Walkers need a safe environment

The shocking incident of a mother and daughter who were out on a morning walk becoming victims of reckless driving by a youngster at Bandlaguda yesterday once again highlights the plight of morning walkers and cyclists, who have no place but the roads to go about their preferred fitness pursuits. According to the police, a 19-year-old boy who was driving his friends from Narsingi to a farmhouse, was over-speeding, lost control and rammed his vehicle into three morning walkers.

Tall claims of making Hyderabad a world-class city is mostly limited to lip service or at best on paper. Is there a way to ensure the safety of walkers, runners and cyclists? Is making select streets in Hyderabad vehicle-free for a couple of hours in the morning a possible solution?

Try follow Vizag beachfront model

Citing the example of the Vizag beachfront, where the road is closed for vehicular traffic to ensure safety of fitness enthusiasts, G. V. Prasad, co-chairman and managing director of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, feels Hyderabad  should have a similar arrangement. “But I am not sure how practical will that be. A developing country is not one where everyone has a car but one where everyone uses a public transport,” he points out.

Clearly, the guy who caused this accident was over speeding and possibly drunk, he says, adding, “We can’t protect everyone from such people.”

90 per cent of footpaths not walkable

Morning walker Komatireddy Vinay Reddy, General Secretary, Congress Party, says every time a tragic incident like this happens, everyone makes a hue and cry about it and then it is forgotten in a week. “There has to be change in government’s attitude towards public safety, especially for pedestrians, since this government claims Hyderabad is an international city,” he says.

Asserting that skyscrapers don’t make Hyderabad an international city, he says, “The government has to provide basic facilities. The location of yesterday’s incident is not a busy road. Almost 90 per cent of our footpaths are not even walkable, despite paying huge taxes,” he said. It is his view that GHMC should take more steps to improve footpaths rather than resort to strict measures when collecting taxes.

Focus on footpaths

Closing roads might inconvenience the larger public. Also, making few streets traffic free in the mornings and then again opening it for traffic would take up so much of manpower. Instead, we should focus on making footpaths better so that they can be used by pedestrians,” feels B K Rahul Hegde, Dy.Commissioner of Police, Traffic. He says we cannot generalise on the basis of a single incident. Hypothetically, he says, even if roads are closed to traffic, it’s possible for someone to ignore the signs, and ram pedestrians with their vehicle. He points out many flaws which led to yesterday’s tragic incident. “He was over speeding and did not have a driving license. One should check the pressure of car tyres as well,” he says. The car was reportedly travelling above 130km/h when tragedy struck. The impact was so powerful that the three victims flew through the air before collapsing in the nearby bushes.

Strict vigilance needed

Another morning walker Manjula Anagani, a renowned gynaecologist, suggests that separate lanes should be made or earmarked for morning walkers and joggers. “There should be strict vigilance on people who drive recklessly and do not stick to their lanes or over speed in morning hours when lanes are free,” she says. She feels the government should strategise and plan well when making new lanes or widening roads.

Designated parks for joggers/walkers

Hyderabad is a new city that is rapidly developing, and it boasts of being a metropolis with one of the best infrastructures in India. Along with developing infrastructure, consideration should be given to having parks designated for morning joggers/walkers every few miles in different areas where people can be safe — similar to what Bangalore is doing.”

— Shilpa Reddy, entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast