Thread by @marvimazhar

Making Karachi walkable is a brave initiative. So no questions on the intentions. But here is a thread explaining why government officials fail when they become urban planners and start thinking for the city from a personal space. @knipofficial @SindhCMHouse @SindhGovt

On KNIP website ‘Design of Boat Basin to Schon Circle & Boat Basin Trail’ – there are 6 points out of which these two: (a) Upgrading roads, streets, & pedestrian crossings within existing rights of ways and (b) Reorganizing traffic patterns and closing certain street segments.

Focusing on these two points we need to understand Street Design is thought of from these three sections: Place – People – Impact. I am trying to wrap my head around 'pedestrian friendly walkway'- starting in opposite direction from Nehr e Khayyam all the way to Bar b Q Tonight.

I have done time analysis on the this road. This particular road has 2 / 3 schools, a hospital (VVIP) and a restaurant, rest is pretty much residential zone. My argument here is: Does this pedestrian walkway serve its purpose and was the decision right ?

Should it been on the opposite side where there is a park or should it been part of chain of boat basin restaurants or could this entire case study be implemented in a place like oldtown where pedestrian experiment is critical. Here is time analysis.

Early morning between 700 am and 800 am. The traffic is very organized (thanks to the schools) its almost like a drive through drop off channel. None of the students use the pedestrian walkway to walk up to the school.

Then comes afternoon heavy traffic - which is again drive through pick up system. Cars are aligned, students cross the service lane and parked cars are in visual distance. Its pretty much a very organized infrastructure. Still the pedestrian walkway is not used.

Then its the evening traffic post 430 pm. Rush hour. Traffic is coming from all sides. But its moving traffic. Pedestrian Service lane is dead. There is no activity. Activity shifts parallel to Benazir Park / Boat Basin Restaurants post 500 pm one sees this through the week/end.

So this approx 2 km "Pedestrian Friendly Walkway" by @knipofficial serves who? Its not serving the families on boat basin, its not serving the public which uses the park, its not serving the residential + commercial zone where infrastructure is organized. #karachi @SindhCMHouse

Karachi needs spaces for the public, not for personal pet projects. Karachi sub ki jaan hai likhnay se jaan nahi azaab ho jata hai. Billboards all over the country with "I ❤️" signs have been forced down upon without any depth @knipofficial Pedestrian Friendly Trail needs public.

Detail design plan of Pedestrian Trail (Website)- this being done on Boat Basin where the real challenge exists instead was implemented in a zone where there is hardly any pedestrian activity. @knipofficial must incorporate field research before implementing superficial projects

And the rest of the analysis on the Nehr e Khayyam Nala along this pedestrian walk way is on this thread:

https://twitter.com/marvimazhar/status/1590979502121037826

hope the thread above and this both can be looked from critical lens, and in depth understanding.
@ArifBelg @UrbanPlannerNED @TofiqPasha