Should a 77% increase in pedestrian deaths in Bengaluru city from 2021 to 2023 be surprising at all, when our footpaths are so notoriously un-walkable, edging out everyone to stray onto the dangerous roads? The data is alarming, but does it stir policy makers and civic agencies to rethink, redesign and rebuild our footpaths to be safer, walk-friendly and seamlessly accessible?
Forget for a moment the chaotic labyrinth of roads on the city’s outskirts, where walkable footpaths are a rarity. In the heart of the city, the so-called smart city roads originally designed with a pedestrian-first approach now see walkers as an afterthought. Wide, obstacle-free walkways that beckon pedestrians in droves are nowhere to be seen, the smartness of it all obliterated by the explosive vehicular onslaught.
Broken or missing pavement tiles, poorly lit walkways, encroachments at every turn, debris dumped in total disregard of walkers, vehicles parked everywhere… The seemingly endless list of obstacles makes every step risky. But is there a way to audit these obstacles with a network approach, identify fixes, estimate a cost, and recommend targeted solutions to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)?
