PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS not a priority on Malaysian roads. Why? According to a Stanford University study, it is because Malaysians do not walk. Instead, we were ranked the third “laziest”, documented in facts and figures and popular culture, most notably using the “power of the hand” when crossing the road.

Despite the almighty hand, the Malaysian Ministry of Transport has stated that 542 pedestrians die each year from road accidents. This alarming number highlights the poor walkability of Malaysian roads and the need to ensure pedestrian safety.

Batu Ferringhi is an example of a place that sees large amounts of foot traffic and cars, especially during peak hours with the kilometre-long bustling night market. The walkability of Batu Ferringhi plays a crucial role in its tourism-centric economy, with most tourists choosing to walk from their resorts, providing foot traffic for the numerous local businesses. These walkways can also serve locals, should they have time to slow down and explore.

Unfortunately, Jalan Batu Ferringhi’s walkability—or the lack of it—has hindered the growth of businesses here, largely due to the issue of one-sided infrastructure. Most of the pedestrian infrastructure is located on the resort side of Jalan Batu Ferringhi, leaving the inland side, where most of the local shops are located, with insignificant amounts of infrastructure for anyone to utilise. Foot traffic for the stores cannot reach its highest potential because many would not risk walking on that side of the road without proper infrastructure—for safety reasons.

The bigger walkability issue that Jalan Batu Ferringhi faces, like many pedestrian paths in Malaysia, is the universal accessibility of the path itself. Existing pavements tend to be one high step above the road, creating a barrier for not only the disabled but also the elderly, pregnant women and families with kids (and strollers) who wish to use the pavement. The step can make it difficult for them to get up onto the walkway. Thus, they put themselves in danger by walking on the side of the road. Pavements along Batu Ferringhi also lack tactile paving for the visually impaired, with only tiles at the end of pavements to indicate to them when to stop. The gap left between the ends of pavements may cause them to veer off course into open drains or even oncoming traffic.

The call for improved walkability and disability access has been sounded many times by the media and civil society, and one would think that a locale considered the Tourism Belt would have allocation for such improvements. It is not rocket science.

That said, the current pedestrian infrastructure upgrade was initiated in two phases between 2020 and 2021 by the Tanjong Bunga state assembly person, Zairil Khir Johari, where the stretch from Rasa Sayang Hotel to Hard Rock Hotel, which is under his jurisdiction, are widened and upgraded with tactile pavings and pedestrian ramps, costing RM780,460 for the 1.72km stretch.

According to the BBC, 95% of Singapore’s pedestrian walkways and public transport stands are disabled-friendly with the government implementing schemes such as the “Green Man Plus” programme which allows those with concession cards to gain more time when using pedestrian crossings. Such innovations could be replicated step-by-step here in Batu Ferringhi and more widely in Malaysia, especially with an ageing population slowly becoming a reality.

To be sure, walkability along Batu Ferringhi is not a complete disaster. One of the positive aspects of this stretch of road is its ample street lighting, illuminating the way for pedestrians to walk around at night in a safer environment. It has been proven that street lighting does help reduce crime—a study by the American Economic Association found that night time crime indexes in cities like New York decreased by 36%, thanks to better lighting. Streetlights also reduce road accidents.

Resorts like PARKROYAL Penang and Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa have managed to grow trees that cover approximately 374m of the 494m of tree coverage in Batu Ferringhi. Tree coverage has been proven to reduce the temperature felt by pedestrians, which is extremely helpful in the Malaysian heat. When it is not sticky warm outside, people would be more encouraged to walk, thus reducing the number of cars on the road.

To make this strip more walkable, more trees along the pathway are necessary. Melbourne, Australia has pursued such a policy with their “Urban Forest Strategy” which aims to increase Melbourne’s tree coverage from 22% in 2012 to 40% by 2040. Such a policy should be considered and implemented by the state government and the city council.

The tourist hub’s existing infrastructure has been satisfactory—blockages are relatively rare. One question begs to be asked: is it because Malaysians do not walk, and so there is little need for supportive infrastructure, or is it because there are inadequate facilities that deter Malaysians from walking?

Footnote:

[1] https://support.yoodo.com.my/hc/en-us/community/posts/9501670524313-Malaysia-Ranked-The-Third-Laziest-Country-In-Stanford-University-Study