[Urbanstudy] Pedestrians defenceless on dangerous city roads

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/552380/pedestrians-defenceless-dangerous-city-roads.html



You are here: Home <http://www.deccanherald.com/> » City
<http://www.deccanherald.com/contents/73/city.html> »
Pedestrians defenceless on dangerous city roads
Nikhil Gangadhar, Bengaluru: June 15, 2016, DHNS
[image: Bad roads and absence of traffic policemen at busy junctions are
proving dangerous for pedestrians. DH File PHoto]

*The city is becoming increasingly unsafe for pedestrians. On June 1, a
professor from a reputed college was seriously injured when three youths,
who were triple-riding on the wrong side, drove on to the footpath in a bid
to avoid a car and knocked her down.*

Matilda (name changed), a resident of Hayes Road off Residency Road,  told
Deccan Herald: “I was walking on the pavement on Hayes Road after going to
a bank. I noticed three youths speeding on a bike in the wrong direction on
a one-way road. In order to avoid a car that was going in the right
direction, they came on to the footpath and rammed into me. I fell down and
suffered bruises in my legs, hands and chest. The trio did not bother to
stop.’’ Passersby rushed to her help.

This is not the first time she experienced something like this. “There are
no traffic police deployed to keep a check on the one-way violations. Most
of two-wheeler riders are aware that there is no traffic police on Hayes
Road and take advantage by riding in the opposite direction. Police should
keep a check on the violator, if not someone might get killed,” she added.
A senior traffic police officer, who did not want to be named, said he was
aware pedestrians are at risk. “The chances of being knocked down are high,
especially when crossing the roads, because the BBMP has not provided
proper pavements and marked zebra crossings.

 “At every co-ordination meeting with all civic bodies, we request the BBMP
to paint the road markings and zebra crossings. But they give lame excuses
saying the tender process is on and that they would work on it at the
earliest. However, nothing is being done. Also, pavements need to be
maintained properly to enable pedestrians to walk safely instead of using
the road.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hitendra, said, “There are no
proper pavements. Even those that exist are encroached on by shops. These
must be cleared with the help of BBMP. Skywalks with elevators should be
introduced since people hesitate to climb the stairs. Pedestrians subways
are ill maintained. All these issues should be looked into to make roads
safe for pedestrians.”
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup_mail.sarai.net/attachments/20160615/126b4d38/attachment.html>