Studying pedestrian day

July 24, 2012Posted inGovernment96 Comments
On pedestrian day, the number of vehicles driven is halved, and the number of people walking is doubled. At least, that's what a study by the National Environment Commission says. Good. But what would be better, essential in fact, is for the government to study the impact that pedestrian day has on the quality of our lives. And the impact that it has on doing business in Bhutan.

Business on pedestrian day

June 19, 2012Posted inEconomy34 Comments
The central secretariat complex outside the Tashichhodzong wore a deserted look on pedestrian day, this afternoon. No doubt, our civil servants were busy in their own offices, working, since they wouldn't be able to attend the otherwise unending number of meetings that plague our government. Norzin Lam, Thimphu's main street, also wore a deserted look this afternoon. I saw students walking home and taxis zipping around, but I saw little else. Shops were empty. And some, like these shops on upper Norzin Lam, were closed for business. There are many things wrong with pedestrian day. And one of the…

Stop playing games

June 5, 2012Posted inDemocracy, Government130 Comments
I like to walk. And I like to bike. So today, on Thimphu’s inaugural Pedestrian Day, I enjoyed the opportunity to bike from my home (in Taba) to my office (in Langjophakha) to the clock tower square to lunch (in Motithang) to the PDP office (Changangkha) to Karma’s Coffee (Hongkong market) to the archery range (near the Indian Embassy) and finally back home. The government has declared that, henceforth, every Tuesday will be Pedestrian Day, at which time most vehicles will not be permitted to enter the core area of Thimphu. Other cities are reportedly already following suit. The…