Hi, we use footpaths when we have to travel a short distance
or if it helps us reach our destination in a shorter time, than take a vehicle and
get caught in slow moving traffic or circuitous u-turns. However, exercising
that option is not for the faint-hearted, as it often turns out to be as
treacherous as treading a minefield.
Decently maintained footpaths in Bangalore have become as
rare as sparrows and even on arterial roads they are in bad shape. Recently
when the German Consulate in the city was planning to hold Indo–German Urban
Mela, it had to plead with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to fix the roads
and footpath near the consulate building!
The slabs on most pavements are often not properly fixed,
but they look deceptively firm and you realise their true state only when you
step on them. Your heart misses many beats, while left dangling.
At some places the slabs are missing and you have to use
your athletic skills to dart over them. A glimpse at the view below will make
your stomach churn. It’s one of those tell tale repositories of our collective
abdication of civic sense.
Dodging litter is another big challenge. It ranges from
household waste in polythene bags to what remains of morning ablution carried
out by cattle and pooches (from strays to pure breeds residing in gated
communities). Quite often one has to take a chance of stepping on the road, and
risk their limbs, to make way for cows relieving on footpaths, quite unmindful
of the surroundings. Even more unmindful are men who treat footpaths as open
air urinals. This malaise cuts across social status, caste and economic
boundaries.
Near traffic junctions and markets the hapless pedestrian
gets elbowed out by cobblers, vegetable and other vendors. With barely a space
to have a toehold over footpath, many get down to the road and this only adds
to the congestion on the roads. At some places we have power transformers taking a
Lion’s share.
And lastly, during the rush hours of morning and evening, pedestrians
are often subjected to the deadliest challenge. They have to contend with footpath
bikers, trying to beat the traffic pile ups near various signals. They use
footpaths to dart past the bumper to bumper traffic – and let pedestrians be damned.
Also Read: Random Jottings
Also Read: Random Jottings
