Towards a better pedestrian experience
Moaz Yusuf AhmadPublished: Jul 23, 2007 5:44 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
I was very excited to read about the planned improvements to the walking experience in Kuala Lumpur.
It is wonderful that the DBKL and private companies are recognising that some Malaysians still know how to walk, enjoy walking, and prefer to be a part of their community rather than seeing their community pass by as a series of blurry images in their car windows.
Improvements to the pedestrian experience will make more and more Malaysians confident in stepping out on their own. Many more workers will also be drawn to the lively streets. Then there are the tourists. It is likely that KL will see large numbers of foreign, outstation Malaysian and even 'tourists' from the suburban areas like Shah Alam and Serdang, who may see KL for the first time as pedestrians.
Most importantly, it is good to see that the pedestrian bridge across the Klang River linking the Mid-Valley City complex to the Pantai Dalam and Kg Abdullah Hukum areas will finally be built.
This project was supposed to be a pedestrian connection as well as a public transit link, allowing LRT users to have faster access to the Mid-Valley Complex, as well as to connect the KL Monorail to the LRT.
Sadly, the KL Monorail has not been extended to Mid-Valley. Fortunately the bridge will provide a link to the LRT station, which will improve public transit access to the mall, as well as reduce pressure on the Mid-Valley and KL Sentral Komuter stations.
It is very important that this project is completed as soon as possible. People have waited far too long for better public transit access to Mid-Valley. KTMB should also consider accelerating the construction of the proposed Abdullah Hukum KTM Komuter station beside the existing Abdullah Hukum LRT station.
This transit interchange will be very valuable and useful for KTM and LRT passengers, bring more customers to Mid-Valley, reducing area traffic, and reducing platform congestion at KL Sentral. I hope that the builders of Mid-Valley will contribute to the construction of the KTM Komuter station as well, so it can be built sooner.
Of course, building well-lit, covered walkways are only a start. Effort will have to be made to ensure that the streets of KL are safe for all pedestrians. Similarly, efforts will have to be made to ensure that the bridge is safe for pedestrians and does not become an area for criminal activity.
DBKL has taken a good step forward in introducing this plan. I hope that Mid-Valley, KTM, KL Monorail, and RapidKL can contribute to make these good ideas come to life.
It is wonderful that the DBKL and private companies are recognising that some Malaysians still know how to walk, enjoy walking, and prefer to be a part of their community rather than seeing their community pass by as a series of blurry images in their car windows.
Improvements to the pedestrian experience will make more and more Malaysians confident in stepping out on their own. Many more workers will also be drawn to the lively streets. Then there are the tourists. It is likely that KL will see large numbers of foreign, outstation Malaysian and even 'tourists' from the suburban areas like Shah Alam and Serdang, who may see KL for the first time as pedestrians.
Most importantly, it is good to see that the pedestrian bridge across the Klang River linking the Mid-Valley City complex to the Pantai Dalam and Kg Abdullah Hukum areas will finally be built.
This project was supposed to be a pedestrian connection as well as a public transit link, allowing LRT users to have faster access to the Mid-Valley Complex, as well as to connect the KL Monorail to the LRT.
Sadly, the KL Monorail has not been extended to Mid-Valley. Fortunately the bridge will provide a link to the LRT station, which will improve public transit access to the mall, as well as reduce pressure on the Mid-Valley and KL Sentral Komuter stations.
It is very important that this project is completed as soon as possible. People have waited far too long for better public transit access to Mid-Valley. KTMB should also consider accelerating the construction of the proposed Abdullah Hukum KTM Komuter station beside the existing Abdullah Hukum LRT station.
This transit interchange will be very valuable and useful for KTM and LRT passengers, bring more customers to Mid-Valley, reducing area traffic, and reducing platform congestion at KL Sentral. I hope that the builders of Mid-Valley will contribute to the construction of the KTM Komuter station as well, so it can be built sooner.
Of course, building well-lit, covered walkways are only a start. Effort will have to be made to ensure that the streets of KL are safe for all pedestrians. Similarly, efforts will have to be made to ensure that the bridge is safe for pedestrians and does not become an area for criminal activity.
DBKL has taken a good step forward in introducing this plan. I hope that Mid-Valley, KTM, KL Monorail, and RapidKL can contribute to make these good ideas come to life.
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