Gone are the days when kids would run around in open fields, play cricket on empty streets, and cycle freely through neighbourhoods. In today’s metropolitan cities, finding a free, open space to simply walk, jog, or sit and relax has become a luxury. Children now attend structured classes instead of playing in the park. Those who once played football in large open grounds now have to book a session at a turf.
And the few public parks that remain? They are introducing new rules that seem to limit their use even further.
Recently, an image of a rather bizarre notice from a park in Bengaluru has gone viral, which was shared by a resident named Sahana on X. The photo shows a board listing various park regulations.
One particular rule reads “No Jogging” and another states that visitors must “Walk in Clockwise Direction” and refrain from “Gaming Activities”.
“You have got to be joking right? No jogging in Indiranagar park? What’s next, no Western clothes in parks? What have joggers ever done to parks? The lack of public spaces is one problem in Bangalore but another one no one speaks about is the policing of the existing public spaces against certain kinds of users. And it’s either done by the govt or the groups that claim artificial ownership of these spaces via ‘maintenance’ work,” Sahana wrote, frustrated.
Have a look at her post here:
You have got to be joking right? No jogging in Indiranagar park?What’s next, no Western clothes in parks?
What have joggers ever done to parks?
The lack of public spaces is one problem in Bangalore but another one no one speaks about is the policing of the existing public spaces… pic.twitter.com/00SkiVrk6k— Sahana (@sahana_srik) March 13, 2025
Responding to the post, some users pointed out how this was further restricting access to public spaces. They thought it was absurd and unnecessary.
In 2022 while jogging at a local park in RR nagar, some walker forced me to jog on the road . This event turned very fateful for me as I became marathoner in next 9 months , now as on date completed 6 full marathons and 93 half marathon.
— SHARAD SINGH (@sharadksi) March 17, 2025
I used to jog there almost everyday. Use the outer circumference for jogging, that’s best. Also, the road in the outer circumference is safe for jogging. I know one reason why this rule, many aged people walk in groups and running inside gets annoying.
— Rupok Saha (@rupoksaha) March 16, 2025
These bizarre rules are ridiculous to say the least.
— Tarrow (@SunTarrow) March 13, 2025
No jogging is very dumb to put there considering the space is very good for 4 people to walk together.
— Ankit (@AnkitBisht6304) March 17, 2025
However, many others defended the restriction, arguing that jogging in a small park could pose safety issues, like a clash between joggers and walkers or bumping into old people leading to injuries.
one direction walk helps to avoid bumping others, slowing down on walk speed. Jogging perhaps could be the reason is to ensure no senior citizen gets hurt while the person jogging may shoulder them. Don’t think there could be any other reason beyond this. Co operate & move.on
— mahesh talkad (@maheshtalkad) March 16, 2025
In many parks, walk paths are quite narrow, and jogging people won’t adjust their pace to walking people. When all people walk in one direction, if even one guy walks in opposite direction, will be like a two-wheeler going in middle of wrong side of the road in peak hour.Think it
— Sundhar S (@Sundhar48680643) March 16, 2025
The pathway within this park is too narrow for running/jogging and the whole circumference of the park is like 200m. Difficult to run/jog properly here although I do agree that it’s stupid to make rules like these.
— Vidya Sagar 🇮🇳 (@g_vidyasagar) March 13, 2025
Quite a sensible set of rules for small parks & open spaces. Our population density needs such rules.
Wonder why we Indians are against every rule without even trying to understand reasons behind such rules.
Blindly post everything on social media for engagement & then outrage.— Shruthika Jayaram (@shruthie_j) March 16, 2025
I have come across this idea of single direction walking and jogging at many parks – understand that this idea is to avoid people bumping into each other while walking in opposite directions…found it to be quite practical and sensible.
— jsptwit (@jspwit) March 14, 2025
While both sides have their arguments, one thing remains clear – public spaces are shrinking, and the rules around them are only getting stricter. What’s next?