2010 workshop accessible public transport in penang

7/27/2019 2010 Workshop Accessible Public Transport in Penang

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UNDP Government of Malaysia

Project

Support for the development ofaccessible public transport in

Penang

Kit Mitchell


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Malaysia in south east Asia

SingaporeMalaysia

Thailand

Viet Nam


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Peninsula Malaysia

Penang

Island

Rest of Pulau

Pinang

Thailand

Singapore

Viet Nam


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Penang Island

George TownWorld HeritageSite

Airport

Industrial areas

Tourist beacharea

Mountain


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Penang Island

Area 285 sq. km.Total population 500,000+

Old George Town 220,000Greater urban area 400,000

Mainland part of StateArea 753 sq. km.

Population 800,000


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Old George Town is mainly low-rise


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Old George Town is mainly low-rise


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George Town is a World Heritage Site


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There was an excellent network of

colonnaded pedestrian thoroughfares


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Pedestrian colonnades


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Aim of the UNDP study

The 12-month project aims to

support the development of a fullyaccessible public transport system

for persons with disabilities in

Penang State.


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The project focuses on access

audits of all public transportfacilities, capacity building and

awareness raising activities.


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In 2000, I felt that the main access

problems were poor or nopedestrian footways, and elderly

buses


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George Town street, 2000


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Some things are still the same in 2009


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But a new bus operator is very

professional, is using modern

vehicles, has well-trained staff,

and has a purpose built bus

terminal in Georgetown.


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A number of accessible sections ofpedestrian footway have been built,

and one street converted to spacesharing


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Existing accessible footways and crossings

Bus and ferryterminal

Existing accessible

Road crossings


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The improvements are having aneffect

By December 2009, you could see

wheelchairs and baby strollers incentral George Town

Bus passengers have increasedfrom 1,100,000 to 1,800,000 per

four week period


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But:- Accessible footways are not well

connected or continuous;

- Main bus and ferry terminals do notconnect to accessible footways;

- Construction is often not to correctstandards;

- Maintenance is sometimes poor;

- Enforcement of traffic and parking

regulations is almost wholly lacking.

Lack of continuity of accessible footway at


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Lack of continuity of accessible footway atentrance to Government building


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Kerb ramp less than 70 cm wide


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Poor maintenance

K b bl k d b i b


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Kerb ramp blocked by incense burner


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Pedestrian colonnades blocked

R bl k d b MPPP fl t


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Ramp blocked by MPPP flowerpot

F d bl k d b k d hi l


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Footway and ramp blocked by parked vehicles

M t l f ll i bli d d t i


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Motorcycle following a blind pedestrian


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From December 2009, cruise ships

have been able to dock alongsidein George Town


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Improvements the UNDP study will


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Improvements the UNDP study will

recommend include:

- Connectivity of footways;

- Connect Weld Quay bus and ferryterminal to footway network;

- Pedestrian link to pier for cruise ships;- Start work on demonstration bus

corridor.


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Survey of the World Heritage

Site has identified priorities forimprovements to footways


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Improvements to footways and road crossings

Existing accessible

1st priority

Road crossings

Bus and ferryterminal


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The first priority improvements

(shown red) are estimated to cost

814,000 MR (about $230,000 US)

Work on improvements started in

December 2009

Installing kerb ramps (k b h i ht 12 i h )


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Installing kerb ramps (kerb height 12 inches)


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I now feel that providing accessible

infrastructure and vehicles is relatively

easy, but institutional problems are very

difficult

- When ramp kerbs are fitted,motorcycles ride along the footway;

- Police do not enforce traffic and parkingregulations;

- Buses do not stop close to the kerb.

Motorcycle behaviour


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Motorcycle behaviour

Parking at bus stops


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Parking at bus stops

Failing to stop close to the kerb


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The reasons bus drivers stop away


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- Stops are often blocked by parkedvehicles;

- Stops have railings that preventpassengers boarding and alighting;

- Geometry of stops in laybys makes it

impossible for drivers to get close;

- Bus stop shelter roofs overhang kerb.

The reasons bus drivers stop awayfrom the kerb are:


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I have suggested the use of bus

stop boarders (bus stop bulbs)

without railings to make it easy for

drivers to stop close to the kerb,

and to prevent vehicles driving

through the line of passengers

Accessible bus stops


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Accessible bus stopsConsider using kerb extensions at bus stops

(bus boarders)

Bus boarder in Belfast


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Bus boarder in Belfast


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I have suggested the use of median

pedestrian refuges at crossings

For lower priority pedestrian crossings


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For lower priority pedestrian crossings,median pedestrian refuges offer benefits

Pedestrian refuge on 40mph (64kph) suburban road, Britain


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Perhaps most important, I am

urging a long-term programme of

institutional change, involving

education and enforcement, to

support the excellent engineering

already in place


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This includes changes within the

local authority, to encourage regular

inspection and maintenance of

footways, control of retail intrusion

onto footways, and control of

unapproved construction onfootways and blocking colonnades.


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Only time will tell whether theimprovements in accessibility can

be protected from road userbehaviour, lack of enforcement and

lack of inspection and maintenance.


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This project has made me realise that,

as experts on accessibility, we are not

paying enough attention to the social

differences between countries, and theneed to design transport to be suitable

for local situations.


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I hope this raises an issue for

discussion.



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2010 workshop accessible public transport in penang

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