Cyclists on our roads: Partners or problem?

Recent headlines stating “Cyclists are not allowed on highways” or “Cyclists don’t pay road tax” have given the perception that cyclists are a nuisance on the road. Some car drivers now even see them as ‘enemies’. 

A town hall meeting titled Jalan Raya Bukan Milik Geng Basikal (bicycle gangs don’t own our roads) was recently moderated by Khairy Jamaluddin. The former minister is an avid cyclist himself.

The panellists included representatives from the police and the Road Transport Department plus several cycling groups. They discussed various issues including the needs of professional cyclists who use highways for training purposes. They also covered the need for sporting and recreational cycling routes.

The meeting also heard calls to cater for commuting cyclists and those with special needs. Examples include empowering blind people on tandem cycles or those towing special wheelchairs to ensure inclusivity.

People want to reach their destinations safely with reasonable comfort, time and effort. It takes a whole community to make our roads safer for all mobility modes – pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers of buses, lorries and vehicles for people with special needs.

As a member of Bike Commute Malaysia, I shared my experiences as a commuting cyclist.

My key takeaways were:

A whole community approach requires cooperation from local councils, residents’ associations, MPs and state assembly members, police, the Road Transport Department, NGOs and concerned people.

Take Jalan Desa in Taman Desa. It needs continuous safe walkways, repaired potholes, more pedestrian crossings and safer road surfaces for cycling.

The residents’ association should ask Kuala Lumpur City Hall and their MP to install speed limit signs, stop signs, centre double lines, single-side no-parking lines, and zebra crossings with flashing lights. The police can then enforce them.

Moderator Khairy asked me about my concerns while commuting from Taman Desa to KLCC.

These are:

• Jalan Desa – dangerous speeding cars
• Old Klang Road – air and noise pollution
• River of Life dedicated cycle pathways – uneven lighting using narrow-angle lights instead of wide-angle flood lights
• Blue painted lanes – sometimes blocked
• Right turns at traffic lights – I usually become a pedestrian at these places, but many traffic lights don’t have a pedestrian crossing phase (the little green man light)
• Signage – where necessary, signs should allow cyclists to share certain walkways, as initiated by the Penang Island City Council

It was heartening to hear that the police were concerned about the high road crash rate that results in over 6,000 lives lost each year. They emphasised the need to exercise care when sharing the road and to provide road safety education at early secondary school level – a whole community approach to make our roads safer.

The Road Transport Department added that MPs need to update and upgrade traffic laws to keep up with the times. They should use the three Es – education, engineering and enforcement.

Laws need amending to allow authentic dashcam videos as evidence for prosecution. One example is to equip Rapid buses with dashcams to prosecute bus lanes intruders, bus stop blockers and yellow box offenders.

I agree it takes everyone in the road users’ community to make our roads safer. Cyclists can help by promoting cycling as a ‘road space saver’ and a sustainable, low-carbon mode of transport, recreation or sports.

“Be safe, be seen, be cool.” As a driver, I would be scared to see cyclists wearing all black suddenly appearing without lights! Only through mutual respect and understanding between all road users can we create the safer streets that everyone deserves.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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