Walking Woes: The Struggles of Pedestrians in Indian Cities

Pedestrians in Indian cities face significant challenges due to inadequate footpath conditions, leading to efforts from citizen activists like Arun Pai and groups such as the Walking Project to push for improvements and greater recognition of walking as a critical mode of transport.

In Indian cities, pedestrians often encounter a series of obstacles rendering their daily walks treacherous and inconvenient. In Bengaluru, Arun Pai discovered that most footpaths are in disrepair while inviting residents to participate in a "world's longest footpath run." Participants document obstruction challenges like hawkers, litter, and broken slabs while rating the experience. Pai believes that specific feedback helps target improvements rather than vague complaints, advocating for a pedestrian-friendly urban environment.

As the founder of Bangalore Walks, he joins a growing community of activists offering awareness and demanding change across major cities. For instance, Delhi by Cycle promotes cycling and walking through community activities. However, encroachment from vendors, parked vehicles, and homelessness often render the footpaths unusable, with occasional paths lacking proper construction or maintenance.

In Mumbai, the Walking Project launched a 'pedestrian manifesto' to draw attention to the deteriorating infrastructure as elections approach. They emphasize that nearly half the city relies on walking, contrasting this with the small percentage using private vehicles. Yet, pedestrian safety continues to be marginalized in transportation plans, highlighted by alarming statistics showing over 10,000 pedestrian fatalities on highways in 2022 alone.

Despite often receiving temporary fixes like speed bumps, experts argue there is an urgent need for comprehensive solutions—like interconnected, high-quality footpaths. A study in Chennai from 2019 indicated that improved footpath facilities led to a notable increase in walking, reducing reliance on polluting vehicular transport while creating savings for lower-income residents.

Such infrastructure needs to account for diverse user requirements, particularly for women and individuals with disabilities. A cultural misunderstanding regarding walking as a leisure activity versus a necessary mode of transport contributes to the lack of outrage about poor footpaths. The misconception limits perceived infrastructure needs to parks and tracks rather than practical walking routes.

Geetam Tiwari, a civil engineering professor, emphasizes that the focus on alleviating car congestion often results in further neglect of pedestrian needs, compounding access issues to public transport. She advocates for maintaining footpaths and adhering to national design standards to rectify this imbalance.

Federal mandates for Non-Motorised Transport Policies (NMTP) can help cities enhance walking and cycling infrastructure, with only a few cities in India currently undertaking such measures. As urbanization pressures grow, prioritizing pedestrian-friendly initiatives is not just beneficial for citizens but also crucial for the environmental health of Indian cities.