[sustran] Re: Right to Walk and Pollution in Hyd: Interesting read

[Sunny]

   Dear Kanthi,

Thanks a lot for the reference.

I am doubtful on how having pedestrian crossings will increase traffic
speeds, unless such crossing mean building over-bridges - which take space
from the foot-paths and worsen the pain of pedestrians to cross a road. The
argument is simple "Why should a pedestrian climb up and down a (long)
bridge, just for a car to go fast?"

Since you belong to the Right to Walk foundation, it would be great if you
can lobby for the pedestrians and cyclists and against the FOB it would be a
great step.

Mixing traffic might not be a bad idea unless done in a very fashionable
way, see the concept of shared space for more info. There are cases of
reduced accidents and better driver behaviour in areas with shared space.

Also in terms of pollution, the FOB's use cement and need extra lighting
(electricity) which are good contributors for pollution and so are widened
roads

It will be very useful for the group (and esp. for myself) if you can
elaborate on the short term and long term measures that you were talking of
in Hyderabad.

thanks again for the mail and best of luck!
cheers
sunny

Kanthi Kannan wrote:

http://www.epa.gov/ies/pdf/india/iesfinal_0405.pdf


The study in the link given above is a well documented effort by a US agency
and an Indian agency about the various facets of pollution control.
Throughout the Study one of the major pollution reduction strategies
suggested is Separation of Vulnerable Road Users (Provision of Footpath).
I quote: "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 statistics given in support of the suggestion is interesting to check.

In Hyderabad, the Right to Walk Foundation is trying to check with the
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) as to whether any of these
recommendations have been adopted?

Needless to say that widened roads are replacing the existing footpaths
because the authorities feel that widened roads are the solution for all
traffic problems.

We definitely need to take a few short term measures and a few long term
strategies so that our city does not have the tag of the most polluted metro
in the country.

Kanthi Kannan

The Right to Walk Foundation
www.right2walk.com



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*Santhosh (Sunny) Kodukula*

Urban Transport Expert
GTZ – Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP)
0942, Transport and Tourism Division,
UNITED NATIONS, ESCAP Building,
Rajadamnern Nok Ave.,
Bangkok 10200, THAILAND

Ph: +66 (0)2 288 1321
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