do act as deterrents in a pedestrian raising his voice against a denial of his rights.
So this is why we see pedestrians, choosing to risk their lives on a daily basis by walking alongside fast-moving cars and ominous buses instead of fighting the battle for footpaths. The risk to life isn’t just a myth; statistics suggest that more than 45% of all accidents that take place in the city Hyderabad are pedestrian-related.
There are many aspects in the pedestrian environment that contribute to the overall concept of a walkable community. Walking could be a pleasurable activity and would definitely go a long way in reducing air pollution in our city. People walk everywhere – from home to work, to shop, to school, and to the park. Both ends of all trips in a car or bus are also walk trips.
Q. What is a walkability survey?
A walkability survey is a tool that enables us to collect data about our city’s pedestrian environment in a very systematic way.
Q. Why do walkability survey, when we know that Hyderabad has a poor walkability index? Are we not trying to find out the obvious?
A. We agree with you that Hyderabad would have a poor walkability index. Often the perception of what the problem is need not be the reality. Most people when asked to state the major encroachers on the city’s footpaths answered that it was the hawkers that were the major menace. This is often not the case. On each road the encroacher may vary. On some roads the major encroachers are the Retail Outlets of Big Business houses and in fact on some roads, these business houses have already extended their business premises to the road itself. So a walkability survey will be able to pinpoint the exact nature of the problem. In fact in Hyderabad, in many places, the encroachers are the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s urinals and the transformers of the Electricity distribution agency.
Q. What are the Benefits of the walkability survey?
A. A walkability survey could lead to the following benefits:
(i) To pinpoint the types of encroachment or obstacles that hinder free movement for the pedestrian.
(ii) This in turn could act as a major tool in having a dialogue with the authorities to make pedestrian safety a priority issue.
(iii) This could also lead to the drawing up of more effective action plans based on a problem-solving approach.
(iv) The walkability index is a very powerful tool to make policy makers understand what needs to be done.
(v) It could urge the policy makers to have a Pedestrian Management Plan that will clearly give the dimensions of the footpaths of all the roads and will also indicate the Pedestrian Crossings.
In France, for example, President Jacques Chirac in his 2002 ‘Bastille day’ speech identified road safety as a personal priority for his administration. Political leadership at this high level sent a powerful message to government departments, the police, and the public about the high cost of road traffic deaths and injuries in France. In 2002 more than 7000 people were still being killed each year on French roads. By 2005 fewer than 5000 people were killed, a drop of more than 20%.
We in Hyderabad need to ensure that a similar message comes from our politicians and is thus translated into a serious campaign for ‘The Right to Life’ vis-à-vis the pedestrian.
"The Hindu" Article Published on July 3, 2008
The Right to Walk Foundation -
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070360830300.htm
Wanted: sidewalks for city’s pedestrians City Pulse
(D.V.L. Padma Priya and Yogendra Kalavalapalli)
HYDERABAD: How long has it been since you last walked on clean sidewalks, devoid of obstacles that make for a pleasant walking experience? Not many roads in our city can boast of decent s despite our politicians’ shrill claims of being world class.
Usually, a pedestrian is the ‘king of the road’ who has the ‘right of the way’. But in our city, a pedestrian is considered a hindrance and sidewalks an obstruction for the ‘free-flow’ of traffic. Kanthimathi Kannan, founder of the Right to Walk Foundation says,“in India either we are unaware or are deliberately unaware of footpaths.” According to a World Bank report more than 40 per cent Hyderabadis are pedestrians. Her focus is to create public awareness so that people can force GHMC to get onto its feet and act on issues that matter.
Recently a student of a women’s college in Begumpet was hit by a motorist as she was crossing the road. “Most of us are scared to use the footpath during peak hours because motorists drive on it,” says Sapna Jain, a student. Vehicles hurtling towards pedestrians leaves them confused resulting in avoidable accidents.
According to Andhra Pradesh Road Safety Authority, pedestrians account for about 45 per cent road accident deaths in the State. Section 374 of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act clearly states that it is the duty of the commissioner of GHMC to take measures for the safety of pedestrians.
Section 2(46) of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955 defines public streets as including sidewalks.
However, most public streets are devoid of sidewalks – a clear violation of the GHMC’s own rules. And where they exist, they are unusable with public urinals, electrical transformers, telephone exchange boxes, trees and encroachments eating into the sidewalks. Footpaths have been removed in many areas to facilitate road widening, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the road. According to Vedakumar, president of Forum for a Better Hyderabad, “70 per cent of road is used by 25 per cent of people. It is this 25 per cent who demand better and wider roads all the time while the rest who should demand wider and better sidewalks remain silent.”
So what makes for a good road? According to Dr. Vijay Kishore, Director, School of Planning and Architecture, JNTU, an ideal road should comprise four lanes, each measuring 3.5 to 3.8 metres with a footpath of 4 feet width and 7 inches height. But not many urban planners seem to be taking these factors into consideration. As Vedakumar puts it, GHMC is worried more about lawns and beautification than in providing basic amenities like sidewalks, zebra crossings and so in.
Encroachment is a major problem that has been plaguing authorities more so in market areas like Koti and Charminar. Though GHMC demarcated hawker zones, they continue to spill onto the roads. Just in this month alone, the Charminar traffic police booked 1,140 cases against hawkers. However, owing to political pressure the police are forced to retract.
However it shouldn’t be taken for granted that hawkers are the sole encroachers. Corporates and big business houses have encroached upon walkways in prime localities like Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Mehdipatnam, Patny circle, Paradise and Panjagutta.
It is not always the motorists who are at fault but also the pedestrians. Jay-walking is common with pedestrians randomly hitting the road when they feel like crossing a road. Foot-over-Bridges (FoBs) have their own drawbacks as they don’t take into consideration the aged and the physically-challenged. Though subways have proven to be a good alternative to ease pedestrian traffic, they haven’t really taken off in the city.
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070360830300.htm
Wanted: sidewalks for city’s pedestrians City Pulse
(D.V.L. Padma Priya and Yogendra Kalavalapalli)
HYDERABAD: How long has it been since you last walked on clean sidewalks, devoid of obstacles that make for a pleasant walking experience? Not many roads in our city can boast of decent s despite our politicians’ shrill claims of being world class.
Usually, a pedestrian is the ‘king of the road’ who has the ‘right of the way’. But in our city, a pedestrian is considered a hindrance and sidewalks an obstruction for the ‘free-flow’ of traffic. Kanthimathi Kannan, founder of the Right to Walk Foundation says,“in India either we are unaware or are deliberately unaware of footpaths.” According to a World Bank report more than 40 per cent Hyderabadis are pedestrians. Her focus is to create public awareness so that people can force GHMC to get onto its feet and act on issues that matter.
Recently a student of a women’s college in Begumpet was hit by a motorist as she was crossing the road. “Most of us are scared to use the footpath during peak hours because motorists drive on it,” says Sapna Jain, a student. Vehicles hurtling towards pedestrians leaves them confused resulting in avoidable accidents.
According to Andhra Pradesh Road Safety Authority, pedestrians account for about 45 per cent road accident deaths in the State. Section 374 of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act clearly states that it is the duty of the commissioner of GHMC to take measures for the safety of pedestrians.
Section 2(46) of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955 defines public streets as including sidewalks.
However, most public streets are devoid of sidewalks – a clear violation of the GHMC’s own rules. And where they exist, they are unusable with public urinals, electrical transformers, telephone exchange boxes, trees and encroachments eating into the sidewalks. Footpaths have been removed in many areas to facilitate road widening, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the road. According to Vedakumar, president of Forum for a Better Hyderabad, “70 per cent of road is used by 25 per cent of people. It is this 25 per cent who demand better and wider roads all the time while the rest who should demand wider and better sidewalks remain silent.”
So what makes for a good road? According to Dr. Vijay Kishore, Director, School of Planning and Architecture, JNTU, an ideal road should comprise four lanes, each measuring 3.5 to 3.8 metres with a footpath of 4 feet width and 7 inches height. But not many urban planners seem to be taking these factors into consideration. As Vedakumar puts it, GHMC is worried more about lawns and beautification than in providing basic amenities like sidewalks, zebra crossings and so in.
Encroachment is a major problem that has been plaguing authorities more so in market areas like Koti and Charminar. Though GHMC demarcated hawker zones, they continue to spill onto the roads. Just in this month alone, the Charminar traffic police booked 1,140 cases against hawkers. However, owing to political pressure the police are forced to retract.
However it shouldn’t be taken for granted that hawkers are the sole encroachers. Corporates and big business houses have encroached upon walkways in prime localities like Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Mehdipatnam, Patny circle, Paradise and Panjagutta.
It is not always the motorists who are at fault but also the pedestrians. Jay-walking is common with pedestrians randomly hitting the road when they feel like crossing a road. Foot-over-Bridges (FoBs) have their own drawbacks as they don’t take into consideration the aged and the physically-challenged. Though subways have proven to be a good alternative to ease pedestrian traffic, they haven’t really taken off in the city.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A letter from The Right to Walk Foundation to Automobile manufacturers
The Right to Walk Foundation
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.right2walk.com/
Dear Automobile Manufacturer
The Right to Walk Foundation has been created to create awareness and fight for the Right to Walk on the clean and encroachment free pavements amongst the citizens of Hyderabad.
I quote from the Road Safety manual: (Commission for Global Safety) “Road traffic crashes can also disproportionately affect the poorest groups in society. In low and middle income countries poor people are usually vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). They are at particular risk from the greater variety and intensity of traffic mix and the lack of separation from other road users. Slow moving and non motorised modes have to share road space with fast moving vehicles, leading to increased conflict and risk. In Mumbai, India pedestrians accounted for, 78% of road fatalities.”
Currently, we in The Right to Walk Foundation are in the process of contacting various automobile manufacturers to try and convince them of the need to form a lobby to pressurize the Police department to provide manned pedestrian crossings all over the city. Automobile manufacturers would have a definite interest in proposing and implementing solutions to reduce accident rates. In this regard, an informative video on pedestrian safety can be viewed at
http://chennairoads.wordpress.com/2007/08/06/road-safety-and-traffic-education-2/
We believe that Automobile Giants like Maruti, Ford, Ashok Leyland, and the Tatas can ensure that footpaths can be made clean and encroachment free and pedestrian crossings can be implemented.
Why do Auto Giants need to support the cause of the footpaths and pedestrian crossings?
The benefits of footpaths
1. With clean and encroachment free footpaths the motorised vehicles will be able to give a better mileage because the pedestrian will not meander or wander to the carriageway.
2. Better Pedestrian crossings will ensure that the driver does not have to halt every inch of the way and go at a reasonable speed. Above all the bus drivers will definitely find it easier to drive and bus transport efficiency will also improve.
3. Pollution will definitely come down. The presence of both the clean and encroachment free footpaths and manned pedestrian crossings will reduce the accident rates at least of the pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable members of the society. Today in India, with rising fuel costs it is all the more important that environmental friendly options are available.
What is indeed important to note is that ‘Any one of us can be a road accident victim.’
Let us take care that this does not happen to any of us.
Regards
The R2W Foundation team
The Right to Walk Foundation and the APSRTC Bus drivers
The Right to Walk Foundation June 27, 2008
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.right2walk.com/
The Right to Walk Foundation has been created to create awareness and fight for the Right to Walk on the clean and encroachment free pavements amongst the citizens of Hyderabad.
We find that the pavements are taken over by a number of people. People park their vehicles on them, hawkers sell their wares keeping their ‘bandis’ on them and the worst thing is that people use the pavements as a ‘urinating place’. Corporates use the place in front of their retail outlets as parking space. In most cases, there is no clear demarcation of the footpath and the carriageway.
Why should the APSTRC ensure that pavements are usable?
The pedestrians will walk on the pavements or at least the police can enforce that the pedestrians walk on the pavements and this will make the traffic flow smoother. The traffic flow being smoother has many positives. One is that pedestrian deaths will be greatly reduced, greater fuel efficiency and also the risk of heart diseases reduces for the bus drivers.
Thus APSTRC has a number of gains in the long term if they can manage to pavements clear for public use.
A typical road in Hyderabad means that there are a number of people walking on the road and crossing the road at various points. The problems of people who are walking on the roads instead of the foot paths means that the bus driver has to extremely careful as he pulls the bus into the bus stops. He cannot really see the people who are at the extreme left of the bus and hence would find it difficult to check whether any pedestrian is in line with the movement of the bus. Also pedestrians who are crossing the road cross at various points since there are no fixed pedestrian crossings at all in Hyderabad.
Why should the drivers of APSTRC try to get the pavements made usable?
If the people instead of walking on the roads are made to walk on footpaths, then the drivers have a number of benefits.
Among them are
Have fewer accidents with pedestrians: The drivers will find the roads only with motorists and not have pedestrians on the road thereby reducing the number of pedestrian deaths.
Have less stress and tension while driving: Since the pedestrians will only walk on the footpath, the driver can drive without much of stress since he does not have to worry whether people are going to cross or walk on the road. This reduction in stress will benefit the driver’s health in the long term.
Less pollution: Since the bus will be at a greater speed throughout the journey the pollution will be definitely less because the bus will have a greater fuel efficiency and less stop and go.
We hope that APSTRC will take up this matter with the concerned authorities and make pavements pedestrian friendly.
As of July 3, 2008, the matter about the responsibility of footpaths is pending with the State Information Commissioner’s office. Neither the GHMC nor the Roads and Buildings accept the responsibility of the footpaths on the roads belonging to the Roads and Buildings.
It is a win-win situation for all the peolple, if clean and encraochment free footpaths are made in the city.
We have been trying to contact the APSRTC officials to try and get the message across of the necessity of having clean and encroachment free footpaths and safe pedestrian crossings.
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths
http://www.right2walk.com/
The Right to Walk Foundation has been created to create awareness and fight for the Right to Walk on the clean and encroachment free pavements amongst the citizens of Hyderabad.
We find that the pavements are taken over by a number of people. People park their vehicles on them, hawkers sell their wares keeping their ‘bandis’ on them and the worst thing is that people use the pavements as a ‘urinating place’. Corporates use the place in front of their retail outlets as parking space. In most cases, there is no clear demarcation of the footpath and the carriageway.
Why should the APSTRC ensure that pavements are usable?
The pedestrians will walk on the pavements or at least the police can enforce that the pedestrians walk on the pavements and this will make the traffic flow smoother. The traffic flow being smoother has many positives. One is that pedestrian deaths will be greatly reduced, greater fuel efficiency and also the risk of heart diseases reduces for the bus drivers.
Thus APSTRC has a number of gains in the long term if they can manage to pavements clear for public use.
A typical road in Hyderabad means that there are a number of people walking on the road and crossing the road at various points. The problems of people who are walking on the roads instead of the foot paths means that the bus driver has to extremely careful as he pulls the bus into the bus stops. He cannot really see the people who are at the extreme left of the bus and hence would find it difficult to check whether any pedestrian is in line with the movement of the bus. Also pedestrians who are crossing the road cross at various points since there are no fixed pedestrian crossings at all in Hyderabad.
Why should the drivers of APSTRC try to get the pavements made usable?
If the people instead of walking on the roads are made to walk on footpaths, then the drivers have a number of benefits.
Among them are
Have fewer accidents with pedestrians: The drivers will find the roads only with motorists and not have pedestrians on the road thereby reducing the number of pedestrian deaths.
Have less stress and tension while driving: Since the pedestrians will only walk on the footpath, the driver can drive without much of stress since he does not have to worry whether people are going to cross or walk on the road. This reduction in stress will benefit the driver’s health in the long term.
Less pollution: Since the bus will be at a greater speed throughout the journey the pollution will be definitely less because the bus will have a greater fuel efficiency and less stop and go.
We hope that APSTRC will take up this matter with the concerned authorities and make pavements pedestrian friendly.
As of July 3, 2008, the matter about the responsibility of footpaths is pending with the State Information Commissioner’s office. Neither the GHMC nor the Roads and Buildings accept the responsibility of the footpaths on the roads belonging to the Roads and Buildings.
It is a win-win situation for all the peolple, if clean and encraochment free footpaths are made in the city.
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