Ruining the ride: Food packaging discarded on the bicycle lane along the Bayan Lepas coastline. ― ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
PENANG is blessed with an abundance of pedestrian and bicycle lanes along its scenic waterfronts.
However, many visitors have been put off by the unpleasant sight of rubbish strewn along the coast, especially from Karpal Singh Drive to Batu Maung.
Checks along the path found several popular sections littered with plastic and food waste.
Most of these places are near food trucks or roadside stalls selling snacks and drinks.
The rubbish is left behind by careless picnickers and people who thoughtlessly discard their empty food and drink containers.
Some areas are not equipped with rubbish bins while there are certain areas which are not designated stopovers.
Avid cyclist Mohd Nasir Daud, 43, said cyclists were supposed to enjoy a safe ride along the seafront promenade.
A cleaning worker showing a bag filled with rubbish collected along the cycle lane near the second Penang bridge in Bayan Lepas.
“However, we have seen rubbish at certain parts of the cycling track. Not only is the food waste an eyesore, it is also a hazard for our small slick tyres.
“There are many crows in this area too, because they are attracted to the rubbish strewn here,” he said.
Another regular cyclist Mohd Khairul Adam, 42, finds the bicycle lanes useful for commuting.
“In the past, I had to ride on main roads along with other motorists and I worried about my safety every day.
“I feel safer using the bicycle lanes although they have more bends and bumps, which cause a slight delay.
“However, I cannot stomach the sight of rubbish littering the lanes and crows rummaging through the waste thus messing up the place even more.
“Their droppings are everywhere.
“The birds are also aggressive and pose a danger to young children,” said the engineer.
Nip problem in the bud
Cleaning workers believe the problems can be stopped if all visitors are barred from eating along the coast.
A worker employed to look after a 200m section from Queensbay Mall to Batu Maung said, “There are many visitors here during holidays and weekends. When they leave, crows will rummage through the packages left behind.
“They also know how to dig into rubbish bins along the path, tear packaging and take out the food. This results in food waste spilling all over.”
He sweeps and cleans sections of the path and surroundings twice daily – in the morning and evening.
After each time, the rubbish bags quickly filled up again with food packaging such as bottles, wrappers and disposable cups as well as hundreds of discarded face masks.
Food containers scattered on the bicycle lane near Queensbay Mall.
Reducing waste at source
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) prefers to stop the littering problem at source instead of hunting down the crows.
Penang Island mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said, “If people are more civic-conscious, then we can stop crows and other pests that spread diseases such as rats and stray animals.
“We urge visitors to be more responsible in helping the city council keep the bicycle lanes clean.
“This will help lower our cleaning costs and any savings will allow us to provide better infrastructure and environment for all,” he said.
Yew said offenders would be fined RM250 under the city council’s Public Cleanliness and Safety By-Law 1980, and RM500 under Section 47(1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
He said MBPP would initiate legal action against the offenders if the compounds were not paid within a month.
He added that the city council’s anti-littering team would also be patrolling regularly to catch offenders red-handed.
Crows looking for food scraps near the bicycle lane beside the coast. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Stopping crows
Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) carried out crow-shooting operations at various hotspots between August and October last year.
Seberang Prai mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad said 15 locations in central, north and south Seberang Prai were identified as hotspots.
The operations involving 69 licensed shooters yielded 10,023 crows.
Azhar said the birds were causing a nuisance to the public besides hygiene issues.
“The people too must play their part by properly discarding rubbish in bins. Make sure the bags are tied properly and bins are closed tightly to deter crows,” he added.
Maintaining bicycle lanes
G Club Penang Cyclists chairman Datuk Dr Lim Seh Guan, an avid cyclist and advocate of bike commuting, wishes for better maintenance of the lanes.
“Avid cyclists fought hard to have the bicycle lanes in the state but if they are poorly maintained, it will be difficult to promote the benefits of cycling to the general public, “ he said.
“Heavy penalties together with educational programmes in schools are needed to change the mindset of people and instil a culture of cleanliness,” he added.
The network of bicycle lanes in Penang has benefitted thousands of users over the years, said Dr Lim.
“The existing lanes are now used not only by cyclists but also runners and walkers who find the lanes safe and convenient for travel and exercise,” he said.
The Penang Bicycle Route Master Plan introduced in 2010 details the construction of a network of 200km bicycle lanes all around the island.
These bicycle lanes include the Eastern Coastal Route (16.93km); Northern Coastal Route (4.36km); Round the Island Route (5.62km); Radial Route (45.45km); Ring & Connector Routes (21.9km); Heritage Route (7.8km); and Recreational Route (26.7km).
The lanes are designed categorically – dedicated, carriageway and shared, and between the width of 1.5m and 4m.
The 4m lanes are to be shared with motor vehicles.
The Coastal Cycling Route, costing a whopping RM39mil, stretches from Tanjung Tokong through Lebuh Light in George Town to the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge and the Penang International Airport.
A 4.5km designated lane from Tanjung Tokong to Padang Kota Lama has been completed and is ready for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
In 2018, the bicycle lane along the Batu Maung-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway was completed. In May that same year, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow launched the iconic Jambatan Harapan (Hope Bridge).
This is the country’s first spiral bridge allowing cyclists and pedestrians to cross the Bayan Lepas Expressway to reach Lebuhraya Sungai Nibong and the Bayan Baru roundabout.
The RM8.9mil project includes a 3m-wide dedicated bicycle lane and 1.5m-wide pedestrian walkway.
