[sustran] Re: Pedestrian Campaign by Mr. Karnik!!

[Kanthi Kannan]

Dear all

 

Please read this. Great Stuff!!. We only wish we are able to contact people
like Mr. Karnik who can make a difference. :-)

 

 

Regards

Kanthi

 

 

 


Power to the pedestrian

5 Mar 2009, 0101 hrs IST, Kiran Karnik, 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


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 


 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 
Footpaths have been shrinking in a flurry of road-widening projects, and
even existing cycle-lanes have disappeared. An attempt in Delhi 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 Delhi, 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. 

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.
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! 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 Delhi,
the aspiring world-class city, they are so filthy and unsafe that no one
uses them. This, but naturally, does not bother decision-makers. 

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 Europe,
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, London and Singapore, 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. 

In most countries, public authorities and vehicle drivers respect pedestrian
rights, giving walkers the right-of-way in many situations. In India, 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. 

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. 

(The author is a strategy and policy analyst & honorary president, India
Habitat Centre) 

 

 

 

 

 

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