The much boasted ‘Pine City’ has certain flaws that may not seem massive but at the same time, it hinders a lot of activities. Shillong as a bustling city fails to spare a thought for pedestrians who scurry about in thousands in the streets daily.
Shillong lacks in footpath and foot over bridges to facilitate in crossing roads and maneuvering amidst the daily rush of traffic. Except in a few main junctions, there are hardly any footpaths in majority of the city roads. An answer to this may be the fact that the roads are already too narrow and thereby, the addition of an added footpath may ultimately render the road impenetrable!
Pedestrian safety is given lowest priority in urban planning as evident from the approach taken and footpaths are few and far apart along City roads.
Deficiency of these civic amenities has led to many cases of road accident. It has been observed that pedestrians are forced to walk in the middle of the road since there are no footpaths.
The absence of footpaths affects children and the elderly most. Accidents by motorists are seen as isolated incidents, but it remains a fact that at least 70 per cent of victims are pedestrians.
The pedestrians are left with no other option than to walk on perilous motorways wagering their lives. This leads to pedestrian fatalities.
There are many instances where young children and aged women were run over by these young bikers while trying to cross the road.
Another serious concern is the reckless driving among the young drivers. The pedestrians no longer feel save due to presence of these reckless drivers.
Apart from this, lack of footpaths has resulted in the slow movement of traffic in many areas of the city thereby, leading to confrontation between the motorists and the common man
The Government saw an alternative earlier when it hinted its intention to introduce the Skywalk to help the pedestrians. This proposal was shelved after it was found that the project was not viable.
Even if there are footpaths, they are being used in a manner other than the intention. Majority of the roadside vendors sit down comfortably amidst their goods and occupy a major portion of the footpath. This trend seems to be ignored by authorities, possibly because much of their shopping is done here too. The sideways are no longer a public property but rather a private space being utilized for myriad purposes.
Footpaths have become parking zones for vehicles in the city. The irony is that the traffic police themselves ask people to park their vehicles on footpaths.
Another concerned for the pedestrians is that the drivers seem to have no regard for the zebra crossings around as they zoom over the black and white stripes ignoring the rights of the pedestrians.
Motorists usually do not bother about zebra/pedestrian crossings especially in areas where there are no traffic personnel and their insensitivity means that children, the sick, the aged and pregnant women are the ones stranded at the mercy of these over-speeding vehicles.
Many a times, the pedestrian is left with no choice but to run across risking his life in the process. Adding to it, many drivers do not bother to slow down despite road signs instructing them to abide by certain speed limits.
A government employee working in the Meghalaya Secretariat said, “What I find most appalling is the drivers’ blatant disregard for the pedestrian crossings. Most motorists do not fathom its significance.”
“Many drivers are seemingly oblivious of the pedestrians’ presence and simply proceed at breakneck speed along their way,” said another annoyed pedestrian.
“And, invariably some who permit them (pedestrians) to cross, consider it a favour,” he added. While pointing that he has been fortunate to see drivers in other parts of the country display a high level of respect for pedestrian crossings, he said that once pedestrians congregate at the crossing, there is almost an abrupt stop of vehicular traffic to allow them free movement.
According to traffic personnel, motorists have an obligation to stop on a zebra crossing as soon as pedestrians step onto it. As per traffic rules, no vehicle should stop or overtake in the ‘controlled area’ of the crossing which is usually indicated by zig-zag lines and parking is prohibited in the area.
There are rules, there are directives but the thing lacking is people who willingly follow them. A change is needed and that too at the earliest.
(By Lamphrang Nongspung)