Seeking affordable mobility

This is a great time to get people excited about walking and cycling if we can seize the opportunity.

If I conducted a survey today asking people in Kathmandu Valley if they have walked somewhere in the last couple of weeks, I am certain that almost everyone would respond affirmatively. All of us are pedestrians at some time or other. If I ask them if they used public transportation in the last 15 days, the majority will still say yes. But if I ask them if they used private vehicles, cars, in particular, only a few will say yes. Yet, when we build roads and streets, the emphasis is on motorcars and not on pedestrians or public transportation. Sidewalks are afterthoughts, bus stops and pick up and drop off locations for public transit services are not even a consideration, and pedestrian safety measures are often nonexistent.