Activity Ahead.

[Vijay Anand]

Is there something in Chennai that has caught your attention? We should bring this group back to life.

The playing rules are simple:

1. Don't moral police
2. Dont suggest ways of going and arm twisting the govt to do things.


--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Blog: www.vijayanand.name
The Event: www.proto.in
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vijayanands

[Sathya Narain]

I've already mentioned this; would love to mention this again.

Motorists should learn to Stop at the Stop line at traffic signals.

I see motorists respecting pedestrians in Mumbai. Can we do something to bring about a change in motorists attitude towards pedestrians in Chennai too?

Would make life simpler and safer for chronic pedestrians like me and many others.

--
Best,
Narain

www.sathyanarain.com

[Vijay Anand]

Satya,

Would be all for it.

We cant however go and stand there and do this.

a. Most of us would like to be keep safe from this scorching heat.
b. its not scalable to send so many people across all the junctions.

That said, you raise a valid point.

Can you think of a simple concept that would make this happen? perhaps some creative signages?

V.

[Prashanth Kannan]

One more thing, the slabs used by the corporation as makeshift medians are often scattered on the roads and pose a hazard at night. Also, they're ugly too. Can we do anything about this ?

2009/6/11 Vijay Anand <vi...@vijayanand.name>

--
Prashanth

[Vijay Anand]

We might have to think of ways to design/make something to replace them, make them and go replace them. Any options? If anyone knows any architects/designers, talk to them about this. They'd definitely have suggestions.

For now, google it up. Anyone who comes up with anything - being used somewhere else, that we can replicate. do let us know.

V.

[Prashanth Kannan]

median dividers made of plastic ( yellow-black striped ones ) are in use in T.nagar and certain bus bays ( ex: Guindy on GST road just before the bridge ). I think those will be better. Can we point this out to the corporation or something?

2009/6/11 Vijay Anand <vi...@vijayanand.name>

--
Prashanth

[Vijay Anand]

Prashant:

" Dont suggest ways of going and arm twisting the govt to do things."

See if you can figure out where we can get these dividers. Lets do a cost analysis and pick a few places and see if we can raise the money/pitch in money and replace the stone ones with these.

Whoever is interested in this, respond with an AYE. The rest can provide suggestions.

Vijay

[Ramjee Nagarajan]

Am reminded of an innovative measure taken up by a college NSS Unit in Ahmedabad along with police commissioner, they would stand at various traffic signals and hand out a small leaflet, a rose requesting them to stop at the stop line and a sticker pasted on the vehicle.

The first time they would be left free and the second time they would be charged with a warning!

May be we could consider similar action in Chennai?

Regas,

ramjee

---

[Sathya Narain]

I hear that the cameras installed at important junctions in the city are mainly for this purpose. A couple of my friends got notices from the CCTP for 'not stopping at stop line' and 'jumping signal'. But they never cared to pay and probably still continue the same practice.

A Mumbai taxi driver told me that there were spot fines for not stopping at stop line and traffic cops were strict in that regard.

I think if the traffic cops get strict in this regard, it would make our job simpler.

Just a random thought, is it possible that we approach some top cop and put forth the issue or is it as good as not approaching them at all?

--
Best,
Narain

www.sathyanarain.com

[Vijay Anand]

Gentlemen,

Think about it. The cops get paid peanuts compared to what most of us take for granted in our jobs. Going to them and giving them more pressure and stress, simply isnt going to work.

We are going to have to handle this on our own. Not You Fix, or They fix... it has to be I as an individual contributing to "fix" it.

V.

[Sathya Narain]

I like the last line. Can I RT it? :)

Jokes apart,

a) Whatever we're planning requires volumes of effort and planning, as far as I can guess.

b) Will giving leaflets help educate motorists? We need conversions, not just handing out leaflets.

--
Best,
Narain

www.sathyanarain.com

[Vijay Anand]

Satya, you are starting to think in the right direction.

Let me give you an example. IIT, which is supposed to be full of "smart" people, have this really silly problem. Everybody rides a cycle and they just randomly park wherever they can, and its a huge nuisance. Every other path is blocked, and they even take over every shed - car, bike, everything, and it causes problems.

I tried this simple experiment of putting up a note asking people to not park cycles in pathways or in the sheds designated for cars. No response, and even worse, it always rains whenever i put up posters :)

I now have a poster up saying "Smart IITians know never to park cycles in car sheds, in front of it, or in pathway designated for humans. Wouldnt you agree?"

Call it emotional psychology, but the past three months have been amazing. so cycles parked where they arent meant to be.

Now, we are going to have to think of something like that. Nothing that involves confronting people - that will only lead to a fist fight. And something that can be scalable - i can print enough posters and put it all up during one night and life would be heaven :) You get what I am saying?

For example, to teach people to keep the lane, i'd even design a very serious looking sign board saying "Turning Right? Why are you then on the left?" :)

Things like that would;

a) be innovative, and might even make someone smile, and secondly its very friendly.

b) it is scalable. We can do this at night. I, for one, dont have time during the days, but if you ask me to spare a few hours to put such signs up, i'd be glad to help.

And that's the essence of this group, since most of us are working during the day.

I hope that will get some creative ideas flowing. Try to avoid visiting corporation offices, or meeting traffic polices - those poor guys who are paid some 6K, standing in the sweltering heat, and without insurance are overworked as it is.

Vijay

[Ramjee Nagarajan]

Why not team up with the Police and initiate something like what the A’bad students did. A note with a rose bud, am sure would really hit the core of any human heart to be more sensible!

Let’s try that!

Cheers,

[Vijay Anand]

Ramjee, I am not sure i understand. What did the police do to you? :)

V.