Who cares for the pedestrian

“There are very few signals in the city which indicate when pedestrians can cross the road,” Can pedestrians be totally ignored ? Citizen’s rights activist Aroona Nafday does not think so. “Most people are pedestrians at some time or the other so this is not an issue one can ignore. Pedestrians are a part of the traffic and fall under the purview of the police as such.

Unfortunately, pedestrian rights are not recognised in this city.” She is of the firm opinion that the pedestrians themselves, need to form a pressure group to initiate action from the authorities. Zebra crossings and signals indicating when it is safe for the pedestrian to cross are not sufficient measures to safeguard the interests of pedestrians. “Zebra crossings should be accompanied by boards that instruct drivers to stop, look and proceed. In Pune they only serve to lull pedestrians into a false sense of security by believing that the traffic will slow down at a zebra crossing,” says citizen rights activist Brigadier (retd) N B Grant who believes that if these signs do not serve their purpose they should be done away with.

“Traffic sense needs to be inculcated in those who use the roads and boards with instructions need to be put up,” he says. Ravindra Surve former Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation commissioner puts the blame squarely on lack of discipline in driving. “ Pune may be known as an educational and cultural centre but it’s chaotic traffic condition demonstrates it has absolutely no road culture.” He believes that strict implementation of traffic rules is one way of ensuring safety for the pedestrians. An increase in vehicular influx on the roads and pedestrian safety are inextricably linked, feels M V Akolkar, ironically, the president of the hawker’s union.

“ The government needs to restrict the number of vehicles that go on the road. Don’t hawkers too contribute to blocking footpaths. “Hawkers do block the path but it is vehicles illegally parked on the footpath which cause more of a problem,” he says. Rash driving by heavy vehicles has been a major cause for accidents involving pedestrians at times. Former Director General, Border Roads and an expert on roads, Major General (retd) V V Bhide (AVSM) ascribes the rise in these incidents to lack of thorough tests by the Road Transport Organisation while issuing the license to drive. “Forced on to the roads due to lack of a proper pavement pedestrians become innocent victims,” he says. While a joint effort in safe-guarding the pedestrian is required by corporation authorities and the traffic police, perhaps those who use the roads – both vehicle users and pedestrians need to be made aware of their rights and responsibilities.