Why Bengaluru should invest in pedestrian infrastructure

Pedestrians make up nearly half of those dying in road accidents in Bengaluru. This is not surprising given that walking and other non-motorised forms of transport get little share in our mobility budget

Indian Constitution guarantees the right to free movement to all citizens. But in Bengaluru, pedestrians are an endangered lot. Of the top eight metros in India, Bengaluru has the third highest number of pedestrian fatalities.

This is not surprising given that about 60 percent of our mobility budget focuses on road construction and expansion. In the absence of safe footpaths, zebra crossings, and accessible skywalks, pedestrians are prone to jaywalking, putting themselves as well as motorists in danger.

If policy makers continue to invest in infrastructure for motorised transport as opposed to that for walking and other non-motorised transport, we are headed for disaster.

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