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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Please read this. Great Stuff!!. We only wish we are able to
contact people like Mr. Karnik who can make a difference. </span></font><font
size=2 face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></font><font
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Kanthi<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=heading1><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Power to the pedestrian<o:p></o:p></span></font></ARTTITLE></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=headingnext><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>5 Mar 2009, 0101 hrs IST, Kiran Karnik, </span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><!-- google_ad_section_start -->Power to the people,
is a slogan now rarely heard. To many, all it means is electrification of
homes! Yet, these four words have the force of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>history behind them. They connote a philosophy, a
system of governance, which has swept across the globe, laying low many a
king, feudal lord and dictator. Not all autocrats and despots have
disappeared yet, but the idea of people’s power has certainly shaken
them. <br>
<br>
Democracy is a necessary means of empowering people; however, to the extent
it is restricted to voting, it is far from sufficient. Electoral democracy
has many limitations — even drawbacks — especially when it
degenerates into majoritarianism or unregulated licence. Oppression of the
few by the many is, unfortunately, not an unknown by-product of democracy.
Ironically, the reverse — small organised groups of hoodlums holding
the majority to ransom (as in many bandhs and strikes) — is also
facilitated by “democratic freedom” and encouraged by vote-bank
politics. If empowerment of every individual is the goal, it is necessary to
go beyond mere elections and ensure: participatory democracy; tolerance and
encouragement of diversity in life-style and thought; decentralisation of
political and economic power; and equitable access to information,
communication and education. <br>
<br>
Decentralisation — through the creation of a third level of formal
governance by constitutional amendments empowering panchayats and urban local
bodies —and the Right to Information Act have, together, given a huge
boost to grass-roots democracy and accountability. Potentially, these are
revolutionary steps in truly transferring power to the people. Yet, the
actual realisation of this is stymied by many obstacles and sometimes
contradicted by other measures. The rich and powerful continue to enjoy
special privileges and wield influence completely disproportionate to their
numbers; they also appropriate a far bigger share of public expenditure than
is justified. The plight of the pedestrian is a good metaphor for this. <br>
<br>
Political netas and corporate leaders are hardly ever seen walking in the
streets of our cities (though a few do run on them during marathons).
Therefore, pedestrians — mostly the ubiquitous but indefinable
“common man” — get short shrift. Over the last few years,
the motor car has been getting ever greater precedence over the pedestrian
and the cyclist. <br>
Footpaths have been shrinking in a flurry of road-widening projects, and even
existing cycle-lanes have disappeared. An attempt in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Delhi</st1:place></st1:City> to give precedence to cycles and
buses through dedicated lanes (as part of a bus rapid transit system) has met
tremendous resistance from motorists. Fortunately, following its success in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Delhi</st1:place></st1:City>, a
“metro” (train) system is now being put in place in major cities.
However, one is not sure if this is a genuine recognition of the dire need to
create mass public transportation systems, or is merely the flavour of the
day. <br>
<br>
The doubt about decision-makers’ serious commitment to efficient public
mobility arises from the contrast between the hundreds of crores being spent
on fly-overs and road-expansion in cities, and the distinct miserliness and
lethargy with regard to procurement of buses and facilities for pedestrians. </span></font><b><font
size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The priority for cars
at the cost of pedestrians is evidenced by the “free left turn”
at traffic signals. While this facilitates the movement of vehicular traffic,
the resulting continuous flow means that a pedestrian wanting to cross the
road must either be capable of out-running Usain Bolt, or be a great believer
in re-incarnation!</span></font></b> Pedestrian over-bridges and sky-walks
would be solutions but these, unlike the proliferation of fly-overs, are a
rarity. Escalators and lifts to help the aged or differently-abled to use
overbridges — where they exist — are, of course, unaffordable,
unlike fly-overs! Pedestrian subways are but few; in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Delhi</st1:place></st1:City>, the aspiring world-class city, they
are so filthy and unsafe that no one uses them. This, but naturally, does not
bother decision-makers. <br>
<br>
In contrast, in many cities around the world, the pedestrian is getting
increasing importance — and space. In London — a second home to
many of India’s rich and powerful — the width of the foot-paths
on Oxford Street, for example, is probably double that of the road. Despite
the very heavy traffic and constant congestion, no one even thinks of
widening the road at the cost of the foot-path. In many other cities,
particularly in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, large areas are
“pedestrian-only” zones. The result, despite adverse weather for
many months in the year, is far more walkers. Most people there walk to and
from the nearest station or bus-stop. In contrast, our shrinking, uneven and
often non-existent footpaths discourage walking. Those who do walk are often
left with no option but to use the road — disrupting traffic and
risking injury. Little wonder that Indians prefer to use a car even for short
distances. On the other hand, <st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City> and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
amongst other cities, levy steep congestion charges on cars entering
designated parts of the city, thereby discouraging use of private transport
while reducing pollution and traffic density. <br>
<br>
In most countries, public authorities and vehicle drivers respect pedestrian
rights, giving walkers the right-of-way in many situations. In <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, cars
run on fuel power, but also on feudal power: they assume almost divine
right-of-way everywhere. Government’s actions — through its
investment policy, priorities and its disdain for pedestrians —
reinforce this sense of superiority. Even in Mumbai, a city in which the
offspring of the upper-classes too used to travel to school or college by bus
or the “local” (train), the change is perceptible; driven,
doubtless, by the neglect and decay of a public transport system trying hard
to retain its legendary efficiency. <br>
<br>
To make “power to the people” beyond mere cliché, what better way
than by empowering pedestrians? Here is an opportunity for the central and
state governments to work closely with the third tier, the urban body, and
initiate a major exercise in pedestrianisation; to put this in the same
class, and with similar priority and resources, as building fly-overs or
modernising airport terminals. Industry and civil society must play a major
role in shaping this new societal architecture and life-style, one that is
environment-friendly and empowering. <br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>(The author is a strategy and policy
analyst & honorary president, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> Habitat Centre) </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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