Traffic!

It was 1993, fresh off my Certificate in Legal Practice examination when I was called to attend a series of interviews and written tests to be a Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatic (Malaysia' Civil Service). I cannot recall what the exact question was, but I believe it had something to do with productivity and what can affect it. My answer? Traffic jams! Traffic jams impacts productivity. People get ready in the morning anticipating bad traffic. That in itself puts them in a foul mood when they should walk with a swagger and a spring in their step.

They then step into their car to get to their destination and soon they will meet the first of many gridlocks. They inch away, their eyes darting forward, left, and right. They check the rear-view mirror. They proceed cautiously. For many of them it will take a good hour or more before they will reach their destination. Before they have even stepped into their place of work, they are already tired. Work demands a good 8 to 9 hours of attention. Their superior and/or their subordinates demands it.

They force their eyes to remain open, they try to stifle a yawn as a meeting plods on. The person seems to be droning on for years. Their mind wanders. What's for lunch? They can't wait to return to their working area or table. They are not paying attention. And this scene is repeated all over Malaysia, especially places where traffic congestion is the norm and not the exception.

Millions and billions down the drain, each day. This is something that PMX touched here https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/17/pm-traffic-jams-affect-productivity

PMX

I have been an advocate of public transport for as long as I can remember. Ever since I experienced public transportation firsthand in Europe. First, when I was studying in UK. Then, when I was travelling in Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. And as I was travelling for work or play in France, Austria, and Germany. I enjoyed riding on trams in Amsterdam, Melbourne, and San Francisco. The connectivity is seamless and extremely easy.

I have often said before, public transportation is not about catering to make it affordable alone, it's all about enticing the drivers like me to get onboard. To convince people in suits to take public transportation. Previous plans for Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley were much to be desired. There was no connectivity for the old Putra Line, STAR Line and Monorail. Commuters were forced out in the open exposed to the elements. I wrote about this in one of the Promuda forums. They didn't like to read or hear what I had to say. I got an earful with some calling me privileged and cannot even withstand a little rain or sunshine. The moment they said that I knew then this forum was a loss cause. It started with promise but then it lost its way.

They fail to get the point. It's all about careful planning for the benefit of the people. Finally, during PM6 they got most of it right. There's now seamlessness in the connectivity between the various lines and rail service. Just like what I was used to in Europe. I won't mind leaving my car behind if it means ease of use and seamlessness. But it's not. Connectivity with the rail service is still a distant, with buses being relied upon to provide the connection. But that is not good enough and let me explain why.

Unlike the rail services that are not impacted or affected by the traffic on the roads, a bus will be affected. They will get stuck in a traffic congestion and again that stresses people with many soon returning to their cars as it is more convenient and comfortable. Our planners need to ensure comfort, convenience and seamlessness over everything else. Only then people like me will leave our cars behind. We don't want to be stuck in traffic in a bus. Might as well get stuck in traffic in the comfort of our own cars.

This needs to be drummed into the heads of the planners and decision makers, or else traffic congestion will remain the same as we are still not able to convince or convert people. We must also ensure 150% quality for maintenance. The moment things breakdown, we've lost the plot and we will never resolve traffic congestion. And let me stress this once again.

Public transportation is not to cater for the B40. It needs to be comfortable, convenient, seamless and to an extent luxurious. What they have managed to do for the ETS (Electric Train Service), they now to need to bring it and show it to everyone. There should be tunnels and/or covered walks for comfort. Only then it will get more attractive for the drivers.