[anoopGTkrish]

I believe this is the parking space in front of Chai Point in Bellandur. Its not just a foot path but a ramp leading to the building's parking space. Cars if properly parked can avoid being on the foot path there.

But there are couple of points that tempts me to go against the grain here -

1. There is a fully functional elevated foot walk on the other side of the service road
2. The stretch of foot path that OP has pointed out is very short and is broken from there on. Pedestrians cannot walk on that continuously without stepping on to the road
3. There are 3 hawkers on this stretch that have occupied the foot path and one of them is a tiny dhaba is the breakfast spot for Bellandur and HSR cops
4. Last and the most important factor is the absolute dearth of parking space in the area. OP himself couldn't have parked legally anywhere in the vicinity to report this issue. Given below is an image of the area

[MMinor]

I can't believe the number of people here criticizing the OP. Its one thing to be apathetic yourself but to actually say OP was wrong? This attitude is what is wrong with us as a collective. However I am actually glad people are coming out of the closet (no not that one).

The way I see it, in reddit language (moderators please tell me if this is not allowed), TLDR: Saw violation, reported violation and ensured penalty. What we have done here is to add an AITA and made it a question. An emphatic NTA from me. Kudos to the OP. We need more people like you in this world.

Everyone criticizing OP, today you've lost the right to complain about any traffic violation in the future. Asking what should we do when there is no parking space, dont buy a car without one, take a taxi/auto if your destination doesnt have parking, drop your loved ones wherever you are going and then park a kilometer or two away and walk or just dont go to anyplace that doesnt have a parking.

[MMinor]

Originally Posted by anoopGTkrish

I
4. Last and the most important factor is the absolute dearth of parking space in the area. OP himself couldn't have parked legally anywhere in the vicinity to report this issue. Given below is an image of the area

Attachment 2128000

This is a huge leap in assumption sir, the OP might have parked anywhere in a km radius (not just this one road).

[astrodex]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Though good intentions are at play here by the OP. I would not recommend doing this regularly. Please remember that there are many anti social elements on the road who are hand in glow with the local police. Many times the shop owners themselves bribe the police to allow parking in the area in front of the shop. Also the street parking mafia is at play at many places who are in cohorts with the municipality and also the police.
Marriage hall owners, restos, cafes, departmental stores, heck even the local auto stand has a "dada" to attend to such petty things. Even the street vendors have a "dada" to deal with police and authorities.

Remember for them it is just business and money but for you it is your life.

...

There are many many things wrong in this country and solving traffic problems is the lowest among the order and that's a fact.

If you want to do good, then go out support a needy family, feed a hungry soul or sponsors someone's education.

This post made my stomach churn, thinking how as a country we have resigned to social apathy. There used to be dadas and gundas in old hindi movies, but here I am thinking we live in a more connected world where we are past such relics of the 20th century. I remember incidents in Kerala where CITU workers had this concept of being paid to watch (nookukooli) others do their job. Everyone was forced to pay it and I remember dad telling that nobody can fix it, until enough people revolted. It is still there but much much lesser than before. So change happens.

I completely support the OP and his actions. Yes, it might have unintented consequences, but they were right and lawful. If we don't take a stand, things don't improve. Yes, doing it sporadically isn't useful, but it is better than not doing anything about it. We need to encourage people like him!

Regarding feeding the needy etc, I don't think this is anyway less noble. He has saved time and improved safety on the road, so it is equally praiseworthy as anything else you mentioned. And if more people do like OP, things will change.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by MMinor

This is a huge leap in assumption sir, the OP might have parked anywhere in a km radius (not just this one road).

People who are familiar with the area (and I am one) know that there is no legal parking anywhere close-by. The only options are, he parked at his house and walked, parked in front of another restaurant/gym (reserved parking for businesses in that building), or, parked at a mall about a km away. If he had parked at the mall, he would have found multiple violations en route and there was no need to walk all the ways back and target the particular building he did.

[MMinor]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

People who are familiar with the area (and I am one) know that there is no legal parking anywhere close-by. The only options are, he parked at his house and walked, parked in front of another restaurant/gym (reserved parking for businesses in that building), or, parked at a mall about a km away. If he had parked at the mall, he would have found multiple violations en route and there was no need to walk all the ways back and target the particular building he did.

IMHO which violation he reported is immaterial, fact remains he reported A violation. If all of us did the same then both City and the public will change their ways. In any case I do understand the point you are driving, is the OP a hypocrite or not. Only he can clarify.

[anoopGTkrish]

Originally Posted by MMinor

This is a huge leap in assumption sir, the OP might have parked anywhere in a km radius (not just this one road).

Its not a huge leap, not even a small step. I live in the area and there is absolutely no legal parking spot in the area. We all face this issue regularly.

The area OP flagged is a very wide portion of the foot path and I haven't faced any hindrance in walking this side. I walk to cult via this road almost daily.

[arindam30]

Originally Posted by stealthcraft22

Today I went out to run an errand in the neighborhood and while driving, noticed a very familiar sight - Cars parked on the footpath.

I really appreciate your zeal and fully support your persistence.
People may say 'emergency-parking-for a short while', 'there are bigger issues', 'solve the parking in some other area' etc., etc. But what you did was 100% right as per me. Footpath parking is wrong and giving (whatever) reason cannot make it right.

My question to people who justified foot-path parking .. will the same set of people still park on the footpath if there is a Rs 2,000 instant fine on footpath parking? .. I would love to see where the emergency (of those people) goes at that time?

In Delhi (in some areas), the traffic cops are pretty active. They will just click a photo in a casual walk from their mobile phone (for cars parked in a wrong way). After a few weeks, the person will receive a no-parking Challan SMS !! .. over a long period of time people in that neighbourhood will understand that those areas are prone to Challan, and will avoid that.

[TorqueyTechie]

I am all for non encroachment of footpath for parking. Infact I have raised similar issue on the BTP eye as well as through twitter with mixed results.

I dont understand why the big establishments not create parking spaces inside their premises (or the approving authority make it mandatory) especially for commercial establishments. Either they don't care and leave people to find parking themselves or pay off the police.

See the below pics that I had shared to BTP. This is condition of footpath in front of Rangadorai hospital, completely encroached by people visiting the hospital. I for one can't believe that hospital cannot provide a parking space (and charge for it). Security guard over there directs people to park there and if no space do a double parking on the road. Pedestrians have to walk on road.





Same thing outside Manipal hospital JP Nagar. I infact went and parked at a marked parking area on a side road when I visited Manipal. Situation is same across many hospitals/supermarkets etc. I applaud the OP in standing his ground and getting this issue corrected. I always search parking places (or a nearby mall) incase I am visiting an unknown area. If not I always take a cab.

[Lobogris]

I am amazed at people defending the violation and criticising the OP. Parking on the footpath is wrong. It is not a minor violation as it endangers the safety of the pedestrians who are then forced to walk on the road. What if we had a wheelchair user who couldn’t get down and around? No excuse can justify it. If the place you are going doesn’t have parking, don’t drive there.


Take the metro, Uber, auto rickshaw etc. These are the same excuses used to justify wrong side driving. I am only going a short distance. I am dropping/ picking up my son. The u turn is too far away. Go to a even semi developed country and the next turn around could be 50 kms away but no one would even consider going the wrong way. The first time I drove on a French highway, I missed an exit and the u turn was around 50 kms down the road. So it took me around 100 kms and an extra 100 Euros toll but I never imagined going back for 1km the wrong way. Most people in India are lazy, selfish and unconcerned about others. That is why they drive the way they do. That is why they urinate where they want like animals. That is why they throw their trash out everywhere.

The fact is that people don’t plan their trip beforehand and think of where they would park with an option B. And C if those are full. If I really really had a genuine emergency in the US and had to leave my car on the road, I would accept it would be probably towed away with a hefty fine. What is needed is for more concerned people to fight for their rights to force authorities to take it seriously. People complaining about lack of parking infra. The main reason is that most people don’t want to pay and don’t want to walk or take some transportation from the parking. All large parkings made remain empty as the police turn a blind eye to illegal street parking. The day people realise that parking in a major city would cost say Rs. 50 per hour, many private parkings will start coming up.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

I am
I dont understand why the big establishments not create parking spaces inside their premises (or the approving authority make it mandatory) especially for commercial establishments. Either they don't care and leave people to find parking themselves or pay off the police.

Hospitals and clinics don't have parking, which is ok if you are not the patient, you can drop off the patient and an assistant, drive a km or more (getting worse by the day), park in a residential area (any left in our cities?) walk back to the hospital and repeat the process when you are done. This is difficult enough, but what if you are the patient? Maybe you can drive to the hospital, but walking? Population and congestion in cities has exploded, and I don't know what the government is doing with all the money it collects, infrastructure has been forgotten, and any new facilities are deliberately designed to be under capacity right from the beginning - e.g. Metro.

I believe the authorities are allowing the commercial establishments to profit from public property and the common areas around the community they are situated in, with scant regard to the rights of the local residents. This is like Amazon and Walmart paying starvation wages and expecting the taxpayers to compensate. The easiest and simplest explanation is that the police and the local authorities are corrupt, really?

Are these commercial establishments returning something to the community they rob from? In a way they do. They take their huge profits and then open their swanky branches in some other cities /countries with free parking, free toilets... You can see this with Haldirams, this business had a hole in the wall outlet in Indiranagar, but have you seen their Gurugram branch? Same with many others with branches in California, Dubai,... Now, extrapolate this to other businesses, apply a little obfuscation, and you have your answer: we will never get reasonable parking space in India for a very, very long time...

[MMinor]

Originally Posted by anoopGTkrish

Its not a huge leap, not even a small step. I live in the area and there is absolutely no legal parking spot in the area. We all face this issue regularly.

The area OP flagged is a very wide portion of the foot path and I haven't faced any hindrance in walking this side. I walk to cult via this road almost daily.

I really dont understand how any place in a one Kilometer radius cant have places to park. (Disclaimer: I do live in Bangalore and travel infrequently to this area but I do not live in that area.) When I say that I do not mean places marked as parking zones. I mean areas that are not explicitly marked as no parking zones. Here's why I say this, https://indianexpress.com/article/ci...nsive-7185485/

My take on this is that on-street parking is permitted unless explicitly prohibited by either a No Parking sign or under the New Motor Vehicle Act 2019. Here's a list of prohibited areas.

Attachment 2128331

Hope this helps us all make a informed decision about parking

[MMinor]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

IAll large parkings made remain empty as the police turn a blind eye to illegal street parking. The day people realise that parking in a major city would cost say Rs. 50 per hour, many private parkings will start coming up.

Word. Despite paid parking at a dirt cheap rate (INR 20 for unlimited time) you just have to take a look at the roads around HSR BDA Complex to realise we just couldnt care less. I've never once had to wait to park inside HSR BDA Complex and I have never once not seen vehicles still parked on the road despite parking availability. Extrapolating this, (some may even consider this to be a hyperbole) parking spaces available or not, we will not park properly, period.

[Altocumulus]

Originally Posted by MMinor

This is a huge leap in assumption sir, the OP might have parked anywhere in a km radius (not just this one road).

Check the first video once at 0:05 secs. The OPs profile says he owns a Jazz. Is it possible he parked his own car blocking the road illegally, to stop 'illegal' activities by others ?? I hope I am wrong and it is just a coincidence that it is a Jazz, albeit not his. If it is indeed the OPs car, basically he caused more inconvenience for over an hour than 3-4 cars put together. Ideally he should have gone home parked his car, taken an Uber and come back to take action.

Anyways, no one has said what the OP did was wrong. He did something brilliant. It's just that this particular situation didn't need it. Even with the cars parked there was enough place for people to walk, and it seems the road/pavement is anyways constructed by the municipality to use as parking. I have seen this in some areas of Whitefield as well where I used to stay.

[tracerspiff]

Originally Posted by Altocumulus

Check the first video once at 0:05 secs. T

Good catch! you can also see that the car is parked right next to a clearly visible no parking sign.

One more thing I would like to highlight is that the towing "contractors" in this area gleefully tow away cars, load up 2 wheelers in a moments notice. I am guessing that if the OP had called the traffic police from another location in the area, the towing vehicle would have been there in a jiffy. The fact that they delayed coming there could have been to see if he would drop it and drive away. There could have been an arrangement by the shops in the complex so their customers vehicles are not towed.

The cynical side of me thinks that the lack of legal parking is by design. Its a good hunting ground for towing vehicles.