manoj

With the auto shaping the city, pedestrians are now an endangered species in Delhi. Cities across the world, however, are conserving space for them. A look at what can be done here.

By all standards — especially when compared to other Asian metros — Delhi’s roads are overcrowded and accidentprone. But what’s most shocking is that 52% of its road accident victims are pedestrians — a clear indication that the city is not at all thinking about them.

In the name of pedestrian facilities, the government and civic bodies are building foot overbridges or subways that are badly lit and crowded with beggars. Sidewalks are fast disappearing, leaving people with little choice but to jump over dividers or sprint across roads. As experts point out, it is as if the city is being planned for cars, and pedestrians are coming in the way. While cities across the world are trying to make its roads safer for pedestrians, Delhi is pushing them above or below the ground to make traffic move faster. A look at what can be done to protect pedestrain rights:

Define Pedestrian

There is a need to define the term ‘‘pedestrian’’. The problem with our planning, experts say, is that civic bodies do not have the real numbers. Dr Geetam Tiwari of IIT-Delhi’s Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) says: ‘‘Even a person travelling in a bus is a pedestrian because he walks to the bus stop. We do not somehow consider him a pedestrian.’’ A look at real numbers shows that a majority — over 70% of people — is pedestrians. This makes it imperative for the government to protect them through special facilities or legislations.

Need for a Master Plan

Cities in the US, like Portland, have developed a ‘‘Master Plan for Pedestrians and Bicycle Users’’. This policy document governs a cities projects for pedestrians and serves as a guide for financial investment. Just like a Master Plan for any city, this helps in setting aims for the administration.

Pedestrian-only streets

Most European cities have declared certain streets as ‘‘pedestrian only’’. Copenhagen, for instance, has developed street-side cafes for people in streets that have a number of markets. The administration changed the traffic flow and made them exclusive to pedestrians after these streets witnessed a series of accidents. Delhi can take up this model by declaring markets or plazas as pedestrian-only.

Campaigns

One of the biggest problems is lack of awareness among motorists in Delhi. Says Dr Nishi Mittal, senior scientist at Central Road Research Institute’s (CRRI) traffic engineering and safety division: ‘‘We have not been able to inculcate the basic respect for pedestrian rights in motorists. People just do not allow pedestrians to cross. In many of our surveys, we have found that people are not even aware of the concept of zebra crossings. The stop line norm is hardly followed. There is an urgent need to start awareness campaigns on pedestrian rights.’’

Pedestrian crossings

The government’s policy is increasingly shifting focus from on-surface pedestrian and zebra crossings to FOBs and subways. Says Dr Tiwari: ‘‘The solution is not in FOBs or subways. These sometimes inconvenience pedestrians. Pedestrians should be kept at grade as much as possible by making pedestrian crossings.

Stiff penalties for accidents

This can go a long way in discouraging motorists from driving rashly. In Singapore, for instance, a driver’s license is cancelled if he injures a pedestrian.

Guiding the disabled

The civic bodies need to ensure that a walk to the bus stop is barrier-free. It should plan its sidewalks accordingly and go for audible pedestrain traffic signals. In London, the pedestrian light gives out a loud beep on turning green to help the visually-impaired cross the road. There are tactile strips as well to guide them.

Separate legislation

As Dr Mittal says: ‘‘This would not only protect pedestrians, but also help punish errant road users who try to jump and run across roads. At present, there is the Motor Vehicles Act, which is for any offence pertaining to traffic. If at all there are any other offences, the Traffic Regulation Act is enforced. But there is no separate legislation for pedestrians.’’

MONEY TALK

Govt is spending crores on flyovers, but experts say, these have hardly reduced congestion. This is what the city can do for pedestrians, says Dr Geetam Tiwari of TRIPP, if it can forego just one flyover that costs Rs 350-500 cr (depending on the length and existence of clover leaves)

• Rs 1 cr/km for pedestrian facilities (length of PWD roads is 375 km and one less flyover could mean using Rs 500 cr for this)
• Over 700 new lowfloor buses (costs around Rs 70 lakh), adding to the fleet of DTC. This would mean fewer vehicles on roads and less congestion, making the roads safer
• More pedestrian crossings by just installing traffic signals that cost a couple of thousands of rupees

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07

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