Freespace - The high cost of traffic congestion

COMEDIAN Steven Wright once said: "They say the universe is expanding. That should help with the traffic." Sitting in traffic this past month, I can't help but hope with seriousness that what he says really will be true.
While I thought I was being over-dramatic about traffic jams in the Klang Valley, I realise my frustration is justified. According to the Malaysian Economic Monitor residents of greater Kuala Lumpur spend more than 250 million hours a year stuck in traffic. To put that in perspective, there are only about 8,766 hours in a year.
Carlist.my, discussing the Malaysian Economic Monitor report, stated that rapid urbanisation in city areas was a key driver for this, stating that 51% of the population lived in cities as of 1985, whereas now that metric has leaped to 75%.
While some might be sceptical about these figures, I think most people who have grown up in the city wouldn't be surprised at all. My parents have lived in a comfortable suburb in Petaling Jaya since the 1970s. When I was growing up, there was no such thing as congestion so bad that we could not back out of our driveway. And the family home is not even on a main road!
Now, minor roads leading to major arteries cause congestion that only really clears after 7.30pm. Going out for a bicycle ride? Forget it! Planning to meet someone for dinner? Plan two hours ahead. Want to go grocery shopping? Budget for one hour, including parking time.
I understand that many people from smaller towns move to the cities to work. That is fair. Does that mean, however, that city planning does not come into any consideration? Do we build and build and build with a two-lane road catering to 10 housing developments, and then only realise that the roads cannot accommodate the thousands of houses and flats in the area? Does this explain the numerous flyovers swooping on major highways, with exits at the most preposterous locations?
To put it into a language that business people might understand better, the cost of these traffic jams is RM20 billion to the country. In 2014, the total cost of traffic in greater Kuala Lumpur is estimated at 1.1-2.2% of GDP. That is a lot of money, money perhaps that Malaysians could do without wasting, don't you think?
I mean, from a small guy perspective, a few weeks ago I had to cancel a session at 6pm in Sunway. I usually leave Bangsar at around 4.45pm and can be in Sunway by 5.30 latest. On that day, it took me 45 minutes just to get from the top of Bukit Pantai to the foot where the traffic lights are. So there was some income down the drain, not counting the petrol, engine oil, etc that were being used in that mighty long jam.
I know I am not alone in my frustration. Who wants to wake up at 5.30am to get somewhere at 7.30am? Who wants to be stuck for two hours in a car, watching the heat waving all around you from the hoods of cars?
Carlist.my stated in its piece that the lack of urban mobility is a looming threat to the city's growth. Unless and until our development plans improve ("They plan?" asked a friend sarcastically). The Malaysian Economic Monitor also cited lack of unified planning as a key obstacle to the delivery of efficient urban transport. Who is shocked?
Well, urbanites are getting cynical and that says a lot about how they feel towards developers, town planners and others involved in the environment around them. But really, what can one do? To be honest, I am not sure. Aside from expressing dissatisfaction, I am hoping that perhaps developers and town planners and elected representatives will pull up their socks and work for the betterment of the nation than for their own well-being.
Daniel freelances in writing and fitness training, and has a deep passion for health, fitness, sleep and travel. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com