Over the past few days in Bombay I have noticed a very annoying and sometimes astonishing trait of the pedestrian.

No one here walks on the pavement or sidewalk, whatever suits your fancy. Now before you jump on me, let me clarify. The pavement exists for about 50% of the time it should. The other 50% is usually dug up, encroached, or plain non-existant.

But there are big stretches where pavements exist but no one walks on them. People dont mind challenging their fate and destiny and walking on the road, competing for space with cars, bikes and buses zooming by. Twice I stopped and gave the pedestrian a piece of my mind about how they were endangering their lives and mine by walking on the rooad, but all i got was a look that said “which planet u from, pal !! ”

Comparing this to my other resident city, New York, where most people walk on the sidewalk, this is a big difference.

And frankly if the pedestrian and the cars want to share the same space, then i would suggest that the pavement be eliminated all together. That way Bomby could become the first “Pavement-Free” City in the world.

Venice has no cars, Bombay should have no pavements. What say ?