DBKL, Prasarana suggest special LRT coaches for cyclists

KUALA LUMPUR: The public is urged to use bicycles in a move towards a green city as facilities will be provided, including being allowed to take folding bicycles aboard Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Planning executive director, Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said storage areas would also be available at every station for other types of bicycles.
However, he said the plan to allow bicycles to be taken aboard LRT only involved the use of LRT outside peak hours. The facilities would be provided in cooperation with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.
"At the masterplan development stage, the main focus is the first mile connection, namely, to encourage the public to use bicycles to the LRT stations close to their housing areas.
"With the availability of the facilities soon, I hope all city dwellers give their support by using bicycles and public facilities to move about." He said this at a news conference after opening a seminar on 'Dutch Cycling Infrastructure Mission to Kuala Lumpur', here, today.
Mohd Najib said the other facilities in the pipeline included a stop-over to change clothes and bicycle routes complete with safety features for the public, especially students.
He said among the bicycle routes to be implemented were from Dataran Merdeka to Mid Valley (5.5 km), Wangsa Maju to Taman Melati (4 km) and from Wangsa Maju to Taman Batu Muda (2km).
He said RM5 million was expected to be spent to develop the infrastructure and provide the facilities for cyclists this year.
Meanwhile, Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president, Datuk Naim Mohamad also suggested that schools and residential communities set up bicycle associations.
DBKL, with the cooperation of the Netherlands embassy, organised a seminar 'Hop on, lah!' today in a move to share the experience and expertise of the Dutch in popularising the bicycle.
The Netherlands has special coaches for cyclists as the number of bicycles there is bigger than its populace. There are 19 million bicycles compared to 17 million people in the Netherlands. – Bernama