Clueless about orange boxes

Traffic wardens on duty at the Jalan Perak-Jalan Datuk Keramat junction in George Town to ensure motorcyclists and cyclists stop within the newly painted orange box. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

TRAFFIC wardens from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will watch over several traffic lights junctions from time to time to guide motorcyclists and bikers on the use of the newly painted orange bike boxes.

It turns out that many motorcyclists and cyclists do not realise that the orange box is the designated space for them to stop.

They should not cross it and get in the way of pedestrians crossing the junction.

While it is not a traffic law, MBPP is on a quest to persuade motorcyclists to get into the habit of stopping within the orange boxes and not stop too far forward at the red light.

At the same time, car drivers should not enter the orange boxes to give space to motorcyclists and cyclists.

MBPP recently initiated three orange box road markings with motorcycle and bicycle symbols at the junction of Jalan Perak and Jalan Datuk Keramat, at the Jalan Macalister-Jalan Datuk Keramat junction (in front of Gama) and another one at the junction of Jalan Jelutong and Jalan Ahmad Nor.

The pilot project, which began early this month, was aimed at instilling awareness among motorcyclists to stop within the box and not at the pedestrian crossing.

According to city councillor Tan Soo Siang, many road users are afraid to enter the bike box as they lack knowledge about the newly implemented project.

“We will make awareness videos to educate road users on the use of orange bike boxes, ” she said at the launching event at the junction of Jalan Perak and Jalan Datuk Keramat on Friday.

At the same event, city councillor Connie Tan responded to public complaints about there being no pedestrian crossing across the busy Jalan Tanjung Tokong near Fettes Residence.

“We would like to clarify that the road falls under the responsibility of Public Works Department (JKR) and not MBPP.

“We raised the issue in several meetings last year and this year. It is learned that JKR does not have enough allocation and we hope that they can carry out the project by this year.

“Penang is a pedestrian-friendly city and we hope that the zebra crossing will be drawn as soon as possible, ” she said.

Tan added that the council focuses and prioritises the safety of bikers, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

“We have a safety specific checklist when drawing a zebra crossing.

“There should be signs, digital countdown lights for vehicles and transverse bars before building a new zebra crossing, ” she explained.

MBPP Infrastructure and Traffic Committee alternate chairman Edward Tan said the special orange bike box zone was suggested to be built at junctions and there would be a stopping line for vehicles after the bike box.

He said if there was a pedestrian crossing, it would be the outermost one, followed by the orange box and the stop line for cars.

“This is to ensure the safety of the motorcyclists and bikers.

“The bike box is built according to the width of the existing road, ” he said adding that a bike box cost around RM3,000.

Also present was council senior engineer (traffic) Zainuddin Mohamad Shariff.