Pedestrians edged out as motorists invade pavements in Bengaluru

As soon as meant solely for pedestrians, Bengaluru’s footpaths have now changed into battlegrounds the place pedestrians should struggle with motorists for his or her proper to occupy. The town’s streets, already congested, have pushed an rising variety of two-wheeler riders onto pavements, creating chaos and endangering pedestrians. What was as soon as an occasional subject has now turn into a relentless menace, with footpath driving turning into an virtually accepted norm in a number of areas. Regardless of site visitors laws and crackdowns, the dearth of enforcement and worsening highway circumstances have led to an alarming rise in this apply, say many pedestrians. 

Talking to The Hindu, a cross-section of pedestrians and road distributors in Bengaluru voiced issues over the rising menace of two-wheeler riders encroaching upon footpaths. Suhasini R., a university scholar from Jayanagar, mentioned that she had a near-death expertise a few months in the past due to a rider.

“I used to be strolling to my common bus cease from school, texting my buddy on my cell phone when a biker obtained onto the pavement. I barely managed to step apart in time. If I had not seemed up, I’d have been knocked down. It’s terrifying how regular this has turn into. The worst half was that the biker checked out me like I used to be in his method, and it was my mistake,” she recalled.

The state of affairs is much worse for senior residents, who will not be as agile and duck the bikes coming at them. Sunil Kumar, a senior citizen from Rajrajeshwarinagar mentioned, “I exploit a strolling stick, and my tempo is gradual. These bikers don’t care. I’ve had near-misses so many instances that I’ve now misplaced depend. As soon as a rider went so quick previous me that I misplaced my steadiness. If my son had not been with me that day, I’d have fallen. The footpath is supposed for folks like me, not for impatient riders who cannot wait in site visitors. It’s excessive time the site visitors police deliver in strict guidelines concerning this.” 

Many say that this menace has put them off the behavior of strolling. “After an extended day at work, I favor to stroll dwelling. However footpaths are not secure. Riders honk at me, anticipating me to maneuver apart for them. As soon as, I even confronted one rider, and he simply shrugged and mentioned, ‘There’s no area on the highway.’ So, do pedestrians not deserve area both?” requested Neha D., an resident of Indiranagar.

Information from the Bengaluru Visitors Police (BTP) mentioned that 15,174 instances of driving on footpaths had been reported in 2024, marking a pointy improve from 9,547 instances recorded in 2023.
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Avenue distributors too say that their life is in danger resulting from pavement riders. Raju, a fruit vendor close to Gandhi Bazar. mentioned he always fears for his life, “I’ve been promoting fruits at this spot for over 10 years. Earlier, I solely needed to fear about police and the occasional Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) official with their altering guidelines and extra. Now, I always concern for my stall and myself. These bikers trip so shut that they generally knock over my crates. Final month, a rushing two-wheeler hit my basket of fruits and didn’t even cease to apologise. Prospects keep away from coming to our stalls due to the site visitors on the highway and now riders on the foothpath as nicely. Who pays for my loss?“ he requested.  

Meenakshi, a flower vendor in the identical space, defined that each morning, she units up a small stall on the pavement. However as of late, she spends extra time escaping bikes than arranging flowers and promoting them. “That is largely in the morning when they’re all speeding to work. Typically, riders practically crash into my stool. Sooner or later, a younger man virtually ran over my foot. I shouted at him, however he simply rode away laughing. It isn’t nearly dropping prospects, it’s about our security too.” 

Prof. M.N. Sreehari mentioned that Bengaluru being an previous metropolis has many slender and poor-quality roads, forcing riders to shift to the pavement, apart from some behavioural points.
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What knowledge exhibits

Information from the Bengaluru Visitors Police (BTP) mentioned that 15,174 instances of driving on footpaths had been reported in 2024, marking a pointy improve from 9,547 instances recorded in 2023. The penalties collected for these violations had been ₹39,94,600. As a way to management two-wheeler riders driving on pavements, the BTP in February this yr introduced that offenders caught driving on footpaths would face suspension of their driver’s license. Nonetheless, not a lot change is seen in rider’s behaviour mentioned many pedestrians.

In January and February this yr, the BTP has fined 3,453 violators for driving on pavements with a mean of 57 violations per day.

Requested if dangerous highway infrastructure was one of many causes for motorists to trip on pavements regardless of enforcement, M.N. Anucheth, Joint Commissioner (Visitors), mentioned, “I don’t assume dangerous highway infrastructure is forcing two-wheeler customers to trip on footpaths. It’s mainly performed to chop the road and get forward, in all probability to save lots of time and attain one’s vacation spot sooner.“ 

He mentioned BTP was making an attempt to regulate riders from driving on pavements in a number of methods. “One is thru strict enforcement. Different is engineering, whereby bollards are used to stop automobiles from coming into the footpath. That is being performed in a phased method by BBMP on all essential roads,” he mentioned.

Visitors and infrastructure knowledgeable Prof. M.N. Sreehari mentioned that Bengaluru being an previous metropolis has many slender and poor-quality roads, forcing riders to shift to the pavement, apart from some behavioural points.

“In our nation there’s a widespread tendency to disregard guidelines, with some even taking delight in breaking them. Many riders really feel a way of feat after they violate a number of crimson lights or flee the scene after inflicting an accident. Equally, younger drivers discover extra pleasure driving on footpaths. Additionally, in India we don’t give a lot significance to highway infrastructure. Provisions made in the State funds for site visitors administration or highway infrastructure can be very much less. It’s disappointing to see that the State can be neglecting this. With rising site visitors, the main target of civic our bodies is to solely widen the roads, which is once more taking away the little footpath area we’ve got,” he mentioned. The professor mentioned that poor self-discipline and lack of upkeep compromise pedestrian security.    

How footpaths must be

Sreehari defined that, in line with Indian Street Congress (IRC) pointers, footpaths should meet particular width necessities based mostly on the encompassing space. In residential areas, footpaths must be 3.3 meters broad, together with a 0.5-meter frontage zone, a 1.8-meter pedestrian zone, and a 1-meter furnishings zone. For business areas, the minimal width is 5 meters, whereas high-intensity business zones require 6.5 meters.

He mentioned that the IRC additionally mandates that the kerb top above the carriageway shouldn’t exceed 150 milimeters and that footpaths should have a flat floor to make sure correct drainage and stop water accumulation. “The rules emphasises inclusive pedestrian services, contemplating the wants of individuals with disabilities,” he defined, including that these norms are seen extra usually in breach.