About two years ago, a
former parastatal CEO was involved in an unfortunate accident on Uhuru
Highway near the University of Nairobi.
It
was a dark, rainy night and the driver did not see the students. An
unfortunate young lady ended up in hospital with fractures, sores, her
future almost destroyed in the flash of a second.
The
other students, who felt that the blue-plate car should be held
responsible, almost got violent. None of them stopped to recall that
there is an underpass that connects the university administration and
lecture blocks to the halls of residence.
SCAMPER SENSELESSLY
Footbridges
have come into focus once again as Kenyans are arrested for ignoring
them and scampering dangerously across highways, putting themselves and
motorists at risk.
After the Thika
superhighway was completed, there were complaints that due consideration
was not given to pedestrian footbridges. Now Kenyans are complaining
that the government is coercing people to use them.
Many
people find it difficult to walk short distances in a direction that
may seem out of their way to get to a pedestrian bridge, while others
simply scamper under it senselessly.
Well,
guess what good people, the rules apply for these bridges everywhere in
the world. Either toe the line, or walk around with a wad of notes to
pay penalties with after disobeying the law.
These
little details, it is important to note, constitute the kind of order
that Kenyans so admire in developed nations. Also, the walk is good for
your heart.
Some of the crossing
points are not inconvenient at all. For example, the only crossing point
for pedestrians around Museum Hill is the underpass at the junction of
Kipande Road and Museum Hill Road.
HAIR-RAISING EXPERIENCE
From
that point towards town on Kipande Road there is a crossing point at
Aga Khan Nursery, which is about 10 metres from the Museum underpass,
and no other crossing point until the Globe Cinema underpass.
Many
people chose to cross at the fork junction between the National Museums
and Kituo cha Sheria, which is a hair-rising experience for a
spectator. Some drivers make moves there that would put circus acrobats
to shame, and matatus also drop off passengers. Often, accidents occur.
It
has been argued that pedestrian bridges and passageways are dirty,
dark, lurking with social pests and homeless people, and sometimes
filled with hawkers. Hawkers, it should be said, are good for
pedestrians as they care about the security of would-be customers. If
more people used the designated crossings, some of these problems would
naturally be resolved.
These spaces
can be adopted by corporate entities for their messaging, either at
discounted rates or as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
They can also be "loaned" to artists, who expose the public to art,
while giving those with special talents an opportunity to make aesthetic
contributions to society.
There is just something about a brightly coloured, well-lit space that puts off most of these unwanted elements.
Twitter: @muthonithangwa
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