Islamabad is facing challenges of deteriorating air quality and restrictive mobility due to heavy reliance on car-centric infrastructure development. Classism and exclusion lie at the heart of Islamabad’s urban planning, which also explains the lack of public transport services available in the city. Furthermore, pedestrian tracks and sidewalks are absent or dilapidated in most places resulting in low levels of walkability. The roads are dominated by cars and other motorized vehicles, thereby making vehicular emissions one of the major contributors to air pollution in Islamabad. The absence of public spaces with basic amenities like benches, pathways, and street lights further excludes women and children from city life. Therefore, we are presenting the following demands before the Capital Development Authority and other offices of Islamabad’s administration. 

Demands:

1) Creation of safe pedestrian walkways that do not run through traffic signals to foster a more inclusive city accessible to everyone, especially the disabled.   

2) Installation of Ped-SCOOT; a stereoscopic camera at pedestrian crossings to count pedestrians. It activates when a pedestrian pushes the button and adjusts the traffic light to provide pedestrians time to cross if it detects high numbers of people waiting.

3) Construction of dedicated cycle lanes throughout the city to facilitate non-motorized modes of transport.

4) Installation of pedestrian signals after every 200m to ensure smooth pedestrian crossings with the speed limit for cars between 40-50 km/hour. The current speed limit is 80 km/hour on many roads in Islamabad. 

We request you to sign this petition to help us create a pedestrian-friendly, sustainable, and inclusive Islamabad.