Pedestrian safety

Satish Nakched, Suva

Fiji’s commitment to the 2030 global sustainable development agenda is absolute and is a cornerstone of the national policies that is reflected strongly in the 20182019 Budget allocation.

The SDG goal number three ensures healthy lives and promotes wellbeing for all at all ages.

Works through the capital community programme will be implemented in the country and the Central Division alone has been given $11 million for the project of constructing about 20 kilometre of new footpaths at various locations (20182019 Budget Kit).

Walking and jogging are recognised as healthy, low cost and environmentally friendly forms of activities.

It is still in the infant stage due to the lack of the facilities in the outskirts of developed areas.

Regular walking is a means of improving community health and fitness, which can provide the answers in combatting the escalating threat of NCDs. However, it is noted with great concern that the new footpaths constructed not long ago in the Nasinu areas where the design is not user friendly.

These footpaths are in the road level and it is not providing the intent of the infrastructure.

The street footpath and the road side curb provides protection for the pedestrians from the vehicle movements.

Because this portion of the safety access is slightly elevated and clearly distinguishes where the side of the road ends and the footpath begins.

This also acts as a guide for drivers to safely position and manoeuvre the vehicle on the road.

And it is of great help during the adverse weather conditions and at night due to poor visibility.

Footpaths are safety barriers for the foot traffic.

Recently seen in the township of Nasinu that the new ones constructed are at the road level height which allows the drivers to drive on it and completely ignoring the pedestrian safety.

During rainy weather the storm water washes gravel on the footpaths and from a distance it looks like the road surface.

I believe that our National Building Code uses a lot of reference in terms of the standard, but the construction has completely ignored the Australian AS3727-1993, which guides such works. There is evidence of shoddy workmanship because the new footpath surface now has cracks and is a physical hazard.

If such disregard to pedestrian safety continues in the planning phase of the footpath then I believe it is a total waste of resources because the product quality does not fit its purpose.