[sustran] Driving on footpaths: How to keep footpaths safe from motorists

[Vinay Baindur]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/driving-on-footpaths-how-to-keep-footpaths-safe-from-motorists/articleshow/52847343.cms?prtpage=1




Driving on footpaths: How to keep footpaths safe from motorists
By ET Bureau | 21 Jun, 2016, 11.51AM
[image: The very fault lies in the way roads and footpaths are designed,
tackling footpath riding needs a combination of engineering and
enforcement, says official.]The very fault lies in the way roads and
footpaths are designed, tackling footpath riding needs a combination of
engineering and enforcement, says official.
BENGALURU: Motorists scooting up on footpaths
<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/footpaths> and endangering
pedestrians is a common sight in Bengaluru. This year, the traffic
<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/traffic> police have booked
6,977 cases of footpath riding, which indicates a weak enforcement compared
with other violation figures.

'Raise Footpath Level, Educate Motorists'

The very fault lies in the way roads and footpaths are designed in
Bengaluru, Pawan points out. "They encourage two wheelers to get in and
out. Tackling footpath riding needs a combination of engineering and
enforcement," says, Pawan Mulukutla, manager, Urban Transport
<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Urban-Transport> at WRI
<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/WRI> India.

*Solutions*

Traffic police can't be expected to do both enforcement and education.

Corporates must come up with road safety policies and campaigns to educate
employees on footpath riding.

Streets have to be designed to ensure motorists can't get onto foot paths.
A simple way is to raise the grade level.

The traffic police should conduct a special drive to drive home the message
that footpaths are for pedestrians.

*Official line*

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hitendra said the city's
vehicle population is increasing by the day and spaces for pedestrians are
shrinking. "The only provision we have is to fine vehicle owners who ride
on footpaths. Also, we aren't authorised to install bollards on footpaths."

'Increase Footpath Width, Install Bollards'

According to MN Sreehari, traffic advisor to government, footpaths are
important for pedestrians. "But with Bengaluru's narrow roads, 42% of those
killed in road accidents are pedestrians.There's no value for human life
and authorities should address this," he says.
Sreehari, traffic advisor to government

*Solutions*

The width of the footpaths needs to be adjusted to match capacity and the
number of pedestrians.

A simple solution is to install concrete bollards to prevent foot path
riding. Each bollard <http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/bollard> could
cost about Rs 800.

The city has about 3,000 traffic policemen for 60 lakh vehicles on 15,000
km of roads. The police can use surveillance cameras to book footpath
riders.

*TenderSURE roads also provide for vehicle parking adjoining foot paths.
This inconveniences both pedestrians as well as traffic.*

Prohibiting roadside parking would allow smooth vehicular movement and
reduce the need for motorists to ride on foot paths.