Abstract
The livability of a city is assessed based on the availability of public spaces and walking infrastructure. Pedestrian infrastructure in the city adds more human interaction to the city and makes it active and healthy. In this context, ESAF did a walkability assessment of 4 cities in Kerala. I shared the dissemination of the findings and recommendations with the policymakers and other important stakeholders. The consultation done with the government officials led to the re-designing of streets for pedestrians. Followed by this, they redesigned many streets in the central part of the cities and central Business Districts to accommodate the needs and priorities of the pedestrians. One such example is from the city of Malappuram, Kerala, India. Research conducted in 35 segments in the central business area of the city, showed that there were 55% of respondents preferred walking as a mode of transportation for a short distance whereas 74% of the footpaths were incomplete or in a depleted state. 91% felt that footpaths were not disabled-friendly. Though the city roads are well built and properly maintained, it lacked adequate pedestrian infrastructure. While 60% of city roads had zebra crossings and police enforcement (18%) for safe crossing measures; it lacked proper signboards, buffers, and barriers. Most of the footpath had width ˂2 ft. which was not adequate to ensure the safe travel of the school children/ pedestrians during peak hours. The officials endorsed the findings and recommendations. They did the following changes regarding policy, implementation, street design, and infrastructure for over four years. 1. The officials shared that, walkability study was an eye-opener and enabled them to focus on the pedestrian infrastructures in the city which otherwise would not have been a priority. 2. 5.3 Million INR was allocated for redesigning two kilometers of road in the central business district - 40 street lights were installed, 14 footpaths covering eight kilometers in the town area were laid out, traffic signals in four, signage in five major junctions and traffic calming measures were done in one junction A post-implementation study was done in 2018 with the regular users who have been using these segments for reaching their destination for the past 4-5 years. 1. Being the main beneficiaries of these infrastructure changes, their experiences were inspiring - earlier they had to walk on the sludge and uneven surfaces and traverse between the vehicles which posed a threat from moving vehicles especially from the buses and other heavy vehicles 2. After infrastructure development, pedestrians have reported that their fear of walking through these streets is gone and feel safer while walking. 3. As there was no demarcation between footpaths and roads, the officials were having a tough situation to remove the vehicles parked everywhere in the city which was resolved by footpath development 4. The official record says collisions have come down from 26 in 2016 to 9 in 2018, the fatality rates have come down to 9 in 2018 and the same goes for the injured rate from 197 to 116. 5. The officials felt that the city looks much cleaner and in order. 6. Public Works Department got in-principle approval from NHAI to develop the footpaths based on universal designs with sensory facilities in the new road widening project 7. In 2019 Malappuram Municipality earmarked 0.5 Million INR to pilot cycling infrastructure to address the first and last-mile connectivity Working with smaller towns, disseminating the results of walkability research, and engaging with the city planners and officials have helped in sensitizing these officials who would have otherwise concentrated on creating wider roads!
