//www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/nyregion/26broadway.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Mayor Plans to Close Parts of Broadway to TrafficBy WILLIAM NEUMAN and MICHAEL BARBARO
Published: February 25, 2009
The city plans to close several blocks of Broadway to vehicle traffic through Times Square and Herald Square, an experiment that would turn swaths of the Great White Way into pedestrian malls and continue Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s effort to reduce traffic congestion in Midtown.
The New York Times
Broadway traffic would also be barred in Herald Square. Although it seems counterintuitive, officials believe the move will actually improve the overall flow of traffic, because the diagonal path of Broadway tends to disrupt traffic where it intersects with other streets.
The city plans to introduce the changes as early as May and keep them in effect through the end of the year. If the experiment works, they could become permanent. The plan was described by several people who were briefed on it this week.
Mr. Bloomberg was expected to announce the plan Thursday. A City Hall spokesman declined comment in advance of the announcement.
The plan calls for Broadway to be closed to vehicles from 47th Street to 42nd Street. Traffic would continue to flow through on crossing streets, but the areas between the streets would become pedestrian malls, with chairs, benches and cafe tables with umbrellas.
Seventh Avenue would be widened slightly within Times Square to accommodate the extra traffic diverted from Broadway.
Below 42nd Street, Broadway would be open to traffic, but then would shut down again at Herald Square, from 35th Street to 33rd Street. Then, below 33rd, it would open again.
The plan is the latest move by Mr. Bloomberg to change the way the city thinks of its streets, making them more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists and chipping away at the dominance of the automobile.
Once the changes are in effect, a large stretch of Broadway in the heart of Midtown would be radically changed.
Last summer, the city narrowed Broadway from 42nd Street to 35th Street by setting aside two lanes on the east side of the street for a bike lane and promenade with tables, chairs and planters.
That project, called Broadway Boulevard, met with some skepticism at first but quickly became a popular lunch spot for office workers and tourists. Under the new plan, officials are considering creating a similar promenade from 47th Street north to the vicinity of Columbus Circle.
A theater industry executive who was briefed on the plan this week said the reaction among Times Square business leaders was largely favorable.
“I think it potentially could be a big plus if it speeds up traffic flow through the Times Square area,” said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the briefing was considered confidential until the mayor announces his plan. “If you have a major pedestrian area, that actually could be something welcoming and lovely.”
Cora Cahan, president of the New 42nd Street, a nonprofit group that oversees seven historic theaters, said she was not briefed on the latest plan but had seen preliminary proposals last year.
“I think it’s very worth trying,” she said, adding that Times Square badly needs more room for pedestrians.
The plan has some risks, especially if it does not deliver on the promise of decreasing congestion.
New York drivers, including cabbies and truck drivers, can be zealous in defending their use of the city’s streets. Their passion helped doom Mr. Bloomberg’s congestion-pricing proposal last year to charge drivers to use the most heavily traveled streets of Manhattan.
Some may also question the timing, now that the city is struggling with a recession. The theater executive who was briefed on the plan said one worry was whether taxis and other vehicles would have difficulty leaving people in front of theaters.
Jeffrey Zupan, a senior fellow for transportation for the Regional Plan Association, an independent organization, said planners had been calling for similar changes for years.
He said Broadway tended to foul up traffic at each intersection with an avenue. To allow for green lights on Broadway, the duration of the green lights on the avenues and cross streets had to be shortened, backing up traffic.
“The lower the volume is on Broadway — or if you eliminate it altogether — then traffic is going to move better,” Mr. Zupan said. “That’s one of the positive things that’s going to come out of this. The win-win is that the space that you’re freeing up will be used by pedestrians.”
Friday, February 27, 2009
GHMC Budget: Transport for the Urban Poor? Pedestrian!!
SAVE THE HYDERABADI PEDESTRIAN FROM EXTINCTION
Hyderabad: Is the GHMC Budget forward looking? Where is the poor pedestrian in all this? How do the urban poor go to earn their livelihood?
A Kilometre of 8 feet width footpath costs ONLY about 30 lakhs!! Can the GHMC not afford to spend that money and save lives?? Basically if about 250 Crores are made available, then the entire city’s footpaths can be made walkable.
GHMC budget forward looking’
Corporation’s budget sees 8.4 p.c. hike from last year
HYDERABAD: Economic slowdown notwithstanding, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, has pegged the next year’s (2009-2010) budget outlay at Rs. 3,159 crore, a clean 8.4 per cent hike from last year’s Rs. 2,920 crore with special focus on housing and poverty alleviation.
Draft budget proposals released here on Thursday by Commissioner S.P. Singh projected a capital expenditure of Rs. 2,160 crore, same as capital receipts, with intent to go for ‘innovative’ methods to raise revenue from property tax in processing Layout Regularisation (LRS) and Building Penalisation Schemes (BPS) as well as PPP modes. Flanked by Special Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu and Additional Commissioner (Finance) B. Ramesh Babu, the Commissioner claimed that the budget was “realistic and futuristic” to propel the “right kind of balanced development”. Separate budget
A separate poverty alleviation budget was proposed for the first time with an outlay of Rs. 870.53 crore (including Rs. 630 crore for housing) or 28 per cent of the overall budget for improving the lives of the poor.
“We were finding it difficult to track the spending on urban community development earlier,” pointed out Mr. Singh and expected the new move to help identify and implement programmes for the poor better. “Our focus is to make Hyderabad an international class mega city with inclusive growth as infrastructure development also mean providing amenities like housing,” he said.
Major projects proposed are road restoration work at Rs. 354 crore, road widening Rs. 171 crore, storm water drains Rs. 180 crore, BRTS Rs. 150 crore, MMTS Rs. 200 crore, River Musi Rs. 15 crore and so on. Accepting that the recession was going to have its impact, he observed that revenues from ads, stamp duty, building fees, etc., could be hit. However, he expects substantial revenue from LRS and BPS processes as more than two lakh have applied for these schemes. “Without increasing property tax, there will be growth from assessment of new buildings, conversion from residential to commercial and extra built up space declared under BPS once the court case is over,” he said.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/27/stories/2009022758580300.htm
Hyderabad: Is the GHMC Budget forward looking? Where is the poor pedestrian in all this? How do the urban poor go to earn their livelihood?
A Kilometre of 8 feet width footpath costs ONLY about 30 lakhs!! Can the GHMC not afford to spend that money and save lives?? Basically if about 250 Crores are made available, then the entire city’s footpaths can be made walkable.
GHMC budget forward looking’
Corporation’s budget sees 8.4 p.c. hike from last year
HYDERABAD: Economic slowdown notwithstanding, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, has pegged the next year’s (2009-2010) budget outlay at Rs. 3,159 crore, a clean 8.4 per cent hike from last year’s Rs. 2,920 crore with special focus on housing and poverty alleviation.
Draft budget proposals released here on Thursday by Commissioner S.P. Singh projected a capital expenditure of Rs. 2,160 crore, same as capital receipts, with intent to go for ‘innovative’ methods to raise revenue from property tax in processing Layout Regularisation (LRS) and Building Penalisation Schemes (BPS) as well as PPP modes. Flanked by Special Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu and Additional Commissioner (Finance) B. Ramesh Babu, the Commissioner claimed that the budget was “realistic and futuristic” to propel the “right kind of balanced development”. Separate budget
A separate poverty alleviation budget was proposed for the first time with an outlay of Rs. 870.53 crore (including Rs. 630 crore for housing) or 28 per cent of the overall budget for improving the lives of the poor.
“We were finding it difficult to track the spending on urban community development earlier,” pointed out Mr. Singh and expected the new move to help identify and implement programmes for the poor better. “Our focus is to make Hyderabad an international class mega city with inclusive growth as infrastructure development also mean providing amenities like housing,” he said.
Major projects proposed are road restoration work at Rs. 354 crore, road widening Rs. 171 crore, storm water drains Rs. 180 crore, BRTS Rs. 150 crore, MMTS Rs. 200 crore, River Musi Rs. 15 crore and so on. Accepting that the recession was going to have its impact, he observed that revenues from ads, stamp duty, building fees, etc., could be hit. However, he expects substantial revenue from LRS and BPS processes as more than two lakh have applied for these schemes. “Without increasing property tax, there will be growth from assessment of new buildings, conversion from residential to commercial and extra built up space declared under BPS once the court case is over,” he said.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/27/stories/2009022758580300.htm
Police seek subways at traffic junctions : Cyberabad
Are You Confused? Don't Worry, So Are They!!
Police seek subways at traffic junctions
Staff Reporter
Existing subways not user-friendly: Cyberabad police chief
FOBs difficult for children and senior citizens to use, says Prabhakar Reddy
Police submitted to government list of subway junctions to be built six months ago
Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police has requested the government to take up construction of subways at busy traffic junctions in view of the increase in accidents on the suburbs.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner S. Prabhakar Reddy especially mentioned the clogged Hi-tec City junction in Madhapur and Uppal crossroads where pedestrians find it extremely difficult to cross. Likewise, there are over 40 other locations where there frequent traffic jams occur on a daily basis, pointed out Mr. Reddy. “We have prepared a list of such junctions and have submitted to the government six months ago, requesting construction of subways,” he said.
About the foot over-bridges (FOBs) constructed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation at different locations, including the one coming up at JNTU crossroads, Kukatpally, he said it would be difficult for children and the aged to climb the steps.
He observed that it would be much easier for people to use a subway than the FOB. He also said that the existing subways were not user-friendly and hence, had to be closed. Subways should be designed in a way to accommodate more commercial aspects like shops, ATMs, etc., which would help people in their daily life. There should be good illumination and security personnel should be deployed to ensure better safety for persons using them, he added.
Police seek subways at traffic junctions
Staff Reporter
Existing subways not user-friendly: Cyberabad police chief
FOBs difficult for children and senior citizens to use, says Prabhakar Reddy
Police submitted to government list of subway junctions to be built six months ago
Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police has requested the government to take up construction of subways at busy traffic junctions in view of the increase in accidents on the suburbs.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner S. Prabhakar Reddy especially mentioned the clogged Hi-tec City junction in Madhapur and Uppal crossroads where pedestrians find it extremely difficult to cross. Likewise, there are over 40 other locations where there frequent traffic jams occur on a daily basis, pointed out Mr. Reddy. “We have prepared a list of such junctions and have submitted to the government six months ago, requesting construction of subways,” he said.
About the foot over-bridges (FOBs) constructed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation at different locations, including the one coming up at JNTU crossroads, Kukatpally, he said it would be difficult for children and the aged to climb the steps.
He observed that it would be much easier for people to use a subway than the FOB. He also said that the existing subways were not user-friendly and hence, had to be closed. Subways should be designed in a way to accommodate more commercial aspects like shops, ATMs, etc., which would help people in their daily life. There should be good illumination and security personnel should be deployed to ensure better safety for persons using them, he added.
Don’t push pedestrians to subways: Chidambaram
Express News Service Posted: Feb 19, 2009 at 2348 hrs IST
New Delhi: Building subways for pedestrian crossing is a “retrograde move”, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said while answering a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday about the state of traffic at Gol Dhak Khana roundabout. “Pedestrians have as much, if not a greater, claim to roads as vehicles,” Chidambaram told the House. “The tendency to push pedestrians into subterranean subways and allow vehicles to use the road surface is a retrograde move.”
Rajya Sabha member Rajniti Prasad had raised a question on the absence of pedestrian facilities at the Gol Dak Khana roundabout. What has added to the traffic nightmare in the area is the ongoing construction on the New Delhi-IGI Airport Metro line, expected to be completed next year. Five arterial roads converge at the Gole Dak Khana, which has been declared a heritage building.
Chidambaram told the house that he had discussed the issue with Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal on Wednesday morning. “The traffic police have posted nine policemen to manually regulate traffic in that area,” he said. “There is also one policeman on motorcycle who moves around regulating the traffic. All traffic is stopped for 20 seconds every two to two-and-a-half minutes, allowing pedestrians to cross during non-peak hours. I advised the police commissioner that they should stop all traffic for at least 10 to 15 seconds every 2 to 3 minutes even in peak hours to enable the elderly, children, women and others to cross the road.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dont-push-pedestrians-to-subways-chida.../425224/
New Delhi: Building subways for pedestrian crossing is a “retrograde move”, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said while answering a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday about the state of traffic at Gol Dhak Khana roundabout. “Pedestrians have as much, if not a greater, claim to roads as vehicles,” Chidambaram told the House. “The tendency to push pedestrians into subterranean subways and allow vehicles to use the road surface is a retrograde move.”
Rajya Sabha member Rajniti Prasad had raised a question on the absence of pedestrian facilities at the Gol Dak Khana roundabout. What has added to the traffic nightmare in the area is the ongoing construction on the New Delhi-IGI Airport Metro line, expected to be completed next year. Five arterial roads converge at the Gole Dak Khana, which has been declared a heritage building.
Chidambaram told the house that he had discussed the issue with Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal on Wednesday morning. “The traffic police have posted nine policemen to manually regulate traffic in that area,” he said. “There is also one policeman on motorcycle who moves around regulating the traffic. All traffic is stopped for 20 seconds every two to two-and-a-half minutes, allowing pedestrians to cross during non-peak hours. I advised the police commissioner that they should stop all traffic for at least 10 to 15 seconds every 2 to 3 minutes even in peak hours to enable the elderly, children, women and others to cross the road.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dont-push-pedestrians-to-subways-chida.../425224/
Walk Path For R2W??
The Way Ahead For the R2W:
1. Signature Campaign Launched
2. Request to Reconstruct/ Build New Footpaths:
Mehdipatnam: The R2W in July 2008 had requested permission to rebuild the ‘Rhythu Bazaar footpaths’ but we realised after a few months that we need to reword the petition and also involve celebrities and the media so that the footpaths do not again become dirty and a urinating area. Also we need to talk to people to find out where a toilet should be built and as to how it can be made more useful to the people.
Lakadikapul: The R2W is planning to request permission to reconstruct the already available footpath in front of HDFC Bank. Presently it is used a parking lot.
Masab Tank: The R2W is planning to request permission to construct footpaths from Archie’s to Medivision. At many of these places, the footpaths are used as parking lots.
3. Walkathon: On Feb 17, 2009, the Goethe-Zentrum and the R2W coordinated with Vidyaranya School and conducted a ‘Study Walk’. The post walk presentations to the invited authorities were very interesting and well received. The R2W plans to have more such walks in the future.
4. Conduct Walkability Studies: This is a fairly scientific method that gives a few guidelines to enable the walker to decide how walkable a stretch is. [We are enclosing a Report regarding the same]. The R2W is involving students from the urban planning department of JNA and FAU, Masab Tank in the study.
5. Conducting and participating in Transport/ traffic related Seminars. On Saturday, Feb 21, 2009, the R2W with the Goethe Zentrum conducted a seminar on Urban Transport Issues in Hyderabad. It was well attended and the basic idea of giving a Charter to the Government will be taken up.
6. Formation of a Pedestrian Safety Cell:
The R2W has been always for a dialogue between the officials and the activist so that both the parties can understand each others view points and work together. The R2W feels that unless a single authority takes charge of the pedestrian issues, there are going to be no solutions for the issues raised.
Presently there are 4/ 5 departments with GHMC itself to deal with footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Each department decides the fate of the footpath on its own.
1. Signature Campaign Launched
2. Request to Reconstruct/ Build New Footpaths:
Mehdipatnam: The R2W in July 2008 had requested permission to rebuild the ‘Rhythu Bazaar footpaths’ but we realised after a few months that we need to reword the petition and also involve celebrities and the media so that the footpaths do not again become dirty and a urinating area. Also we need to talk to people to find out where a toilet should be built and as to how it can be made more useful to the people.
Lakadikapul: The R2W is planning to request permission to reconstruct the already available footpath in front of HDFC Bank. Presently it is used a parking lot.
Masab Tank: The R2W is planning to request permission to construct footpaths from Archie’s to Medivision. At many of these places, the footpaths are used as parking lots.
3. Walkathon: On Feb 17, 2009, the Goethe-Zentrum and the R2W coordinated with Vidyaranya School and conducted a ‘Study Walk’. The post walk presentations to the invited authorities were very interesting and well received. The R2W plans to have more such walks in the future.
4. Conduct Walkability Studies: This is a fairly scientific method that gives a few guidelines to enable the walker to decide how walkable a stretch is. [We are enclosing a Report regarding the same]. The R2W is involving students from the urban planning department of JNA and FAU, Masab Tank in the study.
5. Conducting and participating in Transport/ traffic related Seminars. On Saturday, Feb 21, 2009, the R2W with the Goethe Zentrum conducted a seminar on Urban Transport Issues in Hyderabad. It was well attended and the basic idea of giving a Charter to the Government will be taken up.
6. Formation of a Pedestrian Safety Cell:
The R2W has been always for a dialogue between the officials and the activist so that both the parties can understand each others view points and work together. The R2W feels that unless a single authority takes charge of the pedestrian issues, there are going to be no solutions for the issues raised.
Presently there are 4/ 5 departments with GHMC itself to deal with footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Each department decides the fate of the footpath on its own.
Hyderbadi Issues and Some "Tryable" Solutions
Issues in Hyderabad that are probably unique and Hyderabadi
Footpaths are dirty because of urination and garbage dumping
--All Government and Transport Officials need become a Pedestrian Once a WEEK.
--Fund Your Walk Ways(A named tile like in a temple) and Pedestrian Crossings
--Dirty Footpaths ( Use the background to get art work done by people and have a competition month after month)
Ideas / Solutions: Footpaths
If Footpaths are made Wider, it could become
An Additional Lane for Motorbike Traffic:
There are many designs available where a motorbike cannot access the footpaths; Make a two small step structure instead of a ramp and also have a railing for the wheelchair person to climb.
A Parking Issues:
Ensure that all Retail Outlets clearly write on a board the parking facility available for the outlet and also a toll free number that gives the public a right to call and complain regarding the parking problem.
A Hawking Zone:
A dialogue needs to be had with the different stakeholders so that the hawkers also understand that the pedestrians need to be protected. In fact the R2W would say that ‘Leave the Hawkers alone for the Time Being’
Footpaths are dirty because of urination and garbage dumping
--All Government and Transport Officials need become a Pedestrian Once a WEEK.
--Fund Your Walk Ways(A named tile like in a temple) and Pedestrian Crossings
--Dirty Footpaths ( Use the background to get art work done by people and have a competition month after month)
Ideas / Solutions: Footpaths
If Footpaths are made Wider, it could become
An Additional Lane for Motorbike Traffic:
There are many designs available where a motorbike cannot access the footpaths; Make a two small step structure instead of a ramp and also have a railing for the wheelchair person to climb.
A Parking Issues:
Ensure that all Retail Outlets clearly write on a board the parking facility available for the outlet and also a toll free number that gives the public a right to call and complain regarding the parking problem.
A Hawking Zone:
A dialogue needs to be had with the different stakeholders so that the hawkers also understand that the pedestrians need to be protected. In fact the R2W would say that ‘Leave the Hawkers alone for the Time Being’
The Panacea for all Traffic Evils- Road Widening?
Solutions: Many people, even some in authority believe that road widening is a panacea to all traffic chaos. ???
What could Road Widening result in?
Traffic engineers often compare traffic to a fluid, assuming that a certain volume must flow through the road system. But urban traffic may be more comparable to a gas that expands to fill available space (Jacobsen, 1997).
Empirical evidence unequivocal over a rather counter-intuitive result: Additional road construction results in more traffic congestion. Induced traffic basically means that the city cannot build its way out of the problem. While additional road construction may lead to a temporary reduction in traffic levels, this free additional space eventually attracts road traffic especially when there is latent demand for private vehicle usage.
Source: Source Book, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
The above does not mean that Road Widening is NOT REQUIRED AT ALL or SHOULD NOT BE RESORTED to but it simply means that the issue needs to thought through more carefully and a decision needs to be taken.
If we have the pedestrians out of the carriageway, definitely the traffic chaos will reduce and the flow of traffic will be smoother.
What could Road Widening result in?
Traffic engineers often compare traffic to a fluid, assuming that a certain volume must flow through the road system. But urban traffic may be more comparable to a gas that expands to fill available space (Jacobsen, 1997).
Empirical evidence unequivocal over a rather counter-intuitive result: Additional road construction results in more traffic congestion. Induced traffic basically means that the city cannot build its way out of the problem. While additional road construction may lead to a temporary reduction in traffic levels, this free additional space eventually attracts road traffic especially when there is latent demand for private vehicle usage.
Source: Source Book, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
The above does not mean that Road Widening is NOT REQUIRED AT ALL or SHOULD NOT BE RESORTED to but it simply means that the issue needs to thought through more carefully and a decision needs to be taken.
If we have the pedestrians out of the carriageway, definitely the traffic chaos will reduce and the flow of traffic will be smoother.
Huge Benefits. Yet We Do Not Have Safe Walkable Paths?
BENEFITS
Benefits from Safe Pedestrian Access Paths–
Reduces accidents
Increases trader income#
Improves Health##
Reduces Trauma of the Driver: APSRTC any Study Health Conducted?
Increases Social Interaction
Increases Tourism
Improves Mobility
Increases Public Transport Usage
Reduction in Vehicular emissions ###
#People no longer frightened of the Vehicle on the Road. Pedestrians are inclined to go Window-shopping do Shopping. Better Walkways lead to increase in Business Incomes
Source: Asian Development Bank Document
##Through a study of 12,000 US households a correlation has been established between urban densities and levels of obesities. Family members in lower density suburbanised areas showed a markedly higher tendency to obesity than their counterparts in more walkable, higher density areas.
Source: Source Book, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
###The intermixing of vehicles and pedestrian movements in the absence of footpaths results in reduced speeds and increase in number of accidents. The provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings and can reduce these conflicts to a great extent and increase the average speed. The reduction in vehicular emissions over Business as usual and corresponding percentage reductions in this scenario are presented in tables for the road stretches Sanatnagar to Nalgonda 'X' Road and Panjagutta to Secunderabad
Source: Integrated Environmental Strategies, Study for City of Hyderabad, Prepared by the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute; (EPTRI); April 2005
Benefits from Safe Pedestrian Access Paths–
Reduces accidents
Increases trader income#
Improves Health##
Reduces Trauma of the Driver: APSRTC any Study Health Conducted?
Increases Social Interaction
Increases Tourism
Improves Mobility
Increases Public Transport Usage
Reduction in Vehicular emissions ###
#People no longer frightened of the Vehicle on the Road. Pedestrians are inclined to go Window-shopping do Shopping. Better Walkways lead to increase in Business Incomes
Source: Asian Development Bank Document
##Through a study of 12,000 US households a correlation has been established between urban densities and levels of obesities. Family members in lower density suburbanised areas showed a markedly higher tendency to obesity than their counterparts in more walkable, higher density areas.
Source: Source Book, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
###The intermixing of vehicles and pedestrian movements in the absence of footpaths results in reduced speeds and increase in number of accidents. The provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings and can reduce these conflicts to a great extent and increase the average speed. The reduction in vehicular emissions over Business as usual and corresponding percentage reductions in this scenario are presented in tables for the road stretches Sanatnagar to Nalgonda 'X' Road and Panjagutta to Secunderabad
Source: Integrated Environmental Strategies, Study for City of Hyderabad, Prepared by the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute; (EPTRI); April 2005
Why Should the Pedestrian Suffer?
THE SAD FACTS
One Road Accident Occurs every Two minutes: Ministry of Home Affairs
India has only 1 percent of the world's vehicles, accounts for nearly 6 percent of the total cases of unintentional injuries caused by vehicles: WHO
Perhaps saddest of all, Pedestrians make up the vast majority of victims. The World Bank estimates that 55 percent of Indian pedestrians become victims of road crashes at some point in their lives.
In terms of mortality per 10,000 vehicles, the rate in India is as high as 14 compared to less than two in developed countries. The cost of road crashes has been assessed at one to two per cent of GDP in developed countries. A study by the Planning Commission in 2002 estimated the social cost of road accidents in India at Rs.55, 000 crore annually (2000 prices), which constitutes about 3% of the GDP. (Gross Domestic Product)
The World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention released by the World Health Organization on the World Health Day (7th April, 2004) has highlighted that nearly 12 lakh people are known to die each year in road accidents globally. Keeping in view the increasing global concerns about the growing impact of road traffic accidents, the United Nation General Assembly and World Health Organization have declared the year 2004 as the year of road safety. In India alone, about 1 lakh of people die each year.
Source: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ROAD SAFETY and TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, February, 2007
In Hyderabad, on an average in a week, 5 Pedestrians die and about 40 are Injured. *
*AP Police data for the Year 2007
Safe to Walk?
Where to Walk?
Where to Cross?
How to Cross?
Who Suffers?
Percentage of People having Motorized Transport in Hyderabad -23 to 25%
Percentage of people who use Footpaths in Hyderabad- 75%
THE WEAK SUFFER MOST
Children
The Old
Physically Handicapped
Women
One Road Accident Occurs every Two minutes: Ministry of Home Affairs
India has only 1 percent of the world's vehicles, accounts for nearly 6 percent of the total cases of unintentional injuries caused by vehicles: WHO
Perhaps saddest of all, Pedestrians make up the vast majority of victims. The World Bank estimates that 55 percent of Indian pedestrians become victims of road crashes at some point in their lives.
In terms of mortality per 10,000 vehicles, the rate in India is as high as 14 compared to less than two in developed countries. The cost of road crashes has been assessed at one to two per cent of GDP in developed countries. A study by the Planning Commission in 2002 estimated the social cost of road accidents in India at Rs.55, 000 crore annually (2000 prices), which constitutes about 3% of the GDP. (Gross Domestic Product)
The World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention released by the World Health Organization on the World Health Day (7th April, 2004) has highlighted that nearly 12 lakh people are known to die each year in road accidents globally. Keeping in view the increasing global concerns about the growing impact of road traffic accidents, the United Nation General Assembly and World Health Organization have declared the year 2004 as the year of road safety. In India alone, about 1 lakh of people die each year.
Source: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ROAD SAFETY and TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, February, 2007
In Hyderabad, on an average in a week, 5 Pedestrians die and about 40 are Injured. *
*AP Police data for the Year 2007
Safe to Walk?
Where to Walk?
Where to Cross?
How to Cross?
Who Suffers?
Percentage of People having Motorized Transport in Hyderabad -23 to 25%
Percentage of people who use Footpaths in Hyderabad- 75%
THE WEAK SUFFER MOST
Children
The Old
Physically Handicapped
Women
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