India is a nation of walkers - but its cities forgot them
Summary
India has many people who walk in the cities, with about 45 million walking to work every day. However, the cities often have unsafe or blocked sidewalks, making walking difficult and dangerous. Recently, India's Supreme Court declared that people have a fundamental right to walk safely on footpaths.Key Facts
- About 45 million people in India walk to work daily, far more than those using private cars.
- Around one-third of urban workers walk, and most bus or metro trips start and end on foot.
- Sidewalks in many Indian cities are often broken, narrow, blocked by vehicles, or used for street vendors.
- Pedestrians face high risks: they make up about 20-40% of road deaths in India.
- Problems include faded zebra crossings ignored by drivers and unsafe conditions near public transport stops.
- Many pedestrians walk out of necessity, especially women and poorer people without other travel options.
- The Supreme Court ruled walking safely on footpaths as a fundamental right after a child was killed walking to school.
- Road accidents cost India 3-5% of its GDP each year due to lost work, medical care, and disabilities.
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