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Ever wondered why so many pedestrians in Kathmandu walk on the left side of the road, believing it’s the safest option? I did too, until I noticed the alarming frequency of pedestrians being hit from behind. This widespread misconception is not only quirky but also dangerous. In my survey of nearly 200 participants from Kathmandu Valley, 68.4 percent believed walking on the left side was correct. This belief is life-threatening. Pedestrians should walk on the right side, facing oncoming traffic, allowing them to see and react to approaching vehicles. Shockingly, only 31.6 percent of respondents knew this crucial safety practice. Understanding and adopting the correct walking practice is vital for reducing pedestrian accidents. By walking on the right side, pedestrians can anticipate and avoid potential hazards, making our streets safer for everyone. Since I’ve done the research for you, all you need to do is follow this advice and help spread the word.

Imagine driving through Kathmandu’s congested streets and signaling a right turn. You switch on your right-side indicator, but the vehicle behind you speeds up to overtake, nearly causing an accident. Yes, this happened to me! According to my survey, 31.6 percent of participants misunderstood the purpose of side lights, thinking they indicate permission to overtake rather than signaling a turn. This confusion is not just inconvenient; it’s a major safety hazard. Drivers need to understand that side lights are for indicating direction, not for overtaking. Public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic rules are crucial to correct this misunderstanding. Proper use of side lights is essential for communicating intentions on the road, thereby preventing accidents. By clarifying this simple yet often misunderstood practice, we can significantly enhance road safety. I’ve identified the issue for you, so now it’s up to you to implement and advocate for correct practices.

Now, let’s talk about road features. Have you ever noticed how roads are designed with various features to enhance safety? Take superelevation, for example—the tilt on sharp curves to prevent vehicles from overturning. While 79 percent of respondents recognized superelevation, 60 percent couldn’t explain its function. This is just one example of many road features that are critical for safety yet often misunderstood by the general public. Other features include road markings, pedestrian crossings, and speed bumps. Understanding these elements can significantly improve driving and pedestrian behavior. Awareness of these features and their purposes can lead to more informed and cautious road use. By appreciating the engineering behind our roads, we can better navigate them and reduce risks. I’ve done the groundwork in highlighting these features, so it’s your turn to understand and utilize this knowledge effectively.

To address these misconceptions and improve road safety, we must integrate findings from various sources. Kumar, Gupta, and Singh (2018) emphasize the need for better infrastructure and public awareness for pedestrian safety in urban areas. The World Health Organization reports that pedestrian fatalities account for a significant proportion of road traffic deaths globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Similarly, Smith and Jones (2019) found that many drivers in the US misuse or neglect side lights, increasing accident risks, while Lin and Zhang (2021) demonstrated that targeted driver education significantly improved compliance and safety outcomes. Anderson and Wilson (2017) discovered that many UK drivers were unaware of the purpose and benefits of superelevation. Gupta, Verma, and Singh (2020) found that public education enhances understanding and safety.

Based on the survey findings and these sources, here are some recommendations to enhance road safety awareness in Nepal:

• Integrate road safety topics into licensing exams: Ensure that questions about pedestrian safety, side light usage, and road features like superelevation are included in driver licensing exams. This will reinforce the importance of these topics and ensure that all drivers have a basic understanding of them.
• Launch public awareness campaigns: Use media platforms, social media, and community events to spread awareness about correct pedestrian practices, proper use of vehicle side lights, and the benefits of various road features. Engaging content can make these campaigns more effective.
• Collaborate with schools and colleges: Educate young people about road safety through school curriculums and college workshops. Early education can instill lifelong habits and improve overall road safety culture.
• Use technology for education: Develop mobile apps and online resources that provide interactive learning experiences about road safety. Quizzes, videos, and simulations can help users understand and retain information better.

Enhancing road safety awareness in Nepal requires a multifaceted approach that includes better education, stricter enforcement of traffic rules, and engaging public awareness campaigns. By addressing misconceptions and promoting informed decision-making, we can create a safer road environment for everyone.

So, next time you step out onto the busy streets of Kathmandu, remember to walk on the right side, use your sidelights correctly, and appreciate the engineering marvels that keep you safe on those sharp curves. Let’s work together to make our roads safer, one step and one turn at a time.

Astha Giri of Machhapuchchhre Tole, Pokhara Metropolitan City-7 was happy to buy fresh vegetables near her house on Monday evening.

Many homemakers like her were crowding to buy vegetables there. Consumers are happy after the Pokhara Metropolitan City opened a farmer's mart at Ward 7 Ratnachowk from Monday for the sale of vegetables brought by agri-ambulances from different villages.

Holding a bag full of vegetables such as seasonal green vegetables, tomatoes, and bitter gourd in her hand, Astha said, "We used to go to Prithvi Chowk to buy vegetables. We are happy now that we get fresh vegetables so close to our home. To promote the consumption of local products, the metropolis has launched farmer's markets at various locations in Pokhara, it is said.

The metropolis has launched an agriculture ambulance to bring the agricultural products produced in the village to the market to directly connect consumers with farmers so that the middle man cannot impose high costs to the consumers. The agricultural ambulance has helped in the sale and distribution of vegetables produced in the rural settlements of the metropolis free of cost. Since last year, the metropolis has launched an agricultural ambulance.

Manhar Kadaria, Head of Metropolitan Agriculture and Economic Development Division, said that 'agriculture ambulances' connect producers and consumers easily and effectively.

According to him, such markets are conducted once a week in seven places of Pokhara, but due to increasing demand, markets are conducted twice a week in some wards of the metropolis.

Kadaria further said that collection centers have been established at 21 places in the metropolis for the collection of agricultural products produced by small farmers in rural areas and ambulances reach those places and bring the agricultural products to the market.

Nasana Bajracharya, 25, is the co-founder of Re-kriti, a company that customizes and recycles used jeans into bags, blending creativity with sustainability.

Bajracharya grew up in Kathmandu’s main marketplace and has always considered reusing leftover textiles. It was during her college days when she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. She participated in a startup camp when she was pursuing a BBA degree. She worked on a clothing brand but suffered a huge loss. She then turned her focus to making bags as there seemed to be a lot of demand for that.

“The initial investment was just Rs 30,000,” says Bajracharya. The company has had an additional investment of Rs 2,50,000 till date. The head office is located in New Road, Kathmandu, but the company sells the bags in different locations in Thamel to fulfill customer demands. The co-founder says they have also started sending their bags to retail outlets in Kirtipur.

The main office is where most of the work gets done. From taking orders to cutting and making sample pieces, their office in New Road is always bustling with activity. The sewing, however, happens in Thamel and Kirtipur. Re-kriti sells products through their Instagram page as well as various outlets including thrift stores, bookstores, and co-working spaces. 

Talking about the initial days, Bajracharya says it was difficult to make bags out of denim. It was an expensive endeavor. Brand-new jeans or even thrifted jeans did not come cheap. She says investors as well as clients didn’t really appreciate the undertaking and she frequently got negative feedback. “I only had a profit margin of 10 percent and that wasn’t a lot considering all the time and effort that went into it,” she says.

However, things have turned around now. She is more than happy with the profits that she makes on bulk and custom orders. She learned a lot from several Indian recycling companies that started off small but are now making a name for themselves. “Re-kriti is a pioneer of customized denim bags. I don’t know any other company that does what we do,” says Bajracharya.

The company, she adds, wants to focus on upcycling and being as eco-friendly as possible by creating little to no waste. Leftover fabric is used to customize laptop cases and crafted into other accessories like purses and card holders. Re-kriti is a youthful brand that wants to make an eco-friendly style statement through their innovative designs.

“My goal is to stand out as a brand and be known for good quality work,” she says. And indeed, the company is working with that mission in mind. Bajracharya says she receives a lot of feedback, compliments, and criticisms and that she takes them all seriously. It helps her improve. Going by feedback, she has also started sourcing jeans from customers. This makes the customized pieces unique and people also like the fact that their old clothes didn’t go to waste. However, most of the textiles the company needs still come from thrift stores as well as factories.

Currently, the company has seven women working under it. They are underutilized, says Bajracharya, as they are equipped to handle double the volume of orders they receive at the moment. “We collaborate with a women’s group and they all have diplomas in tailoring and stitching. We also provide basic design training to those who already know how to stitch,” she says.  

Many of these women are married and have different responsibilities. The company allows them to work at their own pace from their homes. “We get one to three orders every day and it’s fairly easy to meet the deadlines as there are so many women working on them,” she explains, adding the team takes a maximum of two days to complete the orders. So far, there have been no issues of delay.

Apart from ensuring employee satisfaction, Bajracharya also wants to ensure the company’s growth. Marketing is thus her main focus at the moment. Since Re-kriti’s target clients are those aged 18 to 35 who often have limited money to spend, she knows her products will have to be budget friendly. Youths, she says, are conscious about the environmental impact of their choices and she wants her brand to cater to those people.

“We receive orders from Pokhara, Biratnagar, Itahari, and Dang as well so I’d say the brand is being noticed,” says Bajracharya. As heartening as that is, it puts pressure on her and the team. They want to ensure customer satisfaction and also be ready to take the business to the next level by making it investor-ready. “It’s not easy to manage all that goes on in a business but I’m ready to do what it takes,” she concludes.

A highway eatery has been fined for selling stale food to the customers at Malekhu, Dhading.

New Riya Hotel located at Char Kilo of Thakre Rural Municipality-8 in the district was found selling unhygienic food to the customers, thereby prompting the local authority to take action.

The District Administration Office fined Rs 200,000 to the hotel owner as per Consumer Protection Act, 2075.

After the consumers complained that the eatery provided contaminated things such as samosa and curry that were emanating a rancid smell, it was taken action by a market monitoring team led by Assistant Chief District Officer, Yubraj Aryal.

On Sunday morning, Assistant CDO Aryal was informed over phone that the New Riya Hotel was selling unhygienic food items.

Immediately after receiving the information, a police team from Khanikhola Office reached the hotel. "As the food items kept for sale were found stinking, the hotel owner was taken under control and a report prepared in the presence of a team including ward chairman," Aryal added. 

The foods kept for sale were prepared a day before. The hotel proprietor later admitted that the refrigerator conked out, thereby mistaking temperature.

Samosa and curry were found to be cooked a day before, emanating a foul smell.

The hotel has been providing eatery for the bus passengers, especially to and from Kathmandu via Dhading.

The owner of the hotel is Rajesh Pathak (39) from Shivapuri Rural Municipality of Nuwakot district.