Walking on our footpaths

Footpaths have been in the news in recent times for more than one reason, primary being the safety of those walking on them.

I am a big fan of walking, including in our towns and cities, and increasingly have encountered more and more impediments as I walk. Many a time I walk together with mumi, and I must add it is increasingly getting difficult to walk with her.  

Let me share some of the innovative ways in which some of us obstruct others from walking on the footpaths -

Please add other impediments and obstructions that you have come across in the comments or write to me and I will be happy to add in the text.

Security Cabins and Generators -

Few of us with large houses install these fixed structures on the footpaths rather than inside our compounds and ensure that not only do we encroach the footpaths but also that the fumes from the generator are meant more for eyes and throats of those on the roads than for ours. This I first encountered in Gurgaon and the blessed generators were the size of small rooms. 

Hoardings -

Shops and offices put up hoardings on footpaths and like a lot else in our towns the scale of these hoardings is only going north. Seldom do we take adequate precautions as they are neither on our property nor for a long term. Many a time they come down during rains and storms -   one is of course the risk to walkers and other that they then sit there for days next to the pillars that have come up.

Construction debris -

Footpaths become the most convenient place to dump debris. Some of us fool ourselves by assuming that someone else will find it useful and pick it up and that we are doing them good - till then the others (including elders and differently-abled) will have to jump over the debris. Given our fettish for construction (and demolition) this is increasingly becoming more common. 

Dogs - 

Earlier it was the street dogs only and in limited numbers, now not only have their numbers proliferated but some of us also have pets. A few of these are of such exotic breeds that the street dogs get excited at their very sight. Some of us who are keen to keep dogs at home are equally keen that the dogs shit and piss on the footpaths! Try saying something and the owners not only bark but also threaten to bite! 

Vehicles - 

Development in India has gotten synonymous with roads. And most roads we have are meant only for vehicles, not pedestrians. And if this is not enough, in the small proportion of roads that have footpaths, some of us 'developed' individuals ride and park bikes and cars on footpaths. I have encountered bikers on foothpaths all across, but Hyderabad is one place where a few of them said "sorry". 

Shops and stalls - 

Some of us stretch our shops and place our stalls on the foot path as if the tiles (where they exist) were put in place only for us! Some of us with food-stalls come up with innovative seating-arrangement, and hand-washing and drinking-water facilities at the spot - all on footpaths. 

Government infrastructure - 

Footpaths it appears are made so that bus-stops, electricity-transformers, electricity and telephone pillars, exotic palm trees, traffic-control paraphernalia and such also get safe and clean space. 

Trash - 

Some of us hate the sight of clean footpaths and throw trash. In Ghaziabad I often saw a fancy car stop and throw plastic bags on the footpaths. Bags with food that were closed - the food would only to and smell,  it would neither be eaten (dogs, cows) nor would decompose. 

Men relieving themselves - 

Some of us seem to get some unknown pleasure by pissing on roads. This is to such an extent in some towns (Banaras!!) that one wonders what it is that is stopping them from shitting on roads. Why can we not wait? Even dogs look for tree-trunks and truck-tyres! Why do we make it so difficult for those who do not subscribe to our philosophy? 

People lost in phones - 

This is the most difficult species to understand, to predict, to work our way around. They can stop anywhere, change their pace, begin talking with no one in particular or bump into pillars. One good thing about them is that most times they are too lost to even argue!