NMT Times April 2012

Friday, 19 April 2013

NMT TIMES

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ISSUE V | VOLUME I | APRIL 2013

NMT Times is a monthly compilation of news, views, features and articles from India and around the world on NonMotorised Transport (NMT) from Clean Air Asia (CAA).

The newsletter and its detailed articles are available in the walkability-asia website which is an initiative of Clean Air Asia.

Clean Air Asia’s interview with Chandan Roy Sanyal People want to walk, but they need space Chandan Roy Sanyal is an Indian actor, well known for his performances in several Hindi and Bengali films.

Born and educated in Delhi, Sanyal's first film was the runaway Bollywood hit 'Rang De Basanti' and he earned critical acclaim for his role in Hindi thriller 'Kaminey'. He worked with The Royal Shakespeare Company between 2006 and 2009 and has a theatre group in India, called Proscenium for which he directed Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' and Vijay Tendulkar's 'Sakharam Binder'. He lives in Mumbai.

On what walking means to him Walking is an expression of emotion. It is like saying, 'I need some fresh air, let me take a walk.' It means a lot to me like everyone else.

On walking experience in India Walking is certainly not a good experience in India. I don't think we have made enough provision for pavements, sidewalks or pedestrian zones. Â Walking is not an experience in India compared to other countries.

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On walking experience in other countries When I was in Venice once for work, I walked a lot through the city. The same was the case when I visited Chicago in the United States. Â During my work with a British theatre company in Stratfordupon-Avon, I used to walk to the theatre from home.

On making India walkable It would be a revolution if we can make India walkable. Economically and socially, the country was changed through walking. Remember how Mahatma Gandhi walked 390 km from the Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi as a resistance against the British during the freedom movement. Walking was a tradition in India. If we can return to walking, we can save fuel, we can save energy and we can save the environment. The people want to walk, but they need the space. If the government gives them the space to walk, they will be happy.

Read the entire interview: http://walkabilityasia.org/2013/04/19/people-want-to-walk-but-theyneed-space/

Institutionalising Encroachment Providers becoming the snatchers : What an Oxymoron One of New Delhi's imposing avenues, the Lodhi Road is a dangerous zone for pedestrians due to encroachment of pavement by several institutions for parking vehicles Lined by towering trees on both sides, the Lodhi Road in New Delhi is a boulevard that can compete with the Champs-ÉlysÊes in Paris for its striking beauty. If the Parisian street, considered the most beautiful avenue in the world, has an entire shopping district on its both sides, the Lodhi Road, part of the Lutyens Zone, has the famous Lodi Gardens and several cultural institutions. The road begins from Safdarjung's Tomb, a major tourist attraction, and ends at the Humayun's tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even with all these imposing features, the Lodhi Blatant encroachment by various institutions at Lodhi Road Road remains an eyesore on the Indian capital's traffic scheme. The reason: encroachment of pavement by a number of cultural institutions for parking vehicles, making the avenue dangerous for walkers at some stretches.

A massive power generator vehicle sits on the broad pavement in front of one the erring institutions, completely blocking any pedestrian movement. The generator vehicle is parked on the pavement amid several other vehicles. "Yes, it is illegal to park on the pavement. But there is nothing we can do to stop it," says a police officer on duty on the stretch. In front of another building complex, cars are parked on the pavement though there is sufficient space by the roadside for legally parking vehicles. "We pedestrians are forced to use the road risking our lives from the speeding vehicles because of the encroachment of the pavement," says Prabhat Kumar, who studies in one of the educational institutions in the vicinity.

Are the institutions listening? http://walkabilityasia.org/2013/04/19/institutionalizing-encroachment/

Improving walkability entails improvement not only in the physical infrastructure but equally in the minds of the citizens - Clean Air Asia 2

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Communicating Commuting Gurgaon: CEO’s To Join The Race For Better Walkability

H y d e r a b a d : Commissioner stumps his ‘masons’

The campaign to promote pollution-free nonmotorized transport system is gaining momentum in the city now. As part of their responsibility towards the city, the CEOs and executives of top IT and BPO companies with their employees will be participating in "Walk to Work", a signature campaign organized by Nasscom on April 22 commemorated as Earth Day.

One of the major works after CoP was the second phase of the Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP). It was generally agreed that it turned out to be an eyesore which prompted GHMC commissioner MT Krishnababu to call engineers “worse than masons.”

"The CEOs are a perfect choice for these campaigns as they are the leaders. It is more of symbolic event, where we are trying to spread a strong message that, if CEOs can walk to work so can other employees.

With such initiatives, we are looking at creating a mass awareness to make Gurgaon a pollution-free city by availing public transport as much as possible," said Nidhi Gupta, Regional Head of Nasscom. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/ Earth-Day-2013-Chief-executives-to-walk-the-talkon-the-event/articleshow/19625967.cms

And, a munificent commissioner promised engineers that they would be sent on study tours abroad to see how pedestrianism is achieved with a touch of beauty, not ugliness. http://postnoon.com/2013/04/15/krishna-babustumps-his-masons/119867

India: One way While this is a necessary initiative, this alone might not be the ultimate solution towards a cleaner, greener transport system. To best harness the potential of such an initiative, it should be coupled with alternative/ additional transport energy reduction strategies such as better urban planning and design and enhancing the public transport system and mass transit systems with seamless connectivity to safe, accessible non-motorised transit (NMT) systems, along with efficient traffic management and effective travel demand management measures. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/the-way-out-of-the-mess-on-road/article4614715.ece

Delhi:Dedicated cycle tracks on Old Delhi, MG Road soon “A cycle or two-wheeler track is going to be the new feature of all MCG road designs,” said BS Singroha, chief engineer, MCG. The civic body is giving final touches to the detailed project report, prepared by a private company, before sending it to the head office in Chandigarh in a day or two.

Bicycling

more interesting modes

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“Once the report is approved by the Haryana government and sent back to us, the corporation will float a tender and invite bids,” added Singroha. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gurgaon/Dedicated-cycle-tracks-on-OldDelhi-MG-Road-soon/Article1-1037662.aspx

Srinagar: SMC to promote cycling With an idea to create an urban cycling network in Srinagar, SMC has invited tenders from bicycle manufacturers/ dealers to help the corporation make bicycles available on rent for people at specific places. The idea is aimed at promoting bicycling as a non-motorized mode of transport. For this purpose, SMC has identified places at Karan Nagar, Pratap Park, Nishat, Hazratbal and Nehru Park for parking of cycles. “If you are in Karan Nagar and want to go to Lal Chowk, you can hire a bicycle and leave it at Pratap Park,” said G N Qasba, Commissioner SMC. For more: http:// www.risingkashmir.in/news/smc-to-promote-cycling-in-srinagar-44075.aspx

Pune: let the cycle roll Activist Ranjit Gadgil has urged Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak not to cancel the public bicycle scheme (PBS) tender process as recommended by the civic traffic planning department.

In a letter to Pathak, Gadgil said the reason cited by the civic administration to cancel PBS has no logic and that it is in direct violation of the national urban transport policy, comprehensive mobility plan and the interests of citizens. .http:// www.indianexpress.com/news/dont-cancel-pbs-tender-process-activist-writes-to-municipal-chief/1096867/

abroad

It is very easy for a cyclist to drop his cycle and ride motorised vehicle. Therefore the authorities have bigger role to play to make sure that the cyclists enjoy every pedal they push!

san diego is not a stroll model “The thing about San Diego that is perplexing is that our weather is highly compatible with a walking city,” said Jim Stone, executive director of Walk San Diego, a group that promotes walkability and bikeability.

“You’d think with the idyllic weather we have in San Diego, we’d have an ideal walking environment. But unfortunately, we don’t. We’re striving to make it better.”For more: http:// www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/ 15/tp-walkability-survey-san-diego-isnot-a-stroll/

toronto: nmt economics

Penalosa's empassioned speech about building a community based on The 2013 National BIA walkability for all residents, shoppers Conference held in Toronto from April and businesses received a standing 14 to 17, 2013 featured over 24 sessions ovation! that provided the delegates with ideas http://www.newswire.ca/en/ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and tools that they can apply in their story/1148795/national-biaand the government of Bangladesh local community. The three keynote, conference-helping-build-localSunday signed a technical assistance which included Gil Penalosa of economies (TA) grant agreement of $1,000,000 8-80cities, Ian Troop of the 2015

for improving urban planning and PanAmerican Games and John Kiru of traffic management in Gazipur City the Toronto Association of BIAs Corporation (GCC) areas, reports UNB.http://www.thefinancialexpress- brought their passionate views about building the economies through urban bd.com/index.php? ref=MjBfMDNfMjVfMTNfMV84OF8 design, partnerships and understanding the 'State of Main Street'. Gil xNjQzNjI=

bong konnection

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NMT TIMES Friday, 19 April 2013

Girls cycling to school in Jaipur. It is the responsibility of Govt and society to provide them “safe” streets.

NMT Times welcomes your views, reviews, experiences, photographs, events on the subject. If you send it, we will print it! NMT Times Issues, interviews, features are also available online on www.walkabilityasia.org

App Parameter 2: Availability of walking paths This parameter checks the availability and the continuity of footpaths or walkways. In stretches such as commercial, near public transport terminals where there is heavy traffic, it is essential that separate walkways are present to safeguard the pedestrian from motor vehicles. Apart from just presence, continuity, maintenance, cleanliness are all equally important. We come across cases where well laid out footpaths have garbage strewn on them, emanating bad odor, which makes the entire stretch unfit for walking, forcing the pedestrian on to the road. In certain cases, the material used would be very smooth making it slippery in wet conditions, such material like granite or a polished surface pose a great risk for pedestrians. Though signs like ‘slippery when wet’ warn pedestrians, providing better tiles in the first place makes for a better walking experience.

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