Crossing paths: much ado about bicycle lane legality

KUALA LUMPUR – Even though the bicycle lane has been installed in the Klang Valley and other cities in the country for several years, it seems that the facility is yet to be gazetted under the law.

In a recent presentation to stakeholders on how to improve accessibility through safer street design and land use, the public transport advocacy group Transit Malaysia raised concerns over the technicalities of the blue and green lanes in Kuala Lumpur and George Town, respectively.

“In particular, for Kuala Lumpur folk, many are not aware that the city hall and relevant authorities have yet to gazette or include the bicycle lane in bylaws or road rules,” said Zac Cheong, a steering committee member of Transit Malaysia.

He claimed that the matter has been confirmed by city hall officers during engagement with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and cycling enthusiast groups over the years.

“Surely there is a question mark on the provision under the law for local councils to take action against vehicles parked haphazardly, or against encroachment into the bicycle lane by motorised vehicles.

“It is important that the local councils resolve this matter as soon as possible for the sake of road safety, accessibility and enforcement,” he said.

The Vibes has sought clarification from the Kuala Lumpur mayor on the matter.

The cycle lane, which was introduced in stages as a road-sharing concept in the inner city in 2015, has been a subject of displeasure among car drivers and motorcyclists.

It is learned that some motorists have been unhappy that they must share the road space due to dedicated cycle paths.

Many have questioned the decision to reduce the lane width for motorised vehicles in order to accommodate space for cyclists on the left side of the road.

Apart from the legal aspects, Cheong also highlighted the challenges to develop cohesive cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

“In our group discussion, we agree that authorities must address the danger of drain grills and road potholes for cyclists alongside the commitment to provide better access for mobility,” he said, adding that many Kuala Lumpur streets should be redesigned to facilitate safer people-friendly facilities.

Cheong was speaking to The Vibes at the sidelines after the recent Safer Streets meeting organised by Bike Commute KL, Global Designing Cities Initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research (Miros). 

It was held at the Centre of Sustainable Development Goals near Dataran Merdeka, and attended by 40 participants from civil society organisations, NGOs, academia, police, Miros and local authorities. – The Vibes, December 2, 2022