Oh, Footpaths in Bangalore!

I have been in the garden city for the past 70 days. now regularly. and I will have to be in this city at least for a few years from now.

I always wonder how do people manage here. The most astonishing feature that surprised me is the footpath. It is a pedestrian right. However, it has not been respected in that spirit anywhere, by anyone.

Now look at a footpath. As you keep on walking, you will find something on the footpath that forces you to get onto the terrific traffic road. It would then be your luck to continue living, without falling under the wheels.

Sometimes, you will find the footpath is missing. Inevitably, you are forced to walk on the road along with the dreaded vehicles. The Supreme Court has ordered to remove all the religious structures from the footpaths or public places. Most of the district administrations have dared to take up the challenge and got appreciated.

But, what will you do if a car (that too, like a lorry!) is parked on the footpath? There wouldn't be any space around for you to walk forward. So you are on the road! Sometimes, shops have encroached them and using them as thier private domains. There is nothing to demolish or remove from the footpath. Only strict orders can be given to the encroachers. Such strictures can be got adjusted if there is an 'envelope' to the corporation official. Then what about our rights as pedestrians?

Unless we inculcate it as a right and enjoy it as a right, things will continue like this. Pedestrians need to question the encroachers and force them to withdraw their encroachments from the public domain.

I was on my way for lunch today. Half way, my footpath in the heavy traffic road is blocked by a builder. I had to get down to the road, with much caution. All construction materials are dumbed on the footpath! I felt it was an insult to the pedestrian's rights.

How do you feel about it?