Unlocking every Bangalorean
Unlocking every Bangalorean
Sangeeth Varghese
Roads in London or New York are not wider than the roads in Bangalore by any stretch of the imagination. And traffic in these cities is definitely not lesser than in Bangalore. Then, why do we always face these traffic snarls? Why are we always stuck in traffic with no hope in the near horizon?
This is probably because our mindset hasn’t grown along with the growth of our city. Indians, everywhere, including Bangalore, have always been competitive, primarily because of the resource constraints we face as a society — a case of too many people chasing too few resources. We fight tooth and nail, because just the other person could be after our bread, putting even survival in question. The irony is that we exhibit this competitiveness not just in our workplaces, but also on our roads and every other place where we are supposed to behave responsibly. Look at our roads and we understand the extent to which we have taken this competition. We would do anything to outdo that other man just a few inches ahead of us in traffic — we cut lanes, jump signals and ride on footpaths. We do not care even if that leads to a huge traffic chaos.
Unlocking Bangalore starts with unlocking the mentality of each one of us. We need to realize that we need not compete always. In fact, if we need to progress as a society, collaboration and cooperation would help us more than mere competition. If we cooperated with others on the road, we might cause less traffic snarls. If we behaved with the slightest responsibility towards others in traffic, we might end up reaching homes and offices much earlier than we do now.
Some of us who are open to this idea might think, what is the use of just me cooperating on the road? I would still lose out thoroughly, if everyone else refused to collaborate. Well, as leaders, as responsible citizens, let the change start with us. Once a few of us start behaving responsibly, others will follow the suit, some of them out of their own responsibility, and some out of coercion. Let the unlocking of Bangalore start from each one of us.
posted by The Bangalorean @ 4/07/2008 11:08:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I agree with Sangeeth on unlocking the the mentality and behave as a responsibile Citizen on the road. While comparing Bangalore with cities like London or New York, there are few things that comes to the mind like Discipline and Courtesy. These generally donot come spontaneously in the age we are living until they are forced properly. What would prevent us for not jumping a signal especially before 8AM and after 10PM, if a fine as large as $230 was not to be paid for each such mistake, which is just as little as Rs 100 if noticed. When a person takes a U turn, where it is not allowed being watched by a Corp casually since it is office time, hence written off. Policemen would watch the people breaking laws and just "Note it down". If the address was correct a notice would reach after few days for paying off the fine. Otherwise people continue to do as a habit in anticipation of taking care of it while transfer of ownership of vehicle, once for all with other ways defined.
I donot want to rate Bangalore but when it comes to 'discipline enforced', it is far behind from other metros in India. Few other cities which impose fine and strict control even on crossing stop line on Signal. While Bangalore still allows people to start 5 seconds before it becomes green to start.
If you a padesterian or need to cross a main road. You would not get a chance to walk on a zebra crossing with a yellow light, until you walk to the middle of road and raise your hand to stop the vehicles. This is just because there is no rule to HALT and go for padesterian crossing / Padesterian first, if so that i donot know about , it is not enforced yet.
Now why do we need to get enforced if we are a responsible citizen. You can say about you and I can for me, but what about the big population who is actually using Bangalore as a hub for professional /financial achievements but not a place to live. Basic nomadic culture persist than of being in ownership, accoutability. We are talking a about a big population who has just acquired vehicles in last 1-2 yrs not even learnt driving properly coz what they could not afford till last 2 yrs is their possession today. Are we talking about Autos which is a biggest uncontrolled force on the road. Even a police men donot dare to teach them rules today. Coz there might be a big crowd collected of Automen if one is touched for eve a genuine mistake followed by a big strike for strict rules enforcement. I don't know if you noticed the traffic jams on the road when last Auto strike was there?
Enforcement is required by administration for all vehicles private, public or anything. People when would take authorities for granted and become out of control. Things will fall apart and lead the frustration of responsible citizens.
-Anand
This is the exact reason to many of our problems. This is something that when a problem exists we think about some complex solution, ignoring the simple solutions.
Why does not our media take up the responsibility to bring these facts and make realise our society that common sense and simiple solutions can solve many of our problems.
I mean media has to act like mirror on these issue rather than have a gossip of 24hrs about cricket, birthday of some celebrity.
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