Better streets can boost public transport

KUCHING: Better-designed streets could make public transport safer, more accessible and easier to use.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) senior lecturer Dr Mohd Afzan @ Noorawavi Mohamed said streets should be considered part of the journey to public transport, rather than merely routes for vehicles.

“A street is not simply a space for cars to move from one destination to another.

“It is also a public space where people walk, wait, interact and access essential services,” he told Sarawak Tribune.

He said streets designed around people as well as vehicles could form an important part of a more sustainable transport system.

Better pedestrian infrastructure, he said, could make public transport more accessible and attractive, particularly when commuters were able to walk safely and comfortably to a bus stop or train station.

He said discussions on improving public transport often centred on buses, trains, stations and fares, while the streets connecting commuters to those facilities could be overlooked.

“For many commuters, the journey does not begin when they board a bus or train.

“It begins when they step out of their homes, walk along a street, cross a road and make their way to a bus stop or railway station,” he said.

He said the quality of streetscape infrastructure could therefore influence whether people chose to use public transport.

He said research had consistently shown that good connectivity, well-planned pedestrian networks and appropriate land-use integration made it easier for people to walk to public transport facilities.

“A well-connected neighbourhood could reduce unnecessary walking distances and provide more direct routes to transit stops.”

Mohd Afzan also pointed to technology as another means of making the journey more convenient.

He said real-time pedestrian crossing timers, route-finding applications and integrated public transport information could help commuters plan their journeys and feel more confident when travelling.

However, he said basic infrastructure remained essential.

“A lack of proper connections between neighbourhoods and major transport facilities, including MRT stations, can leave commuters with long and uncomfortable walks before they even reach their destination,” he said.

He said pedestrian safety also had to be considered if more people were to be encouraged to walk.

Citing the World Health Organization, he said approximately 1.35 million people died in road crashes globally each year, while thousands also lost their lives annually in Malaysia, with pedestrians among those affected.

“These figures remind us that encouraging people to walk must go hand in hand with creating safer walking environments,” he said.

He said road design played a role in pedestrian safety, particularly where wide roads and heavy traffic increased the time pedestrians were exposed to moving vehicles.

He identified pedestrian crossing islands, traffic-calming measures, speed bumps and properly designed pedestrian crossings as interventions that could help reduce such risks.

He said pedestrian safety also needed attention after dark, as poorly lit streets could make pedestrians feel vulnerable while reducing visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.

“Better street lighting, including appropriately designed LED lighting, could improve visibility and make walking routes to public transport feel safer.

“This was particularly important for those who had to walk early in the morning or late in the evening to catch a bus or train,” he added.

Mohd Afzan said comfort was another important consideration, particularly in tropical climates where severe weather and high temperatures created immediate physical challenges for pedestrians travelling to public transport.

“When streets lack man-made shading like awnings or canopies, pedestrians are left exposed to intense heat and direct sunlight,” he said.

He said academic literature had emphasised the importance of managing thermal comfort to encourage walking.

“Well-maintained greenery and visually appealing streetscape features could also improve the walking experience,” he said.

He said research showed that natural ‘softscapes’, including hedges and shrub borders along walking routes, could provide an attractive natural buffer between pedestrians and passing traffic.

He said the condition and design of footpaths were also important to the walking experience.

“Wide, continuous and well-maintained footpaths could make a significant difference, while ramps, tactile paving and suitable seating could make streets more accessible to older adults, wheelchair users and people with other mobility challenges.

“In other words, a pedestrian-friendly street should not be designed only for the average commuter.

“It should accommodate people of different ages and abilities,” he said.

Mohd Afzan said well-designed and pedestrian-friendly streets around transit areas were important in encouraging people to walk to and from public transport facilities comfortably and safely.

He said encouraging walking and public transport could help reduce dependence on private vehicles, traffic congestion and transport-related emissions.

Regular walking, he added, could also contribute to better physical and mental health.

“Ultimately, improving public transport is not only about building more buses, trains or stations.

“It is also about improving the journey between people’s homes, workplaces and those transport facilities,” he said.

He said greater attention should therefore be given to whether walking routes provided well-maintained greenery and visually appealing streetscape elements that contributed to safety, community and physical comfort.

“The answer to this question could be an important starting point for building safer, healthier and more sustainable communities,” he said.