RE-DESIGN OF STREET IN INDIAN CITY HELPS PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS COMMUTE SAFELY

For two weeks in November 2019, one major road in Coimbatore, a city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, changed into a scene of colorful blocks and stripes. It was to illustrate the re-design necessary for pedestrians and cyclists to safely commute alongside the motorized traffic on the road while promoting a more climate-friendly and livable city. Using Tactical Urbanism as a technique, a team of transport experts, municipal corporation officials and painters drew colorful zebra crossings, pedestrian walkways and new public spaces on the roads, and placed shades and benches on the walkways. This initiative was completed with a public participation booth where residents could mark their preferred re-design of the streets. People's choices were taken up by a project team to finalize a non-motorized transport plan for Coimbatore that has been acknowledged by the municipal corporation in the meantime. This activity is part of the GIZ project Sustainable Transport Systems in Smart Cities in India (SMART-SUT). A GFA-led consortium supports three Indian cities in developing transport pilot measures and building institutional capacities for public transport service delivery until July 2021.