From Boo Jia Cher
At a bustling intersection near Ampang Point, a mother with a baby in a stroller and an elderly man wait alongside six lanes of traffic, with no pedestrian signal in sight.
There is a pedestrian bridge nearby, but it is inaccessible to them. As cars, lorries and motorcycles speed past, they wait for a chance to cross.
Meanwhile, another pedestrian is stranded in the middle of the road, unable to complete the crossing and forced to wait for a break in traffic.
This scene is typical in Ampang Jaya town, bordering Kuala Lumpur, and reflects Malaysia’s heavy reliance on cars and the underdevelopment of cycling and walking infrastructure.
In the Klang Valley, the quality of walking and cycling facilities varies greatly between municipalities.
Ampang Jaya stands out for having some of the poorest pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in the region.
Absence of pedestrian infrastructure
Many roads in Ampang Jaya lack pavements for pedestrians, while hawker stalls and illegally parked vehicles frequently encroach upon road space. Where pavements do exist, they are often narrow, uneven and end abruptly.
The absence of proper pedestrian paths forces people to walk alongside traffic, heightening the risk of accidents.
Signal-controlled pedestrian crossings are rare. Where crossings are present, they are often poorly designed, with curbs that are too high for many, particularly the disabled. Pedestrian bridges, where available, are often inaccessible to the elderly, disabled and those with strollers.
Hazards of walking
The lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure makes walking both unpleasant and hazardous, leading more people to drive, even for short distances, exacerbating congestion and delays.
Roads designed primarily for vehicles encourage speeding, further endangering pedestrians and other road users.
A car-centric society exacerbates challenges for seniors and marginalised groups and contributes to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change.
Need for pedestrian infrastructure
It is essential to prioritise pedestrian-friendly infrastructure across the country, by creating safe and inviting paths for walking as well as cycling and installing pedestrian crossings in residential and commercial areas.
While the Selangor government’s investment in demand-responsive transit (DRT) vans is commendable, the effectiveness of these services depends on users’ ability to access DRT stops safely.
It is ironic that local councils are so fixated on “smart solutions” like electric vehicle chargers while ignoring basic pedestrian infrastructure.
Ensuring implementation
The draft Selangor Structure Plan includes valuable proposals to reduce car dependence and promote walking, cycling and public transport. However, these ideas need practical implementation.
Regular audits should be conducted to ensure these plans are realised. Local councils that successfully implement these initiatives should be recognised and rewarded, while those that fail should face penalties.
Building a better community
Transforming the Klang Valley into a pedestrian-friendly region requires a collective effort from planners, policymakers and local communities.
Attempts to address these issues with the Ampang Jaya municipal council (MPAJ), assemblymen and councillors have been ignored.
It is hoped that MPAJ will eventually take responsibility to improve pedestrian safety and can create a more inclusive, and vibrant urban environment that benefits everyone.
Boo Jia Cher is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.