Public Spaces Or Policed Zones? Bengaluru’s Park Rules Stir Controversy

Rules have a tendency to govern urban public areas in order to get them structured and secure, yet at times, they become controversial. One resident of Bengaluru recently expressed outrage on X (formerly Twitter) over a rule banning jogging at an Indiranagar park as an overreach and inquired about the reasoning behind the ban. The topic soon went trending, having mixed reactions and creating a controversy over the Bengaluru public spaces rule.

The Controversial Rule and Public Backlash

A responsible citizen named Sahana Srik shared a photo of a board with park rules. The board had notices on it reading: “No Jogging,” “Walk in Clockwise Direction,” and “No Gaming Activities.”

“Must be joking, aren’t you? Jogging in Indiranagar Park is forbidden? Parks do not cater to Western clothes? How do runners end up so strongly settling in parks?” She vented her frustration in her letter, quoting that city governments and park administrative bodies are increasingly taking over Bengaluru’s public space.

She was directly responded to on social media. Some of them justified the cause of the ban, and others were confused by it. The battle then started and extended from this individual’s park to the space police in Bengaluru.

Social Media Reactions: Divided Opinions

The controversy had mixed views, with some supporting Sahana, terming the ban “ridiculous” and “unnecessary policing,” while others tried to justify the regulation by providing probable reasons like pedestrian safety concerns and narrow roads.

“There is a park at Koramangala, too, with the same rule. It took time to realize that it prevents space wars,” said one user.

Another user likened it to road infrastructure, saying, “Just like you need a designated cycle lane and a pavement, jogging and walking can’t always be combined.”

But other social media users were amused by what happened. One of them joked, “Wonder what would happen if someone starts jogging anti-clockwise?”

Why Do Some Parks Prohibit Jogging? Potential Reasons

While prohibiting jogging in a public park appears dramatic, municipalities and city planners do so for specific reasons. Some of the potential reasons are:

• Safety: Jogging in a path occupied by occasional strollers, children, and senior citizens is hazardous. Impromptu colliding between joggers and strollers could cause injuries, especially in populous parks.
• Maintaining Pedestrian Space: Most Bengaluru parks are more about leisurely walking than activities like jogging. Allowing jogging in such cases could result in overpopulation and exclude others from entirely using the space.
• Damage to Park Infrastructure: Jogging makes greater use of the paths, and they deteriorate rapidly. It takes more resources to maintain these paths, and park administrators would limit actions that cause rapid degradation instead.
• Preserving a Tranquil Atmosphere: Certain parks are serene havens amid a bustling city. Continuous jogging or running, however, might disturb this atmosphere, especially for people who go to parks to relax or practice meditation.
• Possible Noise and Disruption: Joggers that jog in residential areas at dawn or dark may cause noise and disturbance. Particularly when there are many neighbors, the visibility might offend and disturb them, and the authorities may impose limits.

The Larger Issue: Public Space Regulations in Bengaluru

Also, Bengaluru is connected with restricting the growth of the city along with this current ban. With the fast-growing population, parks, playgrounds, and green spaces will surely be banned without extensive public consultation.

• Gatekeeping of Public Parks: Most residents opine that authorities or private upkeep associations cannot independently draft park rules but must be accompanied by public participation. People should be involved in making decisions regarding society.

• Limited Public Spaces in Bengaluru: Bengaluru historically lacks readily available open space. As cities expand, having decent parks in which to do so becomes a rarity. If zoning continues to restrict the use of these spaces, it will deter citizens from using them.
• Shortage of Alternative Space for Joggers: In the absence of running in a park, space needs to be given by the government and city municipal government. Bengaluru has a negative reputation of falling behind Delhi and Mumbai in jogging tracks.

Solutions: Finding a Middle Ground

In addition, the governments should consider finding ways to make the park more beneficial for everyone instead of just prohibiting use. Among these solutions are:

1. Establishing Designated Jogging Lanes: Reserving a particular area or time of day for jogging is the easiest and most efficient means of preventing joggers and walkers from disrupting one another‘s exercise routine.
2. Participation: Citizens should be involved in enacting rules over their public spaces. Periodic public forums encourage the government to make well-balanced choices.
3. Better Infrastructure Planning: Instead of banning activities, the government can upgrade park infrastructure, including pathways and running tracks, to better support various activities without creating conflict.
4. Variable Timings for Different Activities: Other municipal parks may provide time restrictions and not bans on different activities. For instance, jogging can be permitted in the mornings but not in the evenings when it is filled with families and elderly tourists visiting the park.

Final Thoughts

The jogging ban at Indiranagar Park is better described as a directive rather than a rule and an indication of a larger issue about the way Bengaluru’s public spaces are managed. It is certain that safety and infrastructure are issues, but across-the-board bans will be more apt to produce frustration than satisfaction.

If the city wishes to have an open and public space, its government must reconsider its policy. Rather than policing public spaces through excessive regulation, a solution-oriented and joint approach would allow every citizen, whether a jogger, stroller, or park day user, to have equal access to such spaces without any unwarranted conflict.

As Bengaluru sprawls, town planners will have to chart people-oriented policies that enhance the use of public places rather than encroaching upon them. The fight over Indiranagar Park should encourage the city to rebuff its existing urban policies and devise balanced measures serving all.