Around 99 per cent of the pedestrians of the capital feel that there are not enough pedestrian-friendly pavements in the city, according to the findings of a survey. They also rue a dearth of traffic signs and signals, foot over-bridges, underpasses and zebra crossings as well as poor enforcement by the police. Around 50 per cent of pedestrians feel that the absence of adequate lighting causes pedestrians to be vulnerable to armed robbery, the results of the observation and perception survey noted.
Approximately 39 per cent of respondents said they could not walk to their destinations since footpaths are simply absent. Again, 45 per cent of road space is occupied by illegally parked cars and motorcycles, which prevent pedestrians from reaching their destinations easily and safely.
According to experts, the prime reasons why traffic snarls cannot be reduced are broken and ill-planned pavements, encroachment by illegal structures and parked cars, and piling of construction materials. Another reason why pavements are not pedestrian-friendly is because of badly-advertised zebra crossings. To top it all, there is an acute lack of awareness among pedestrians.
Dr Sarwar Jahan, head of the department of urban and regional planning, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said there was no alternative to ensuring improved pavement facilities for pedestrians, so that they can easily move from one place to another place on foot. This will ensure that traffic snarls are reduced.
“At present, some 6-7 per cent of the people in the city are using private cars. If the number of such users increases, it will only exert extra pressure on roads, resulting in nagging gridlocks. Then the best option for reaching the destination would be to walk,” he observed.
“We have to make the capital a city that is suitable for pedestrians. As we have schools, shops and markets in all areas, we can link the establishments through the network of pavements so that pedestrians can commute easily without using vehicles. This will reduce the tendency among vehicle owners to use their vehicles for commuting even to nearby localities,” he added.
“Unfortunately, such pavements have not been arranged. The government has not taken proper initiatives. If we can achieve success in promoting use of pavements through a pilot project, it can be replicated in other places,” he suggested.
Dhaka city needs a mega plan to integrate all transport facilities so that people can get optimum benefits from them, he said, adding, “If the government is committed to ensuring better facilities for pedestrians and traffic movements, it is possible to do so.”
Different organisations are demanding pedestrian-friendly and safe pavements for the overwhelming majority — 95 per cent — of the population of the capital.
Even the foot over-bridges create great obstacles for women, elderly people and persons with disabilities (PWDs). About 15 per cent of the total population are PWDs, who cannot use the foot over-bridges, but authorities are constructing more foot over-bridges with the intention of ensuring pedestrian safety.
Developed countries have introduced zebra crossings for pedestrians and discourage foot over-bridges for crossing roads. Dr Sarwar Jahan said, “Foot over-bridges are not found in developed countries. Rather, they have placed emphasis on pavements and zebra crossings. The authorities should look into the matter so that all people, irrespective of their physical condition, can use pavements and zebra crossings.” Nagorik Adhikar Sangrakkhan Forum president Hafizur Rahman Moyna said, “The government is taking about expensive projects such as flyovers and elevated expressways for eradicating traffic snarls. But such projects would provide facilities only to those people who use private cars.”
The government is not taking proper initiatives to ensure safe and smooth use of pavements for 98 per cent of the pedestrians, he said.
Dr ATM Nurul Amin, professor of environmental science and management of North South University, said, “Diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, excessive weight, obesity and cardiac diseases are rising day by day. If a person walks for 30 minutes to one hour per day, it will help in combating such diseases.”
“Around 76 per cent of all communication takes place within a distance of five kilometres. Pedestrians seek good pavements so that they can walk to their destinations. If there is a proper environment for walking, pedestrians would not use vehicles for travelling short distances and it would also help improve public health and reduce traffic snarls,” he added.
Abdul Mannan, who has a business at Karwar Bazar and lives at Monipuripara at Farmgate, said, “As the pavements have not been properly constructed, I go to my business centre by bus. The pavements have either been illegally occupied or are damaged, which prevents pedestrians from walking with ease. If I get pavements which are friendly to pedestrians, I could walk to my destination.”
“If we get pavements suitable for walking, it would help us cut our travelling costs as well as keep ourselves healthy,” said Jahanara Begum, a school teacher of Lalmatia area.
Well-constructed pavements can help thousands of garment workers and school-going children as well as businessmen and office-goers reach their destinations easily and safely and help cut their travelling costs, Dr Sarwar Jahan said. The government should formulate pedestrian-friendly policies and allocate sufficient budgetary resources so that suitable pavements can be offered to pedestrians, he added.
“It is necessary to construct wide pavements, remove barriers from the pavements, restrict illegal parking of cars through imposition of fines, and ensure that there are enough zebra crossings and proper traffic signs and signals for pedestrians. Building awareness among pedestrians is also very important to encourage walking,” he said.
-With The Independent input
