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Crossing the traffic-filled busy roads in a hazardous manner appears to have become the norm in the capital. People who do not use the footbridge while going to the other side of a road are considered smart and city-savvy. Sarcastically speaking, the jaywalkers are viewed by many as 'urban' citizens befitting the mainstream Dhaka. Many would like to put the phenomenon in a different perspective. In that changed situation, what dominates the scene is a large section of the pedestrians' reluctance to use footbridges. Nowadays, it often leads to squabbles with their companions, because many are staunchly against jaywalking.
The law-abiding people consider using the over-bridges a part of their civic duties. Scaling low-height iron fencings, set up on the road islands, in small groups, has long been a common spectacle in the bustling city. In situations, the over-bridges stand close by at these venues. Most of the footbridges remain almost deserted, except those in hospital areas. In Dhaka, one encounters crowded over-bridges mostly near commercially important sites. Those include popular markets like Dhaka New Market, the Mouchak area, Science Laboratory shopping corner and a few other busy spots. Ironically, lots of people willing to use footbridges cannot go near them. Encroachment on the spaces at the entry and exit points by hawkers makes these bridges inaccessible to them.
Dhaka's first foot over-bridge, built nearly three decades ago in the Farmgate area, and now being renovated, was a novelty in Dhaka. Length-wise, it was the capital's largest footbridge network. Hundreds of people became used to crossing the bridge to go to their destinations. That the footbridge added to the capital's typical network of urban din and bustle became clear with the passing of time. For various reasons, the interconnection of roads in particular, the Farmgate area eventually emerged as one of the busiest points of the capital. People residing in the area and those visiting the nearby shopping corners had yet to pick the habit of jaywalking. In fact, the city was once free of the scourge of jaywalking. The general people knew the importance of having a foot over-bridge at Farmgate. As had been realised by the people having expertise in city planning, the said area began experiencing unwieldy fits of growth. The foot over-bridge remained witness to an unbridled traffic growth under it.
On the bridge surface, a couple of years after its opening, myriad types of hawkers swarmed it leaving a narrow passage between the two rows occupied by them. In spite of the nuisance created by the hawkers, many people back then would be seen crossing the bridge, with the busy roads below. The rush of pedestrians across the Dhaka footbridges doesn't see any noticeable increase, despite the rising number of road accidents leading to jaywalkers' deaths and injuries. In fact few people, especially the youths --- both male and female, do not want to surrender their defiance when it comes to crossing roads. Perhaps this is the reason why the two newly built foot over-bridges in the Shahbagh area remain almost deserted, except on special occasions.
Jaywalking with the least scruple is nowadays a sign of one's city-friendliness. The general people who have unalloyed respect for law eventually find themselves in a quandary. In spite of extreme urgencies, they cannot dishonour law. At this point, many become desperate and start an odyssey of sorts in quest of a cure. But the solution remains elusive. Finally, the habitual jaywalkers have the last laugh. All this smacks of a deep wound in the system. Healing the scar is beyond the capability of the law abiding people. Scrupulous people are prepared to extend cooperation to the law enforcers, provided the scourge of jaywalking is uprooted once and for all. Routine campaigns have already proved ineffective.