Bengaluru: A video posted by Canadian content creator Caleb Friesen exposing the dismal state of Bengaluru’s footpaths has gone viral, drawing sharp reactions from citizens and prompting swift action from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The influencer, who has thousands of followers online, recorded his 2.4-kilometre walk from the Majestic bus stand to a nearby Starbucks outlet, documenting what he called “really bad” pedestrian infrastructure.
A walk through weeds, trash, and worse
The video begins with Friesen attempting to navigate the footpaths near the busy Majestic area. As he walked, he found stretches overrun with weeds, making them virtually inaccessible. “Nobody is cleaning it up,” he remarked while showing large piles of garbage left unattended.
The situation deteriorated further as the influencer highlighted areas that had turned into open toilets. “People have been using this place as a bathroom because of course it has completely been abandoned by the city,” he said.
Describing his 2.4 km journey, Friesen wrote in his post: “Walking 2.4 km of Bengaluru footpaths showed me tunnel juice, barbed wire, stairwell into a drain.” He captioned the video with a warning: “Don’t watch this if you have a weak stomach.”
Public reaction and official response
The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage among Bengalureans who have long complained about the lack of usable sidewalks. Many users tagged civic authorities, urging them to take responsibility for maintaining basic pedestrian facilities.
The attention eventually reached the GBA, which issued a statement acknowledging the problem and outlining corrective steps. “Intensive cleaning drive was carried out around Majestic surroundings by Bengaluru central city corporation team focusing on the footpaths to ensure a clean and safe pedestrian space,” the GBA said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing photos of freshly cleaned pathways.
Influencer appreciates swift action
Friesen later acknowledged the prompt measures taken by the authority, writing, “Thank you for listening and taking rapid action.” His comment was widely shared, with several residents pointing out that civic action often comes only after public embarrassment on social media.
Bengaluru’s ongoing struggle with walkability
While Bengaluru has long been associated with traffic congestion, its pedestrian infrastructure has also been a source of concern. Broken, encroached, or poorly maintained footpaths are common across the city, making it unsafe and inconvenient for walkers.
Experts have often stressed that well-maintained walkways are crucial for promoting public health, reducing traffic, and improving urban liveability. The Majestic clean-up, though welcomed, has also reignited calls for sustained and city-wide improvements rather than one-off actions prompted by viral videos.
As one local resident remarked in response to the influencer’s post: “It shouldn’t take a foreigner’s video for our authorities to clean our streets. Pedestrian dignity must be a priority, not an afterthought.”