The road to success is always under construction they say, but here in Sitra, the constructed roads are responsible for evils we could have prevented. “I don’t ride to add days to my life, I ride to add life to my days”; this is the mind-set of a rider. The furious riders make pedestrians curious of their lives. It is a tough task to walk through the road sides of Coimbatore, even pavements that are paved for pedestrians. The number of vehicles are increasing day by day.

Many drivers and pedestriansbecome easily distracted by cell phones, i-pods, navigation systems, asother distractions. These distractions can make it quite dangerouseven to cross the street. The pedestrians seems to be fighting a losing battle when it comes to walk through the pavements in the city where the two-wheeler riders are competing to get through the traffic. It is mainly felt in the busy roads like Avinashi.

The Sitra signal road will be crowded always where the footpath is out of bounds for vehicle users but is necessary to cross the signal. The vehicles including four-wheelers are competing not to get off the signal but to get in the pavements.

Kokila Vani, the student of PSG College of Arts and Science tags the walk from KMCH end opening to Sitra signal to her college as a 'tough task'.

“I am staying at hostel near KMCH so usually I go to college by foot. It's difficult as the footpaths are lined with vehicles and vendors. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the road. It is a danger at all times as the roads have heavy traffic”, the 20-year-old student said.

Arun, who is in Coimbatore as part of a project says "Encroachment of footpath is rampant everywhere, but blatant in the Avinashi road areas. With narrow lanes and heavy traffic, nobody cares for parking rules. Despite vehicles being towed several times by the traffic police, people turn a blind eye to the rules. It is extremely difficult for people, especially senior citizens and kids".

Another problem is air pollution and its effects on health. A Town Plan which does not ensure the efficient flow of traffic is little more useful than an aircraft which will not fly. Roads were originally meant as pedestrian tracks along which, before the invention of the wheel, loads might be dragged on rough sledges.Vehicles driven at lower speeds emit more fumes. Pavements with hand rails must be the prime focus of town planning.