2010 Mitchell Report

7/27/2019 2010 Mitchell Report

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UNDP Government of Malaysia

Project

Support for the development ofaccessible public transport in

Penang

Kit Mitchell


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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

10 miles


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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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The 12-month project aims to

support the development of a fully

accessible public transport system

for Penang State, as a pilot for the

rest of Malaysia.


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The project focuses on access

audits of public transport facilities,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, 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 an

effect

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 parkingregulations is almost wholly lacking.

Lack of contin it of accessible foot a 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


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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


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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 alongside

in George Town

There is no safe pedestrian link

from the pier to the Heritage Site


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E it f i f i hi


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Exit from pier for cruise ships


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Improvements the UNDP study will

recommend include:

- Connectivity of footways;

- Connect bus and ferry terminal tofootway network;

- Pedestrian link to pier for cruise ships;

- Start work on demonstration bus

corridor.


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World Heritage Site: priorities

for improvements to footways


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Improvements to footways and road crossings

Existing accessible

1st priority

Road crossings

Bus and ferryterminal

Pier


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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 parking

regulations;

- 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 lay-bys 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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Because traffic does not stop at

pedestrian crossings, 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 intrusiononto 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.

Documents

2010 Mitchell Report