Footfalls: obstacle course to livable cities
This study provides detailed analysis of walking conditions in Indian cities. The analysis indicates that walkability is overlooked and undervalued in transport planning, and that improved walkability is justified for equity and efficiency sake. It provides specific recommendations for improving walking conditions to address a variety of planning objectives. The team audited the walking infrastructure based on a range of criteria related to engineering design, overall environment of the walkways, quality of crosswalks and exposure to traffic. Pedestrian perception survey was also carried out to assess how pedestrians feel about the walking condition. The team has reviewed various methods that are available globally for street audits and ranking and derived an appropriate method for a rapid assessment that can be carried out in a participatory manner with students and volunteers. A review of global best practices has helped to understand the way forward.