TOPICS: For pedestrians' day
I was totally shocked when floods of people were dashing on the streets of Ratna Park at the rate of 230 per minute. It was a live counting for a research project. And these walking lanes are in the worst condition and used for various business purposes too increasing the risk for pedestrians. There is no need to commit mistakes for your landing in accidents. The mistakes others make usually cause accidents on the roads of the metropolitan city. “Because of the busy traffic and the precarious situation, I always accompany my grandchildren,” an old man at Gyaneshwor highlighted his plight, after picking them from their school.
The condition of the roads is such that one can hardly believe that returning home each day safely is possible. Accidents are commonplace in the valley, the same is applicable across the entire nation. You have to be elastic built to get through the narrow pedestrian lanes which are almost always covered with vendors, hoarding boards, small businesses, motorcycles and other parked vehicles.
This is the tragedy of our country’s biggest city. It’s ridiculous to assume that the reports are not in the hands of the government agencies and the concerned authorities as they are also the victims of the same. But, little is being done to ease the plight of the pedestrians, as the heavy congestions scales newer heghts. Causes can be pinpointed but nothing is being done because of the vastness of the problem. A quarter may think of soliciting international donors. However, the distressing condition could be reversed at only a nominal cost with the effective implementation of the existing rules and regulations.
We can easily widen the roads with ‘for pedestrians only’ footpaths, get tough on those adding hurdles or parking their vehicles on the footpath, manage the crossing points, maintaining infrastructures (street lightning, waiting shed , paved roads,greenery ), and not forgetting conveniences for the differently abled.
Our small initiatives can create changes. Maybe, we can reduce our dependency on fossil fuel by walking as far as possible. The use of vehicles cannot be eliminated for good, but moving towards carbon neutral status can help. Pedestrians will remain so the need goes to make their lives on the road enjoyable and safe.