You are walking on a sidewalk. As the name suggests, it is meant for people with two legs. But then, there are people on two wheels honking at you as if they are late for a meeting or like that friend who lives on an isolated land and has seen civilisation after a decade or so. Another type of surprise would be the slow-walking zombies glued to their phones. To avoid these people, you have to master the art of parkour or the fluid movements found in capoeira. Here is the main thing I want to say – sidewalks are meant for walking only.
People are not the only things that make sidewalks another inferno to pass. Hawkers line up with their products and shout at the top of their lungs to buy their product or face the consequences of the void. This brings about a group of people that confuses you about whether it is the hawker who got lucky in catching the people, or if a live MMA (mixed martial arts) is going on. The loud sounds, the gathering of people, and so on bring in more people. It gets to a point where the only way you have to walk is on the road. Yes, the very road where behemoth vehicles, two-wheelers, and our not-so-beloved battery-powered rickshaws wheeze past. A solution to this would be to use international examples. Create designated spaces for hawkers and put them in a position so that they do not obstruct the way of the people.
Then come the motorcycles that use the pavement to cut through the traffic. They honk like crazy, as if they are showing off the latest horn they installed at Bongshal. The honking is another way of saying, “You are in my way – move along!” I mean, I don’t think they use kind words in this situation. One solution for this problem is a very simple thing we all know called common sense. And if you are going to use the sidewalk to cut traffic, please stop honking like a maniac and telling us to move out of your way.
Finally, there is the zombie problem. People who are glued to their phones or just look around like tourists and walk at a snail’s pace. I guess the only way to solve this is to put a speed limit sign that says you should walk at a certain speed, or else you will be fined for walking too slowly. Speeding, in this case, should not be a problem for the police.
The article, up to this point, may sound harsh to many people. But this is the sad reality we have to face every day. We already do our cardio by walking, but going up and down the sidewalk is another form of cardio. Let’s use this common sense for those who are not fit enough or those who find it difficult to do extreme cardio.
The writer is a sub editor, Daily TIMES of Bangladesh
