Blog visitor Kevin sent in this photo of a pedestrian pavement in Ipoh. Not perfect, the idea is there. But still see what look like obstructions in the path that might hinder wheelchair movement.
The following photo, taken a few years ago, is from the Esplanade in Penang. This pavement is the best I have seen around: it is easily accessible by wheelchairs, wide, lined by trees. Overall, it looks inviting and makes walking a pleasure. (But there needs to be a pedestrian crossing at the junction where the pavement begins.)
The improvements in the walkway were recommended by a UNDP-Government of Malaysia project on Accessible Public Transport. Some RM70,000 was spent by the MPPP in 2009 on enhancing the path. If more of the recommendations are implemented elsewhere in the state, Penang could have a very accessible pedestrian network.
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In civic conscious countries, pedestrians have right of way over vehicles. Sadly, whenever I have visitors from abroad, I have to caution them that in Malaysia, humans are supposed to yield to vehicles.
Can’t remember when, I saw a Mat Salleh lady trying to cross Jalan Ria @ Komtar & she was crying just to cross over the road with Speedy Gonzales traffic turning into Jalan Ria. Maybe she was just too accustomed to prioritised & safe pedestrian crossings in her own country.
With many Penang island streets turning into one-way thoroughfares, we may see more crying Mat Salleh ladies terrified by the roadside!!!
Cosmopolitan Penang lifestyle prefers MercS300L for protection against imagined Friday mobsters@Penang Road to Komtar, narrow pavements or no pavements to save highly priced spaces for more high-end richie condos+sohos, to drive to Paragon for overt ego-boosting coffee drinks, no safe pedestrian crossings which are disruptive to bin chui marque cruise-driving, no roadside pedestrians to mar the exclusivity of cosmopolitan slippery public spaces, & no rights to the majority Penangites for a liveable city for all classes of society but manipulated stressed living to encourage denizen-emigration to other states of no bin chui (thus leaving more expensive spaces for the richie… Read more »
Pedestrian crossings are a waste of money in Malaysia.
Such pavement in JB City (opposite the Traffic police station) has protruding bolts (formerly used for flag poles) – a real safety hazard if you are not careful!!!
the contractors who lay the bricks for the pavement must ensure good layer of cement underneath. otherwise with weeds will grow with minimum of soil/sand in between the bricks. in the long run some roots can cause cracks so visible on the pavements all around Malaysia.
KPI must be adhered by all classes of government direct negotiated contractors otherwise it’s a waste of money.
ps.I wish i am the supplier for the bricks used for government approved pavement contractors.