When commuting is a walk in the park

New Straits Times

a day ago

UNLESS people live off the grid, they would want homes near basic conveniences. With access to government services, supermarkets, schools and clinics, people also prefer living near bus or taxi terminals or commuter train stations for easy travel to the city.
Residential areas near such transportation hubs have been fortunate to have infrastructure built around them.
In the future, the plan is to reverse this: the National Transport Policy 2019–2030 (NTP) states that new housing projects will be developed on or near public transport stations.
This concept, exemplified by the Kota Madani housing project, offers residences for low-income groups seeking a sustainable and organised urban lifestyle.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in introducing the concept, said it might require changes to existing regulations, as such housing projects promote broader use of the public transport system.
Anwar's announcement is timely, as public transport usage stands at only 20 per cent nationwide, significantly below the 40 per cent target set in the NTP.
The challenge, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is ensuring that the NTP achieves its goals.
Anwar's initiative marks a significant step toward addressing low public transport usage. Building homes near transit stations could help resolve this issue.
Still, as Loke said, the challenges are entrenched.
Low public transport usage stems from inconvenient routes, unreliable service, frequent delays, poor last-mile connectivity, and the social perception of car ownership as a status symbol.
Since the mid-1980s, Malaysia's push into industrialisation spurred domestic car production, making private vehicle ownership easy, affordable and widespread.
The obsession with cars is exemplified by the six million vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur daily, 2.2 million during peak hours.
For public transport to succeed — like Hong Kong's MTR or Singapore's MRT — the government must make tough policy decisions to reduce driving and incentivise bus and train usage.
One approach would be to impose a congestion charge for city entry to encourage greater use of buses and trains.
Other than limited parking, the measure most hated by motorists is paying to enter the city.
Inconsistent schedules, Delays and overcrowding — though frustrating — are issues of management and efficiency, not infrastructure failure.
The same applies to poor last-mile connectivity, inadequate waiting areas, and substandard bus infrastructure.
In short, there must be a competent system — or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions — to manage scheduling and operations.
As for those living off-grid or in remote areas, an AI-enabled e-hailing service could offer a practical mobility solution.
Balancing these complex factors — improving public transport while managing urban traffic congestion — remains the ultimate challenge.