08 February, 2011

Dilemma of Using Pedestrian Bridge

Pedestrian Bridge

It was reported in the news that 28 out of 30 pedestrian bridges in the Klang Valley are unsafe for pedestrian use, especially at night. The bridges were obscured from view by billboards and tree branches. To complicate matters, the pedestrian bridges are usually poorly lit. Obviously, pedestrian will shy away from using the bridges especially at night because it is hotspots for crimes such as snatch theft, etc. Even during an overcast day, the pedestrian bridge will be deserted due to poorly lit.

As one of the vulnerable users, pedestrians are in a dilemma of either dashing their way across the street which certainly is very dangerous (even proven fatal) and also illegal to do or to use a certified unsafe pedestrian bridge.

Thus, the design of pedestrian bridge should be re look into so that it will be more conducive to users and the relevant authorities should carry out proper periodic maintenance of the pedestrian bridge. The current sorry states of the pedestrian bridges also contribute to the unwillingness of users to use public transport because pedestrian bridges are vital interconnectivity link for public transport users.

Read HERE for some of the views of pedestrian bridges in Kuala Lumpur.

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