By PL Ooi
To alleviate the frequent traffic jams on Penang Island, many have suggested encouraging the use of public transport. That means taking Rapid Penang buses.
But then, we need decent walkways leading to bus stops and buses that arrive on time.
Have a closer look at the surroundings leading to bus stops. You’ll notice we don’t have proper walkways. If there are any, some are in deplorable conditions.
Some roads don’t even have walkways at all. Bus users walking to bus stops just share the road with the moving traffic. How risky, with motorcycles whizzing around!
The Penang Island City Council and the Public Works Department should ensure that road shoulders, pavements and walkways leading to bus stops are pedestrian-friendly. One suggestion is to cover up drains if there are any, and turn them into walkways leading to bus stops.
In Kuala Lumpur, not only do certain places have decent walkways leading to bus stops or elevated light rail stations, these walkways may even be done up with some having roofs.
These days, walking to a bus stop in Penang is like hiking up Penang Hill – you have to look out for protruding tree roots, uneven surfaces, holes and more.
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Penang used to lead the way. It’s time to reclaim that position.
PL Ooi is an older adult who lives in Penang.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
This is a common problem over almost the whole country where pedestrians are treated as the lowest rung of commuters. Sidewalks are narrow, broken and mostly up and down with high steps to tackle.
Kindly look into most of the bus stop is occupied by cars parking, which buses have to stop middle of the road for people to get in,
They can park for hours without towing away or get a ticket of illegal parking,
There is a lack of pedestrian lanes in the area. For example, at the bus stop near Snake Temple and the one in front of Osram, if you alight at the Snake Temple bus stop and need to cross to Osram or other nearby companies, there is no designated pedestrian lane. This makes crossing dangerous, especially with vehicles passing by at high speed.
Many bus stops are positioned opposite each other, but there are no pedestrian lanes provided for safe crossing.
“Bus users walking to bus stops just share the road with the moving traffic.” Pedestrians are also often forced to ‘share’ pedestrian walkways with motorbikes traveling in directions opposite to the flow of traffic.
Yes, in front of Sri Saujana Macallum main road, weld quay, there is a walk ways motorcycle are using the short cut with out passing the traffic lights , so.. means every time we have to stop standing right at the side to give them ways to go,
How true. Somehow the pedestrians are forgotten, it’s always about cars. There are so many zebra crossings and blinking lights, what are they for? Quite useless, nobody dares to use the crossing cos the cars don’t stop.
It’s not sometimes pedestrians are totally. It is all the time ever since high rise buildings took over Penang
These architects are just robotics. Don’t have feelings for people only car drivers.
Also road planners forget pedestrians exists. They just think of cars only.
Such idiotic mentality and lack of concern for people
Penang govt would make nice pavements in Hillside Tg bungah but totally ignore other public places like mccallumm, and other parts of George Town too and further afield like Padang Besar train concourse abd Butterworth . It’s a disgrace that we Hv to walk with suitcase up the hilly ramp from Butterworth Station to Penang Sentral to catch the ferry
No usable easy access lift from Butterworth station to ferry