City Walk

In my city, there are very few footpaths. Most of us are used to walking on the roads. Hence, early in life, we are taught the road safety rules. A rule that my parents taught-- always walk against the flow of traffic. i.e., on my ‘side’ of the road, traffic and me should go in opposite directions. The safety logic: visibility of oncoming traffic will give me enough time to move away from the path of a speeding vehicle.

Sometimes, I observe people walking on our city roads.  Most of them are busy with their cell-phones, or talking to their companions, or running for a transport bus, or hailing cabs, or lost in thought. They seem unaware of how deep into the road they have strayed (walked).  And when a driver of a vehicle honks, they merely move a shoulder and give ‘way’ to the vehicle.

Sometimes vehicles brush against people, sometimes it’s just a touch-and-go, sometimes it’s a hard knock, and sometimes a complete knock-out. Yet, people continue walking in the same way. They continue to make space for vehicles by merely moving a shoulder.

Why do people do this? Maybe these folks are wearing invisible jackets that protects them from vehicle-hits. Maybe they have magnetic power that repels vehicles. Maybe they have been blessed with….I can list numerous silly reasons. I can also quote statistics of road accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians. 

Dear city walkers, it’s your limb and your life. No, you are not wearing one of those jackets. You do not have any of the magnetic powers.

If there are footpaths, please use them. If you have to walk on the roads, walk against the flow of traffic. Step aside and give way. A truck, a bus, a car, a bike -- all have horse power, engine power, and much more power than you.

And they can hit. Don’t take this hit.

Be mindful when you walk on the road.