LETTER | Transit Malaysia welcomes the proposal by the authorities to pedestrianise Jalan Bukit Bintang and limit private vehicle access to the street.
Jalan Bukit Bintang is one of the city centre’s most vibrant districts, serving as the vital commercial and lifestyle centre of Kuala Lumpur.
Pedestrianisation would only enhance this, attracting more people to enjoy the beating heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Why is pedestrianisation an improvement?
Jalan Bukit Bintang currently prioritises the movement of private vehicles at the expense of the people who make the area vibrant and support local businesses.
Currently, the street experiences daily congestion due to private vehicles being parked on the side of the three-lane road.
Traffic often comes to a standstill during peak periods such as weekends or evenings when private vehicle movement in the city centre is high.
By redesigning to accommodate more people travelling to Bukit Bintang by foot or public transportation, Jalan Bukit Bintang will retain its energy, no matter the traffic situation.
Allow buses, improve connectivity
The Jalan Bukit Bintang-Sultan Ismail intersection should also be redesigned to allow pedestrians to cross from all angles at more frequent pre-timed intervals, akin to scramble crossings in Tokyo’s Shibuya and London’s Oxford Circus.
The authorities should also consider allowing bus-only lanes for bus services going through Jalan Bukit Bintang; this would further strengthen existing public transport accessibility throughout Bukit Bintang.
The time is right
The time is ripe for the area to be pedestrianised. It is currently served by the MRT Kajang Line and KL Monorail Line, as well as several bus routes like GoKL lines 1, 2, and 4. The popular elevated walkway to KLCC also helps to bolster the pedestrian connection between two of KL’s major attractions.
Altogether, these provide ample connections to other parts of the city and the wider Klang Valley.
Pedestrianisation of similar areas around the world, like Swanston Street in Melbourne, Times Square in New York, and soon Oxford Street in London, has already shown that more space for people equals more space for business success.
Change can seem daunting, but we’re here for you
Transit Malaysia understands that the proposal to pedestrianise one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest streets is not without its challenges, especially for the local business community who rely on the street for business purposes like customer or supplier access.
We implore Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to engage in thorough stakeholder discussions; we would be pleased to offer our support for these discussions.
Conclusion
By working together, we will help to encourage the pedestrianisation of Jalan Bukit Bintang in stages while alleviating both the public and local business community’s concerns, eventually easing into complete pedestrianisation with long-term benefits for the public and local business community.
A pedestrianised Jalan Bukit Bintang, when coupled with the already-existing public transport access, will make the area safer and more attractive to Malaysians and tourists alike, thus increasing the vitality and appeal of the already popular street.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
