"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted"
Fourteen months ago, we had the pleasure of a 10 day trip to Bali, Indonesia.
During this trip, we witnessed first hand, the profound benefit of human kindness that our streets and transport systems can create.
Some background...
We were not in Bali for a transport project. Rather we were there for sporting reasons. A Biathle and Triathle World Championship.
My wife - Kaewruethai - and myself were Team managers for New Zealand, and became the adopted team managers for the Australian, Cook Islands and Singaporean teams. We were also responsible for running the first ever Para Biathle and Triathle championships...something we were quite nervous about. It went well, but we did breathe a sigh of relief when it was over.
New Zealand performed well. In fact, one of our masters athletes, Steve, had secured a gold medal in both events - crowning him a double world champion. I said if he won both I would buy him a few Bintangs from the Circle K to celebrate. Something, he of course held me to account for!
Can you get me my drinks Andrew?
After the event, back in our hotel room I was finishing off a few emails. Steve came over to my desk and asked if I could take him to Circle K to get his beverages. As I was just tying up some work, I jokingly said:
'Here is some money, why don't you get the beers yourself?'
Steve's response, 'Ok...I will!'
Now Steve is an amazing person. He is an extrovert. Has a great sense of humor. Is incredibly charismatic. He has represented New Zealand in Cricket and Modern Pentathlon, and competes in athletics, triathlon and cycling. An amazing individual that I thoroughly enjoy spending time with.
Asking him to get his own drinks is easy right?
One thing I didn't mention... Steve is visually impaired. He is blind.
Lets see how this goes!
Suddenly I didn't care quite as much about a BCR on a Public Transport Network I was reviewing back home!
I had some childish curiosity making me wonder if he could get out of the hotel room, get through the hotel, down multiple steps, and across a very busy road into the Circle K, by himself, in a Country he didn't know.
So I thought to myself - lets find out.
Agreeing to walk at a 10 metre distance behind Steve, and against my better judgment, and my 12 year old sons better judgement 'I'm telling mum!' and possibly inconsistent with my obligations as a guide with Achilles International, and definitely inconsistent with the safety guidelines I had labored over for three months to make the event we ran safe - we went out the hotel room and headed to get a beer!!!
Then, something magical happened...
Following Steve, the world suddenly seemed difference. As we walked through the hotel, staff and guests instantly offered him support and guidance.
As we got outside the hotel, tourists and locals continued to help him along the street, and then across a very busy road.
Bali is many things...it is dynamic, warm, friendly, vibrant. It has incredibly friendly and beautiful people...one thing it isn't though is DDA compliant. Footpaths are rough, and if you are mobility impaired, it is harder to move around. In short, Steve needed help from people to succeed.
As locals and tourists a like, stopped traffic on the road, helped him into the Circle K, and then even proceeded to buy him a drink, and take selfies with him, I was completely taken back.
The environment, and in some ways the lack of DDA compliance, had created a scenario where people were interacting and helping each other - these were acts of human kindness.
Whats more, they didn't just end after Steve had his drinks. Rather everyone was still laughing and connecting afterwards.
It was incredible to watch.
Are there any lessons from this for how we plan roads and street spaces?
While we plan roads for safety, and new street design frameworks do consider human elements and connections, I do wonder if there is an opportunity for us as transport or urban planners, or decision makers, to look at ways our streets can help create random acts of kindness.
If you are a decision maker, or working on a new infrastructure project, next time, I encourage you to take one or two minutes to look any add on values that could help improve connections between humans.
It may be a small change, minimal or no cost. But these small changes, I can almost guarantee won't go wasted. Seamless link back to the quote at the start!
Till next time.
Andrew
p.s. Sadly no Bond Movie quote this week - I could not find a Bond movie that was filmed in Bali! However. Eat Pray Love was filmed there, and Elizabeth Gilbert had this wonderful quote:
"I think I deserve something beautiful!" I think we all do! And perhaps some slight changes that YOU make for a new road, or upgrade of infrastructure, can help achieve this.
And some photos of Steve below!
Transit Trends · Andrew Collings, KA Advisory. Read and comment on the original on LinkedIn.
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