Pedestrian amenities and safety - Bangalore, Swabhimana

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Project to bring to focus problems faced by pedestrians in namma Bengaluru and to find solutions to various issues regarding pedestrian safety and rights via fruitful discussions on the subject between the citizens and various stake holders.

The project is being steered by Swabhimana, an experienced trust dedicated to citizen participation causes in Bangalore. More praja members with interest in the subject should join and help in whatever ways possible. For example: members can start highlighting pedestrian issues in detail via spot surveys in select localities.

Key contacts:

A lot of work (meetings with BBMP, Trafic Police etc) has been happening on-ground, just that updates haven't been flowing regularly as Swabhimana folks are not that tech savvy. But that should get fixed once more members get in with them to help out.

[Project created on behalf of Srivathsa and Mr Ananda Rao]

Pedestrian Voice - A joint campaign by Swabhimana and Praja

SWABHIMANA  and  PRAJA  are planning to bring together citizens ,stake holders and elected representatives on a common platform to discuss pedestrian related problems in different areas of Bengaluru

PEDESTRIAN VOICE is a campaign to bring to focus problems faced by pedestrians in namma Bengaluru and to find solutions to various issues regarding pedestrian safety and rights has brought together SWABHIMANA and PRAJA to create a platform to enable fruitful discussions on the subject between the citizens and various stake holders.  We believe that with a sustained campaign we can have a better city in the next 2-3 years.

Background 

BENGALURU was once called  a pedestrians’ paradise . Footpaths were clear and user friendly.There was no fear of being knocked down by a vehicle and it was a pleasure to walk . Footpaths, though poorly lit, were totally free of encroachments. 

Due to rapid urbanisation and increase in vehicle population foot paths have become  a casuality and neglected. Footpaths have become narrow due to widening of roads  to accomodate vehicles and in some busy areas they don't exist. Poor vision and defective planning on the part of various stake holders has today forced pedestrians on main roads to be exposed to accidents. Bengaluru has a network of 4500 km of roads, 40,000 intersections,about 800 manned and signalised intersections and vehicle population of over 3 millions .The city population is in excess of  6.5 millions. Due to poor traffic management and pedestrian safety concern Bengaluru is amongst top five cities in India in number of road accidents and resulting fatalities. Every year 900 to  1000 people die due to road accidents ,of which about  350 are pedestrians.Thousands of crores of rupees are spent in Hospitalisation,Rehabilitation and Insurance every year .
 
We need to give the pedestrian his rightful place in the scheme of things.  Pedestrians cause the least amount of congestion on the roads and environmental damage.  In addition walking is one of the most healthful exercises.  Bangalore has been largely blessed with a good climate devoid of extreme weather conditions. 
 

Objectives of this project

The objectives of this project are 3-fold

a. Ensure pavements exist and are in good shape in the first place. Work with BBMP to identify stretches of pavements (200-300m) where pavements either don't exist or are in bad shape.

b. Minimize encroachments.  We are talking here about cars being parked, poles, etc.  Hawkers are not in scope as agreed between Swabhimana and BBMP.  This is a contentious issue which might simply lead us nowhere.  Work with BBMP and BTP

In the longer term work with elected representatives and BBMP/BTP/BMLTA/BMRCL to evolve a pedestrian friendly approach to town planning.  This will depend on how well the short term project goes.

Swabhimana has already met with BBMP Special Commissioner (Mr.Srikar) and BTP and have been assured of their full support.  Communication attached.

What is expected from Praja members?

a. Swabhimana and some praja members will meet up with authorities, etc

b. What others who cannot participate on the ground can do is to send photographs of footpaths in bad shape/encroached from their respective wards.  Please indicate the ward number/area name, the street name, number (main road/cross road) and some landmarks.  This will make it actionable

Once we have data we will go meet with BBMP.

About Swabhimana

Swabhimana is a platform for like mided groups in Bangalore whose objective is to create a Bengaluru that is clean, green and safe through citizens’ participation.

Founded by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bangalore City Corporation in 1995 as a “citizen – local government interactive forum”, Swabhimana has over the years evolved into a sustained platform of Non-Government Organisations and Residents Welfare Associations in Bangalore, whose vision is to make Bangalore a Cleaner, greener and a safer place to live. Swabhimana was registered as a Public Trust in April 2002.

Swabhimana (Mr.Ananda Rao, Mr.Shanmukh Patel)

Praja (Shekhar Mittal, Deepak Rajanna, Muralidhar Rao, Srivathsa)

 

 
AttachmentSize
Meeting with SC- BBMP office 25 March 2009[1].doc21 KB
Add[1].Commis traffic.doc43 KB
Reply frm add, traffic.doc263 KB

Survey of Brigade Road - Residency Road towards Hosur Road

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Pedestrian Infrastructure

Here is a survey of the pavement of Brigade Road between Residency Road and the old Ashoknagar Police station.  This is along the left of the road as the traffic moves.

Decided to take a walk with my family from Richmond Town to Brigade Road.  What an unpleasant experience.  On the way to Brigade Road, bikes were on the pavement coming straight at us and honking.   Crossing the road at Vellara junction, I had to shout at the vehicles to let us go when the pedestrian crossing was green. 

Coming to this stretch itself, it is quite broad for the most part except when it reaches the old Ashok Nagar police station.  The footpath is in reasonably good shape but has broken stretches and even one part where there is the remnant of a bus stop (with the stubs of iron poles still in  the ground).  The road next to the footpath is very very busy as it connects CBD with Hosur Road and bikes often come on to the pavement to beat stationary traffic. 

BBMP needs to put guard rails along both sides of the road to prevent bikes from using the footpath.  Where breaks are needed to let vehicles into buildings (e.g St.Joseph's College of Bus. Admn>) bollards need to be put up perpendicular to the pavement to make sure bikes don't misuse the break.

Further near the old Ashok Nagar police station (now demolished and still not dully cleared), there is an apology of a pedestrian crossing.  Work needs to be done to make sure people can cross safely and have a place to stand and wait.

Plan to do a couple of surveys each week.  Images attached.

Srivathsa