Citizens of the capital city are constantly filled with fear, wondering when, where, and what will fall on their head. They navigate around power poles, crisscrossing tangled electrical wires, and walk through dusty, muddy, and puddle-filled roads. The capital city’s leaders encourage people to walk instead of driving, often distinguishing people by their car license plates in traffic, yet they have completely neglected to address the issue of pedestrian pathways. As a result, many people are frustrated. In general, there is no citizen in the capital city who does not use pedestrian pathways. The moment you leave your house and step out of your car, you are forced to “partner” with a pedestrian path. But has there ever been a standard, properly constructed pedestrian pathway or public space in Ulaanbaatar? Ideally, protecting the rights of pedestrians and improving the infrastructure should not only be a matter of urban culture but directly tied to the safety, health, and well-being of the citizens.
Unfortunately, even the mayor claims that traffic congestion is created because citizens do not like walking. Sadly, in the cement jungle that is Ulaanbaatar, there is no peaceful pedestrian pathway to walk on. For example, even in the central parts of Ulaanbaatar, there are insufficient pedestrian pathways. In heavily populated areas such as the West Four Intersection, Bayanburd, and Zuun Ail, walking is hindered by barriers, car parking, and street vendors. As a result, people are forced to walk on the road. Because of this, the majority of those who lose their lives in traffic accidents are pedestrians. In particular, last year, 535 pedestrians were involved in road traffic accidents, suffering loss of life and property.
‘To avoid slipping, we always tense our bodies while walking’
In contrast to the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city center offers a relatively higher number of pedestrian paths. However, most of these paths fail to meet the necessary safety and quality standards. They are frequently made of slippery materials, with cracked and eroded stones, and scattered holes. For instance, the pedestrian path around the National University of Mongolia turns into an “ice rink” in winter, a fact that students consistently criticize. Just last Tuesday, after a heavy snowfall, the area in front of the university froze again, causing students to slip and fall. Students complain, “The slippery path hasn’t been fixed for many years. So, to avoid falling, we have to tense our entire body while walking.”
Moreover, in certain areas, pedestrian and bicycle lanes are combined. This has resulted in several incidents during the warmer months, where cyclists or scooter riders have collided with pedestrians. There are also exposed electrical wires and light poles with missing covers, putting pedestrians at risk as they almost brush against them. In some cases, people have thrown trash into these uncovered light poles, blocking them further. These damaged, eroded, and unsafe paths, combined with exposed electrical wires, have led to accidents and injuries. However, no one is held accountable, and the losses of citizens are rarely compensated.
In fact, even the only specialized facility for trauma and orthopedics in the country, the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center (NTORC), has been overwhelmed by the number of such cases. Ironically, the center has even issued recommendations on how to avoid slipping and falling on these hazardous paths. It is easier to count the pedestrian paths that meet safety standards than to list those that do not.
‘Hell’ for pedestrians from NTORC building to Sapporo
The pedestrian path stretching from NTORC’s building to Sapporo has become a nightmare for anyone attempting to walk there. The path is riddled with obstacles—large stones, piles of dirt, and uneven holes that make walking treacherous. Trying to go around these barriers often forces pedestrians into the automobile lane, while continuing forward becomes nearly impossible due to steep hills several meters high. These conditions make it impossible for children, the elderly, and people using wheelchairs to navigate the area safely.
One resident of Bayangol District, N, shared one’s concerns: “When I walk here at night, I constantly worry that a car will suddenly appear and hit me. There’s a bus stop nearby, so many people rely on public transport. Everyone has to navigate these obstacles. This situation has persisted for several months now.”
The recent heavy snowfall has only made things worse. With slipping and sliding becoming commonplace on both the roadways and pedestrian paths, there have been numerous reports of injuries. Just last week, 50 people sought treatment at the emergency departments of NTORC and its affiliated hospitals, many of them victims of road traffic accidents caused by slippery conditions. Among the injured were eight children aged zero to 18.
In an interview, a woman with a special need, B.Enkhmaa, shared her frustrations with the state of the streets. “Last summer, they renovated the road curbs. As a result, places I could reach on my own without assistance are now inaccessible to me.” She continued, “The new curbs are too high. I need help to get over them, and if no one is around, I have no choice but to walk on the road. Sometimes it’s easier to just walk on the street. Pedestrian paths don’t need to be perfect or aesthetically pleasing; they just need to be smooth, without obstacles, and without exposed electrical wires.”
While it is mandatory for pedestrian paths to include designated sections for people with special needs, these standards are far from being met. At intersections between pedestrian and automobile lanes, ramps should be provided for accessibility. In fact, there are legal guidelines that regulate the installation of necessary equipment, signage, and markings to ensure safe access for pedestrians. These guidelines also require the creation of temporary paths to prevent automobiles and pedestrians from conflicting. Furthermore, there are detailed standards regarding the installation of guide tiles for the visually impaired. For example, pedestrian paths should be equipped with continuous yellow tiles to assist those with visual impairments. Yet, in Ulaanbaatar, this standard is rarely followed.
“Few people even know what the yellow tiles in the middle of pedestrian paths are for, or who they’re meant to help,” B.Enkhmaa continued. “Moreover, these paths often end abruptly, and the yellow tiles simply vanish.”
It’s clear that the lack of proper planning and adherence to accessibility standards is putting citizens’ safety at risk. As the city continues to grow, the need for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure becomes more urgent. Until these issues are addressed, the path from NTORC building to Sapporo will remain a hazardous, and in some cases, impassable route for many.
Will UB residents welcome the coming winter with slip-free sidewalks?
The slippery marble sidewalks are set to be replaced next year. Specifically, in 2025, 59.6 kilometers of pedestrian pathways along the main streets and roads of Ulaanbaatar City will be replaced with natural stone, according to a recent announcement by B.Odbayar, the head of the Capital City Road Development Office. As part of this initiative, both aerial and fiber optic cables will be relocated underground in a tunnel system.
Furthermore, parking spaces along the first lanes of major roads will be transformed into pedestrian walkways and green spaces. The reason for this renovation is that, without these upgrades, pedestrians will continue to face unsafe and uncomfortable walking conditions, with increasing risks of accidents and health issues.
Walking 30 minutes every day is beneficial for health
Due to traffic congestion, many people have found themselves walking several bus stops in the freezing winter cold after becoming frustrated with waiting for buses. In doing so, they often have to navigate dug-up holes, piles of dirt, broken pavement tiles, and open water drains, making it a struggle to find a clear path. In some locations, the walkways are so narrow that two people can hardly pass each other. Sometimes, light poles are even placed in the middle of these already narrow paths. As there are no convenient walkways, many people prefer to travel by public transportation or private vehicles instead. However, this contributes to a lack of physical activity, which in turn increases the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, walking at least 30 minutes a day is beneficial for maintaining good health.
With these upcoming improvements, Ulaanbaatar residents could soon enjoy safer, more accessible pedestrian pathways, significantly enhancing their daily walking experience. This development has the potential to not only reduce the risk of accidents but also promote healthier lifestyles by encouraging more people to walk regularly. Ultimately, these upgrades could contribute to a notable improvement in public health, fostering a more active and healthier urban environment for the city's inhabitants.
By D.CHANTSALMAA
