Difficult to cross: Jalan Masjid Negeri in George Town. — Filepic/The Star
IN 2016, the Penang Island City Council launched the “Pedestrian is King” campaign to empower pedestrians, especially when walking around George Town. Five years later, there have been some projects to create more pedestrian- friendly areas (back lane renovations, widening of Jalan Gurd-wara’s walkway and upgrading the iconic “octopus” bridge near Komtar). These are commendable but very far from ideal, especially when it comes to traffic light-controlled crossings or in established residential areas outside the core of George Town.
Some notable examples I can mention that are not pedestrian- friendly are the six-lane Lebuhraya Thean Teik, five/six-lane Jalan Masjid Negeri and the four-lane section of Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu after Queensbay Mall. These roads, which are used by pedestrians, are very straight in design and that encourages speeding; they also don’t have suitable/adequate pedestrian facilities.
