Pedestrians edged out as motorists invade pavements in Bengaluru Premium

Speaking to The Hindu, a cross-section of pedestrians and street vendors in Bengaluru voiced concerns over the increasing menace of two-wheeler riders encroaching upon footpaths. Suhasini R., a college student from Jayanagar, said that she had a near-death experience a couple of months ago because of a rider.

Once meant exclusively for pedestrians, Bengaluru’s footpaths have now turned into battlegrounds where pedestrians have to fight with motorists for their right to occupy. The city’s streets, already congested, have pushed an increasing number of two-wheeler riders onto pavements, creating chaos and endangering pedestrians. What was once an occasional issue has now become a constant menace, with footpath riding turning into an almost accepted norm in several areas. Despite traffic regulations and crackdowns, the lack of enforcement and worsening road conditions have led to an alarming rise in this practice, say many pedestrians. 

Speaking to The Hindu, a cross-section of pedestrians and street vendors in Bengaluru voiced concerns over the increasing menace of two-wheeler riders encroaching upon footpaths. Suhasini R., a college student from Jayanagar, said that she had a near-death experience a couple of months ago because of a rider.

“I was walking to my regular bus stop from college, texting my friend on my mobile phone when a biker got onto the pavement. I barely managed to step aside in time. If I had not looked up, I would have been knocked down. It’s terrifying how normal this has become. The worst part was that the biker looked at me like I was in his way, and it was my mistake,” she recalled.

The situation is far worse for senior citizens, who may not be as agile and duck the bikes coming at them. Sunil Kumar, a senior citizen from Rajrajeshwarinagar said, “I use a walking stick, and my pace is slow. These bikers do not care. I have had near-misses so many times that I have now lost count. Once a rider went so fast past me that I lost my balance. If my son had not been with me that day, I would have fallen. The footpath is meant for people like me, not for impatient riders who can not wait in traffic. It is high time the traffic police bring in strict rules regarding this.” 

Many say that this menace has put them off the habit of walking. “After a long day at work, I prefer to walk home. But footpaths are no longer safe. Riders honk at me, expecting me to move aside for them. Once, I even confronted one rider, and he just shrugged and said, ‘There’s no space on the road.’ So, do pedestrians not deserve space either?” asked Neha D., an resident of Indiranagar.

Street vendors too say that their life is at risk due to pavement riders. Raju, a fruit vendor near Gandhi Bazar. said he constantly fears for his life, “I have been selling fruits at this spot for over 10 years. Earlier, I only had to worry about police and the occasional Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) official with their changing rules and more. Now, I constantly fear for my stall and myself. These bikers ride so close that they sometimes knock over my crates. Last month, a speeding two-wheeler hit my basket of fruits and did not even stop to apologise. Customers avoid coming to our stalls because of the traffic on the road and now riders on the foothpath as well. Who will pay for my loss?“ he asked.  

Meenakshi, a flower seller in the same area, explained that every morning, she sets up a small stall on the pavement. But these days, she spends more time escaping bikes than arranging flowers and selling them. “This is mostly in the morning when they are all rushing to work. Sometimes, riders nearly crash into my stool. One day, a young man almost ran over my foot. I shouted at him, but he just rode away laughing. It is not just about losing customers, it is about our safety too.”