THE PLEASURE OF WALKING

 

I know all you morning walkers would vouch for the pleasure of walking, but try the same walk after 7AM. The unending stream of school buses, milk vans, honking cars and zooming motorbikes will scare you to death and you will rush back home. Lucknow was never like this when we were in school. Walking to the bus stop to catch the bus or cycling to school was a pleasure. The long and winding roads were covered by a canopy of Gulmohar (Royal Poinciana) and Amaltash (Golden Shower) trees and walking under them was a pleasure. There were shrubs of Jungle Jalebi almost everywhere for an easy snack. And there were Tamarind trees under which we park our cycles and then throw stones at the hanging tamarinds as they tasted divine!

 

Now the population has exploded, the traffic has increased many fold, many trees had to be cut down to widen the roads and the pleasure of walking has almost disappeared. One of our previous Chief Ministers was so impressed by the walkways and safety of cycling in Amsterdam that he designated the two sides of our main roads as cycle tracks, only to be used by cyclists and pedestrians, but alas, the vendors occupied them by the day and the pavement dwellers used them at night and so they never served their purpose!

 

Walking is a very significant mode of transport in India and all Indian people are also pedestrians The most indispensable, accessible and affordable form of transportation in any country is undoubtedly walking. It is used extensively, irrespective of a person’s social status. Even people who regularly drive vehicles need to walk for varying distances. So our pavement have to be safe for walking. A total lack of footpaths, subways and zebra crossings and this becomes a major setback for the pedestrians in major Indian cities. Increasing rates of crimes, such as eve teasing, chain snatching, thefts and robberies, compel people to avoid walking.

 

The world loves to walk

Stanley Park, Vancouver

 

The cities that almost always make it to the top 10 list of most livable cities of the world invariably have great walkways and lots of green patches right in the middle of the city. Melbourne, Vienna, Vancouver, Paris are cities which have excellent and safe walking tracks. There are plenty of parks and gardens all over Vienna and Melbourne, easily accessible with public transport, by bike, or even on foot. The inner city of Vienna has many green areas, among them Burggarten or Volksgarten in Vienna and Carlton Garden, Fitzroy Garden and Flagstaff garden in Melbourne, which are perfect for a quick break from sightseeing and for holding spontaneous picnics. Within Vienna’s city limits, you’ll also find many forested areas. Just a short trip on the tram can take you to places that will make you feel like you’re in the countryside. A ride on the Metro in Melbourne can take you to the Dandenong ranges, the National Parks like Werribee, Mornington peninsula, Wilson’s Promontory, Mount Buffalo, Port Campbell and the Grampians. Vancouver has the world famous Stanley Park and almost all localities have gardens and parks which can be reached by public transport or by walking. Paris is a great place to walk and I have shared with you my experience in two previous blogs:

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2020/10/bonjour-parisarmchair-travel.html

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2020/10/bonjour-parisarmchair-travel-day-2.html

Melbourne - Yarra riverfront

 

Rivers, estuaries and wetlands are central to everyday life, sustaining a complex ecosystem of plants, animals and people. If a city is blessed with a river the riverfront can be a great place to walk and enjoy the beauty of nature. The beautiful Danube flows through Vienna as does the Wein river, which is relatively small and meanders past the summer palace (Schönbrunn) . The Danube is navigable but the bit that crosses Vienna is a small canal and not the mighty river. Melbourne has the Yarra which winds its way through Greater Melbourne before emptying into Hobsons Bay in northernmost Port Phillip. Maribyrnong is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the north–western suburbs of Melbourne and along the Flemington Race Course. Cities like Melbourne and Vancouver which have a natural waterfront and harbour are again beautiful walking areas. Venice is a city blessed with the most happening streets. Walking here is so exciting that the destination becomes unimportant here as the pleasure is in the pleasant stroll.

Venice

The Indian scenario

Walking in our metro cities is undesirable and downright dangerous. If the eccentric habitually honking car driver does not get into your nerves, the reckless zig-zagging teenage biker will surely crush you. Stray dogs and cattle are an added source of anxiety. Pavements if present are poorly maintained. Our pavements for walking are either preoccupied by illegal parking or punctuated by cavernous potholes or blocked by a mountain of debris from nearby construction work or simply non-existent. 

Pavement occupied by vendors

 

It seems that our town planners compete with each other to cram up as many office buildings, apartment blocks and shopping malls as possible in our cities and as an afterthought plan the roads and pavements is space is still left. Parks for children and walking tracks for the elderly are now increasingly seen inside the limits of an apartment complex, which are quite justifiably not open to public.

Pavement being used as vegetable market

 

Pavements which encourage walking and cycling give a unique character to each city. There are many peculiar things to see which one can’t appreciate from a car window and by the virtue of which the city assumes a new character and a new identity. I can think of many places that I have visited in the past and savoured many speciality dish of the region only because I was walking down the pavement and they caught my eye. It could be the saffron risotto of Milan, the caraway-spiked choucroute of sauerkraut, pork, sausages and potatoes of Alsace, or the baked shakshuka of eggs and spicy tomato sauce of Tunisia or just fish and chips in Phillip Island, Australia.

 

The entire pavement is now a market!

Walking has many health-related, environmental and economic benefits. It is crucial for the functioning of any city. Walking has numerous direct and indirect social benefits, including giving people opportunities to increase social interaction and also an improved level of civic sense and responsibility toward the city. Not only does pedestrian transportation reduce congestion and have low environmental impact, it has social and recreational value. Walkability provides safety, security and comfort for the city dwellers while traveling, as well as cleanliness and ease in mobility by reducing street congestion, street pollution, vehicle fuel cost and road fatalities. Then again when people walk or cycle on the roads, they start speaking to strangers and over time develop familiarity with them. Community feelings start to develop. When we talk about safe communities, it is all about how engaged people are in the community and know and protect each other. Motorists may not know each other but pedestrians invariably say hello when they meet!

 

If we intend to improve the livability standard of our cities we must do some radical changes in our urban planning and make dedicated walking / cycling pavements for the pedestrians. These should be safe, well lit, clean and preferably shaded with trees to encourage people to use them. As pedestrians start using these pavements, tourists too will be encouraged to use them, explore our cities and exploit their identity and character. From my own experience I can tell you that these walks become very personalized as you pause to look into a shop window, stop to glance at the menu of a roadside café, smile at the antics of a child being taken to school or following a melodious tune to the outdoor class of a music school!

 

Walking is never aimless, it is healthy, enriching, friendly and the best way to appreciate the culture of a city and savour all it has to offer.