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By Bavani M
TRANSIT- The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit Klang Valley - a group that advocates good public transportation system in the Klang Valley gave the thumbs-down to the current state of the city's network after trying out the various modes of transport recently.
The group comprising members of the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca), Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and the National Council of Women Organisations (NCWO) went out last Saturday to prove their point by identifying various faults in the local transportation network.
Joining the members were some disabled members of the community who rely on public transport to get around daily in the city.
They covered the Pasar Seni, the Klang Bus Station, bus stops at Bangkok Bank and Kota Raya and the surrounding areas to identify weaknesses in the transportation system.
Disabled member P. Santhakumari, 49, said the public buses were not disabled-friendly.
"The buses are so high it's difficult to board it," she said.
A regular rider of the KTM, commuter K.R Pramila said she would like to be able to travel comfortably and fast.
"I would like to see a reduction in waiting time," she said, adding that she did not pay to stand all the way from Rawang to KL.
Pedestrian and cyclist Chitoo said he would like to see more bicycle- friendly roads in the city.
"Every time I take out my bicycle, I fear for my life," he said.
Chitoo added that the LRT stations did not offer any suitable spots for the public to park their bicycles.
"I had to buy a collapsible bicycle to travel but not everyone can afford that," he said.
Wheelchair-bound Christine Lee said she found the waiting time at pedestrian crossings too long.
"I had to wait 12 minutes for the light to turn green and the roads are not barrier-free," Lee said.
Members of the group, led by Transit spokesman Zulkarnain Hamzah, said Transit would be the voice of the passengers, consumers and stakeholders in the public transport industry.
"Mass transit should not be seen as a mode of transport for the poor and that is the first perception that the government needs to do away with," said Zulkarnain.
"The entire system is messy with too many agencies involved and we need to address this.
"Investment in mass transit infrastructure, operations and systems has to be coordinated by the authorities with social, economic and environmental well-being as the bigger picture," Zulkarnain said.
He added that proper support was needed as public transport was usually accessed by walking and the local council has to ensure proper accessibility and ease of mobility for all sections of the society, including the disabled, senior citizens, pregnant women and children.
Zulkarnain said there must be fair allocation of risks and responsibilities between operators and authorities and non-discriminating distribution of tax revenue to adequately cover the urban population's transport needs.
"The government must not abandon the principles of transparency, good governance and public participation in moving our mass transit forward," he said.
Transit adviser Moaz Yusof Ahmad said the government's move in building 11 additional LRT lines might sound like a good solution but they would appreciate immediate solution to some of their current woes.
"What the Prime Minister saw last Thursday was our best. Imagine if he had seen the worst! If he had to wait two hours for a bus."
Moaz said there was talk that rail operators were buying more buses, carriages and coaches but that would only be realised in three years.
"We need solutions now, proper enforcement, dedicated bus lanes and we need it today," he said.
Moaz said Transit had a wishlist for the 2009 budget and wanted it to identify specific areas of improvement, which could be done quickly within the Klang Valley.
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