A trial run would be held beforehand on a few busy streets in the central business district, said the mayor, Rajendran Anthony. The move comes as higher parking rates are to be enforced from March.
Other measures planned include:
- time limits for loading and unloading on main roads in the city;
- a special shuttle service to the entire Penang Hospital area, to reduce congestion caused by roadside parking;
- full-time personnel to clear congestion caused by double-parking; and
- more dedicated bus lanes.
Rajendran said the time limits on parking and loading and unloading will be rolled out in the first quarter of the year, with full implementation likely by mid-year.
“More changes will come as we monitor the situation. A lot of congestion can be reduced if people follow traffic rules. If one lane is blocked, traffic comes to a standstill.”
Rajendran said the council is working closely with residents and businesses on these changes. “We call it public empowerment. For example, when we raised parking fees, it was because the majority of people supported it,” he said. Parking fees will go up by 50% in March.
The mayor said jams on Penang Island are often caused by double parking and improper loading and unloading. “Our roads are narrow. Just one vehicle blocking a lane can cause a jam. We will place personnel in problem areas full-time to stop this,” he said.
“In areas with a serious shortage of parking, we need to ensure everyone gets a chance to use the space. We cannot have people parking for nine or 10 hours a day because street parking is cheaper (than private car parks),” he told reporters here.
Rajendran said the council is working to encourage people to leave their cars at home by making public transport more convenient, with free bus services already operating across the island, and more dedicated bus lanes in the works.
“We are creating bus-only lanes so buses can come on time. If buses are not reliable, people won’t use them. It’s as simple as that,” he said. The first bus lane has been on trial at peak hours in Penang Road for the past month.
Rajendran said free shuttle buses currently operate every 10 minutes in the city, allowing residents to park further away and still get around easily.
He said a special shuttle service to the general hospital area would reduce congestion caused by street parking.
Rajendran said the council’s goal for 2025 is not to reduce traffic completely but to control it better.
“You can use your car during off-peak times, but we discourage it during peak hours. Why create more problems for yourself with congestion and parking issues? We can’t wait for congestion to become gridlock. It’s time to act,” he said.