Here we will discuss about how the landuse and the transport planning can go a long way in making the living joyful for the young people. There can be school policies and practices favouring walking, cycling and other modes of active transport for trips to and from school, and also more use of regular public transport where it is possible. While deciding the land-use and transport planning, we should keep in mind the special need so the young people and then ensuring for them facilities which they use as pedestrians, as cyclists, and as transit users. This will meant two things, first, arranging land uses and transport facilities so as to reduce transport's adverse effects on children and youth when they are traveling and when they are doing other things; and second, improving the traveling experience for children and youth, which could mean making it more enriching for children and providing more independence for youth. Many parents can be found reporting that their children participate in unorganized physical activities after school; these activities might include bicycling, walking or running etc. Parents of young children use entirely active modes to travel to and from school each day.
The availability of the safe routes can lead to improved walking and cycling environment younger people. There is no doubt that most of the accidents occur due to high speed of the vehicles and hence the access roads used for commuting between home and school should be made free from road rash.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF World Report on Child Injury Prevention and Road Safety recommendations include reducing speeds to 30 km/hour in residential areas, around schools and around play areas to protect pedestrians; separation of child cyclists from other road users through dedicated cycle lanes; use of bicycle helmets; and increased education for children on pedestrian and cycling skills.
Both children and the elderly benefit from active transportation networks that are safe and accessible. Greater synergy amongst school board, municipal government and traffic authorities could improve active transportation planning with respect to all trips made by young people. Planners and other concerned government agencies should work together to improve our roads, and other infrastructure and encourage safe walking, cycling and other modes of commuting.
The development of safe bicycle lane and other infrastructure, policies and legislation suitable for pedestrian movement, would support active transportation. An essential feature of putting children and youth first is that transport and land-use planning issues are seen from perspectives of children and youth.
This can be achieved through increasing children's active transport for the trip to school and non-school trips. Reduce adult automobile and motorized vehicle use in and around the residential and institutional areas. Help children learn safe walking behaviour and provide adult supervision for school trips. Identify destinations frequented by children and create safe routes with sidewalk and bicycle paths; consider children's travel patterns in planning processes only then we will be able to create a true amicable living space for the young and the elderly people. Hope, planners and policy makers in India will take this into account while deciding the future course of action regarding the land use and transport planning.
Have a wonderful moment in your user-friendly neighbourhood!
