OUR traffic jams are getting worse while many still find public transport inconvenient. Here are some ideas to fix that.
1) Turn stadiums or sleepy malls into peak-hour bus hubs to the nearest MRT/LRT stations which lack parking.
Car parks at stadiums are mostly empty anyway, except during events. Struggling malls can offer cheap parking in exchange for small purchases.
2) We spent billions to build the MRT/LRT but neglected to spend mere thousands to build better walkways to the stations.
This was exposed in a viral video where even the AEON Shah Alam mall lacked a proper pedestrian link to the LRT3 station.
In contrast, at Bandar Sunway PJ, sheltered elevated skywalks connect malls, universities and condos to BRT stations. CCTVs and security guards boost safety.
3) Electric tuk-tuks or trishaws will provide cheap first and last mile links to LRT stations.
We can learn from China where sleek electric 3-wheelers help people reach train stations with e-hailing apps.
They are far cheaper than cars and many more people, especially Malays, can become owner-drivers.
They won’t become “Rempits on three-wheels” as passengers will complain on the e-hailing apps to ban reckless drivers.
Electric trishaws can become our new tourism icons too.
4) An even cheaper option for B40 folks is e–hailing motorbike taxis, seen in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
This was proposed during the first Pakatan Harapan government in 2019 but disappeared. Why? Are we protecting Grab cars?
Those who feel this or e-trishaws are too risky can continue taking car taxis. No problem.
5) Bicycle and e-scooter lanes will allow people to reach MRT/LRT stations safely without costly Grab car rides.
Parking is a breeze too. New rules can ensure safe use of e-scooters. This is the micromobility solution. Sadly, DRT or van on demand has been too slow.
Singapore has over 730km of cycling paths connecting homes to MRT and bus stations, shopping malls, schools and food courts. This also boosts healthy exercise.
6) Bologna city in Italy gives people free cappuccino and gelato for walking, cycling and taking public transport downtown.
Commuting becomes a game of collecting points via an app called Bella Mossa (translated as Nice Move 
). It reduces traffic congestion and boosts exercise.
7) Make it compulsory or provide incentives to have at least partial/hybrid Work From Home (WFH) for office jobs.
8) We need sticks, too, as the carrots or incentives above may not be enough.
Peak-hour congestion charges have successfully reduced cars entering London, Rome, Stockholm and Singapore.
Another option is to start cutting 20% of weekday city traffic by banning certain car number plates.
9) Along with those sticks, encourage Malaysians to arrange car-pooling via WhatsApp or Facebook groups or via apps like BlaBlaCar.
10) Change mindsets with PR campaigns. Car ownership is a status symbol, while public transport is viewed as “low class”.
To transform that, a PR campaign can showcase stories of Malaysians who have saved money, effort and time from stressful traffic jams to playing with their phones while taking trains.
People who improved their health or found new corners of the city by walking more, should be highlighted too.
Longer term solutions
11) BRT or Bus Rapid Transit is a cheaper alternative to LRT and MRT for future expansion.
It basically means using buses on special lanes or overhead roads.
Trains are hard and expensive to maintain, as several LRT breakdowns have shown, what with the constant menace of cable thieves. But it’s far easier to repair buses.
12) Urban Renewal Act re-development of old houses into high-density apartments around train stations will reduce traffic.
But residents should get a bigger share of the windfall profits of urban renewal rather than just developers.
Former The Star nonmental editor Andrew Sia is now a Ma;aysiakini columnist and political commentator.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.