TOWNS and cities around the world, including those in Malaysia, are implementing programmes to be more liveable and sustainable.
Encouraging walking is one of the few activities that should be easy for cities to implement, and is enjoyable and healthy for us all. Unfortunately, it is still challenging to find the joy of walking in many Malaysian cities.
Urban planners and transport engineers have tended to prioritise fast and efficient car travel over the needs of pedestrians in cities. This creates obstacles for comfortable pedestrian passage and, in fact, often creates dangerous conditions too.
In Malaysia, many roads still do not have proper walkways. Even when there are walkways or covered five-foot ways in front of shophouses, often there are parked bicycles or motorcycles and goods on display. Pedestrians have to make their way around these obstacles, having to walk into the streets to do so. Crossing streets can be suicidal acts.
There have been cases of tragic accidents involving pedestrians caused by reckless motorists running red lights at pedestrian crossings. Last week in Cyberjaya, there was a fatal hit-and-run accident involving a car mowing down a pedestrian while she was crossing the road. This is not just a problem in Malaysian cities.
For example, in Los Angeles, one can find traffic jams as bad as those in Southeast Asian megacities. There, priority is given to car movement so much so that walking is often a stressful activity.
In Los Angeles, as well as in other cities in North America, such as New York and Vancouver, and other cities in Europe, planners have begun ‘Vision Zero’ campaigns, an idea started in Sweden, with the goal of zero fatalities or serious injuries from traffic.
Vision Zero plans involve not only new regulations such as maximum travel speeds, better signage and the design of clear rights of way, but also include public safety education.
Over the years, there has been some improvement in the way urban planners and engineers in Malaysia have designed urban streets and walkways.
In Kuala Lumpur’s ‘Golden Triangle’, DBKL has upgraded pedestrian and public transport connectivity.
Upgrades to public spaces and walkways along Jalan Alor and Jalan Gading have facilitated outdoor cafes, and arts and cultural activities.
Its ‘Laneways Project’, collaborating with Think City to beautify backlanes with improved infrastructure, lighting and mural paintings, shows the city’s commitment to residents’ and the visitors’ walking experience.
In Penang, the local authority is reconfiguring streets in the heritage core of George Town to improve sidewalks for tourists’ walkability.
Along the China Street Ghaut, a project by MBPP and George Town Conservation and Development Corporation to widen walkways and improve landscaping, will enable residents and tourists to visit the sights more easily and pleasantly. Such initiatives are welcome.
This shows that some municipal authorities are paying attention to pedestrian traffic and safety. But prioritising the welfare of those who walk does not mean having only safer streets and sidewalks. Walking must be considered an integral part of urban design and development.
Urban planners must ask themselves: Who are walking? Where do they walk to? Are they feeling safe and comfortable when they walk?
They should link safe and accessible pedestrian routes to cultural and educational amenities as well as shopping centres. They need to make it easy and pleasurable for people to walk where they want to go.
Around the world, cities such as Vienna in Austria, Florence in Italy and Boston in the US enhance the joy of walking by ensuring pedestrian routes to their historic shops, churches and concert halls are kept well-marked, and safe with lights and shady trees where desired.
With smart urban landscape design, it is possible to design streets and public spaces that are pedestrian-friendly, even in Malaysia’s hot and wet climate. Every urban road must have wide, well-paved and disable friendly sidewalks, lights and crossing facilities at regular intervals.
For our hot and wet climate, walkways must also have shades, both natural or man-made to shield pedestrians from the rain and the sun. They should be well landscaped with places and benches for walkers to stop and rest.
The important point is that giving priorities to pedestrians in urban development can bring about cities that are efficient, attractive and vibrant.
Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
