A reality check
[A few months ago]
Jan Hoffmann, ONUG
La mise en place des principes du développement durable est à la
portée de chacun d’entre nous, tant dans nos actions de la vie
privée que provessionnelle.
Parking spaces at the Palais are scarce. We, the civil servants
working here, are supposedly encouraged to use public transport
or come on foot.
1) First: learn to walk slalom
Pedestrians do not always find their way. And if they do, they may not
clearly understand why they are to spend time(1) for a slalom walk.
(1) One minute of my working time costs the organization 1.91 USD, excluding office rent or any other overheads. I walk to and from the office twice per day. If we assume losing just 150 seconds each time due to safety, security and traffic checks, deviations and waiting times, and multiplying this by just 2000 staff members working on the premises, not counting delegates’ and visitors’ time, a very rough estimate of only the time-costs is 8.46 million USD per year.
2) “Présenter votre Badge S.V.P.”
A pedestrian has to present his
or her badge twice: once at the
entry to the compound, and a second
time when entering the
E-building.
Those who come by car and park
inside the E-building have to present
their badge only once.
3) Don’t dare come with a suitcase
If a pedestrian comes to his or her office with a suitcase he or she is
not allowed to enter. Those who come by car are. So, what do I do if I
have to catch a plane in the evening and don’t want to go home prior
to the mission?
4) Try to remember
Depending on the day of the week and time of the day or night, there
are different ways for you to follow to get home after work. I have personally
encountered all the options marked below, and I have not yet
been able to understand and remember which option applies when.
5) Don’t ask questions
The reason why I am not allowed to walk HERE or HERE is that THIS door is closed.
6) Be optimistic
Things can only get better.
Could traffic, safety and security regulations possibly be developed without
discriminating against pedestrians? Could pedestrians not be allowed to walk where
cars are presently parking? And, why is THIS path closed anyway?
© 2006 UN Special |