SUBANG JAYA, March 18 — Subang Jaya’s new bicycle lanes, which have garnered mixed reactions from the public, are being rolled out in stages to ensure safety and proper connectivity, said Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze.
She said the first two phases currently link LRT stations to the SS15 commercial area, while the third phase, considered the most important, will extend the route from SS15 to SS19, connecting residential areas, commercial zones, and train stations.
“The bicycle lanes are not completed yet… that’s why we are very careful to say that it is (being rolled out) in phases,” she told a press conference after officiating the Subang Jaya Micromobility Sandbox launch in SS15 here today.
She was responding to a question about some residents’ negative feedback on the blue bicycle lanes here.
Ng acknowledged that reluctance is normal when new infrastructure is introduced, adding that the project involved consultations with a non-governmental organisation, which helped design the routes and engage with the community.
She said the feedback received has been generally positive, and expressed confidence that the phased approach will achieve its objectives.
Ng also shared her personal experience from when she lived in London and cycling was the only mode of transport she could afford.
“The facilities (in London) didn’t distinguish whether I was a foreigner or a local; it was all about keeping people safe.
“There are already people, whether locals or foreigners, cycling around (Subang Jaya). It is incumbent on the (Subang Jaya City Council) to provide the infrastructure needed to ensure they, too, are safe. Otherwise, they would be forced to share the roads with other vehicles, which is very unfair.”
Ng said safety should be the main focus in all discussions about bicycle lanes.
Last month, The Star reported that Ng had used RM250,000 from her Projek Selangor Penyayang allocation to upgrade the bicycle lane from the Subang Jaya LRT station to SS15 LRT station. The 4.3km lane was completed in two months.
Several residents took to social media to express their concerns over the safety and reliability of the bicycle lane.
