Bangalore City Fix

THE CITY FIX: Exploring Sustainable Solutions To The Proble...

http://thecityfix.com/behind-bangalores-growth-a-new-species-is-bo...

Exploring Sustainable Solutions To The Problems of Urban Mobility

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4/05/08 2:38

THE CITY FIX: Exploring Sustainable Solutions To The Proble...

http://thecityfix.com/behind-bangalores-growth-a-new-species-is-bo...

MAR 19

Behind Bangalore’s Growth, A New Species Is Born: Transport Challenged People By Sudhir Gota

India, Bangalore, Bicycles, Urban Planning, Mobility, People, Walking, Pedestrian, Safety, Suburbs, Public Health

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Here two-wheelers invade a footpath. All photos by Sudhir Gota, SECON Pvt Ltd.

Krishnappa is a security guard for a multinational software firm in Bangalore who, for the past thirty years, has walked and cycled to work. For Krishnappa, the trip, which often took around 15 to 30 minutes, was one of life’s small pleasures as he made his way along Bangalore’s tree-shaded streets, often meeting friends and acquaintances, discussing politics and family matters, before continuing on his way. However, in recent years he has been unable to walk or cycle to work. And it’s not because of age or injury. When asked about his transport woes, he blames the government. The increase in land prices, lack of cycle tracks, footpaths, poor public transportation, and the risk of being struck by a motorized vehicle have forced him to drive to work. He now spends nearly 30% of his salary on his monthly commute. Krishnappa is not alone. Rapidly growing Bangalore city has generated a new human species aptly named “Transport Challenged People.” The common trait of these people is that they are forced to become captive to a mode of transport just because they don’t have an accessible alternative. Their other characteristic is that they pay a price for traveling that they do not consider fair or just, but because they have no other option, they continue to pay it. Bangalore has seen a spiral of economic activity and urban growth, with the developed area of the city increasing from roughly 175 square kilometers in 1971 to more than 560 in 2006. The government, in order to decongest the city center, restricted the Floor- Space-Index (FSI) – that’s a technical term for building density - in the core and liberated the FSI along the outer peripheries. The restriction in FSI in the city core caused land value here to skyrocket, driving out the lower class to the more affordable peripheries. (There’s a photo essay after the jump)

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4/05/08 2:38