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/
Friday, February 27, 2009
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
Friday, November 7, 2008
Join Us in the 20 K Signature Campaign To Save The Pedestrian
The 20K Signature Campaign of R2W Foundation
In Hyderabad today, Footpaths are fast disappearing. In many places they were already missing. Many Footpaths are used as Public Urinals. Safe Pedestrian Crossings are non-existent. Those footpaths in clean areas are being encroached upon by Malls and Retail Shops, which use them as Parking for Customers. Road widening is being done by GHMC by simply removing footpaths.
Where does the Pedestrian walk?
Naturally, the Pedestrian has to walk on the Road, where he/she risks being hit by a vehicle.
Crossing the road is even more risky because there are no Pedestrian Crossings. The few Pedestrian Crossings that exist are not enforced.
The Pedestrian is always at risk for life and limb. This results in an average of 5 Pedestrians being killed in Hyderabad every Week. Tragically, the lack of Pedestrian Safety affects the Old, the Children, The Handicapped and the Poor more severely
The administration of Hyderabad has completely neglected issues of Pedestrian Safety. It has failed to provide basic amenities such as Footpaths on each road and safe and convenient Pedestrian Crossings. The Right to Walk safely is a Fundamental Right, which is being denied to the Citizens of Hyderabad. Is it not sad that the 25% of People who own Motorized Vehicles monopolise 100% of the road?
The Right to Walk Foundation is working towards making Hyderabad Walkable again. The Mission of the Foundation is to educate The Government and the Citizens of Hyderabad about this vital issue.
The Right To Walk Foundation is raising the following questions:
1. Who is responsible for Pedestrian Safety?
2. Is there a policy in GHMC and the State Government on Pedestrian Safety?
3. What are the duties of the Police in Ensuring Pedestrian Safety?
4. Why are there no Enforced Pedestrian Crossings?
5. Why is action not taken on Malls/Retail outlets, which illegally take-over Footpaths for Parking?
6. Why is action not taken on Vehicles parked on Footpaths?
7. Why are encroachments on Footpaths not cleared?
The Signature Campaign to collect 20,000 signatures from the vulnerable section of society such as School Children, Senior Citizens, College Students and The Handicapped. The purpose is to:
1. Educate the Citizens of Hyderabad on this Vital Issue.
2. Publicise the issue through print and electronic media.
3. Hold a Walkathon with the Signed Banners.
4. Petition the GHMC, the Police, The CM with the Signed Banners and their Photocopies.
This process will continue until Hyderabad becomes a ‘Pedestrian Friendly City’.
Contributions are welcome. A/c The Right to Walk Foundation, 426-0101000-99916, Axis Bank, Hyderabad-500028
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