I have a brilliant idea!

I have been moaning about the lack of concern for us pedestrians! To be realistic I know that nothing will be done! We are a low priority item in any case! May be nothing can be done with the way the city has developed both physically and morally.

I imagine a conversation with my well wishers would go this way! 'Why don't you take your car to the park?' and if I reply 'I can't find parking!' I will be told 'Hire a driver! He will find a way.'

This is what my friend Mouli did when he was almost knocked over by an adrenaline rushed young man driving his father's car early in the morning. You would expect an apology from the guy, considering that it was Koramangala, a prime locality! Instead he was admonished by a shout 'Stay home old man!' as the brute of a boy quickly reversed and swung away! The punya ('Merit') that Mouli had collected as a teacher must have saved him!

We all know that our roads are poorly designed, with too many crossings, except in some posh areas of the city. I had read that a corporator or a minister (I am not sure!) had a brilliant idea of creating parking lots, stealing space from the sports grounds reserved for children. I was glad to read later that the courts upheld a public interest litigation and quashed this idiotic proposal! Now you know that the asura's (devils), in spite of the heroic efforts of God Rama, are all still there in many guises. Who but a rakshasa would steal from a child!

Trying to be proactive, I kept thinking of ways of creating parking spaces for the ever increasing vehicle population. Then it suddenly occurred to me! 'Get rid of all footpaths!'

It is not as stupid as it sounds! Primarily sidewalks are not designed with the pedestrian in mind. We will never see a person on a motorised wheel chair, cruising on these footpaths without help. Such people are jailed at home or an young servant or a poor relative is literally chained to them to take care of their needs. A pity as many of them would be active and independent in a civilized and developed country!

Anyway, more importantly, no one uses the footpaths. They are poorly designed and made, except of course at important places, and users are actually at risk. If you walk around our locality, you will be amazed to see the variety of footpaths your feet encounters. If you ask someone to take a census, they may find taking a census of castes much easier!

Here is my evidence, no one uses this footpath. It is reasonably well made, except that the landlord has modified it to suit his needs.

A rare but all to brief example of a good footpath!

This is more typical! No clue what this landowner plans to do. Try walking on the sloping border!

It is an illusion to think that footpaths are for pedestrians only. Actually they have the last priority!

She thinks she is safe as she is facing the oncoming traffic! Luckily it is early in the morning.

Eureka! So here is MY suggestion!

Remove all footpaths, extend the tar road to the walls and mark a two feet path for pedestrians to use! FINE them if they stray! Why not! They don't pay Road Tax like the vehicle owners!

I guarantee it will free a lot more space for cars to be parked and traffic will be a lot smoother! Possibly there will be more accidents! Then of course you can add speed breakers, road dividers! Only way to control the unruly lot of drivers!