Non-shopping malls

Hope the exaggeration is only artistic. Malls have NOT BECOME the meeting places. There is a big demand for recreation around the city, which is going unfulfilled.

• If the malls become meeting points, and not shopping points, they will die with time, problem will take care of itself.
• What is wrong in malls becoming a meeting point? If you are expecting all teenagers to dance and prance around around trees in the parks, best of luck in working on their preferences.
• Like it or not, what people want is what happens. If the malls are indeed popular (which I DO NOT believe to be the case), read it as lack of options for quality shopping experience (can't park, can't walk, can't get a bill, can't return). So fix that, instead of working against what people want.

Naveen, by saying that:

people tend to take pride in meeting others at Forum mall or Garuda mall rather than meeting at "non-trendy" spaces such as Lalbagh or Cubbon park.

You are only buying into all the advertizing and advertorials. That statement isn't true, do not buy into or spread commercialized definitions of "trendy". Nobody that I know sees any "pride" in these things.

By forcing such "perceptions" of people on the people, nobody will win converts for sustainable living concepts. Its a classic mistake all activists make - push an exaggerated sense of guilt to sell their thoughts. Such approach puts people on backfoot, doesn't win anyone anything. Selling "guilt" is an old school and western approach to get some charitable notes out of very thick wallets. Here in our city/country, don't need notes, need hands. And to get hands, you need to engage, not put people on defensive.

Like in the original post above:

The food courts are less crowded than the neighborhood restaurants serving idli-vada.

What exactly does that mean? That line tells me that the author only goes to the food courts, and not to Adiga's or Sagar's (as in good Darshini's) on early weekday or late weeked mornings.

I think the main reason why malls are popular with some people as they are places where one can walk and shop without stress - once one has parked ones car.  I personally dislike malls and the air usually makes me sick.

I am increasing realizing that the fundamental problem in Bangalore is that the footpaths have become unwalkable. If, for example, they had decent footpaths in areas such as Commercial Street and Brigade Road - along with decent connectivity and/or parking - people would prefer to do their shopping there are the whole environment is a lot better. Air is fresher, experience is better, prices are lower and can be bargained etc. The same thing applies to local markers such as 8th Cross in Malleswaram and Gandhi Bazaar. I dont even think they necessarily need be closed to traffic since that seems to be a pipe dream.

If there were decent footpaths in Bangalore it would also reduce a lot of other traffic as many people would walk or bike rather than drive - at least locally.

I only wish there was some megabucks to be made by building proper footpaths - then our corrupt politicians would express some interest. Meanwhile, the rot continues.

Ramesh