Often we hear loud voices of the driver of the private vehicles saying that we need wider carriage ways and definitely do not need a footpath. Is this a fact? If all footpaths were removed and only carriage ways existed, would the traffic move at a much faster pace?
Think about it and you will arrive at the answer. The opposite will happen and the traffic will start crawling at an extremely slow pace. As many studies have clearly shown , '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. This low cost traffic improvement measure can bring out substantial reduction in emissions'.*
**Also data from the AP Police shows the following:
1. Dead: 263 Pedestrians: 263/ 391= 67%
2. Injured: 2047 Pedestrians: 2047/ 3447 = 59%,
3. 170/ 263 = 65% of the deaths to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
4. 1151/ 2047= 56% of the injuries to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
Once the motorised vehicle driver touches a pedestrian, the pedestrian is either dead or badly injured. Normally in India, the motorised driver is the one who is held to be at fault. So either the driver gets beaten up by the crowd or has to abscond fast leaving behind a hit and run case. Which ever way one looks at it, the driver is left behind with a trauma to deal with for life. Can we not avoid all this and make ourselves ( the drivers) safer?
So isn't it high time that we got the footpaths barricaded if necessary and safe pedestrian crossings and ensured that our carriage way was clear and drive worthy?
*Source: Study published by the EPTRI, April 2005.
**Source: AP Traffic Police data (2007)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Hi Tech City: Is there a difference?
On July 16, 2008, some of us from the Right to Walk Foundation went to Hi Tech city to meet the APIIC GM, who is in charge of construction of roads and footpaths in that area. We found to our horror that right opposite this office, the HSBC was encroaching the footpaths and putting them to a different use. We have since complained to the DCP, Cyberabad Police Station but so far no further progress is made.The footpaths are actually beautiful, width about 12 feet and height about 8 inches. Ideal for walking. Can some one help us out?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Car is removed from the Footpath
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!!!
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!!!
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
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