The perennial bumper-to-bumper traffic in Penang has gotten on just about everybody's nerves, prompting the public to clamour for an efficient public transport system to reduce the gridlock.
The problem has caused many to arrive at their workplaces stressed out and frustrated.
Cars, buses, motorcycles and other commercial vehicles pour onto the streets daily with the traffic grinding to a halt for no apparent reason.
According to the Road Transport Department, there are some 800,000 cars paying road tax every year in Penang, along with a million motorcycles.
With a population of about 1.5 million and registered private vehicles already exceeding two million, it is now official that there are more motor vehicles in Penang than people!
State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow conceded that, without an efficient public transport system, Penang had fallen behind international standards.
Chow said the long-term challenge was to reduce islanders' dependence on private transport mode by coming up with creative and radical improvements in public transport.
He was quoted as saying: "Though potentially unpopular, this is the way forward.
"Major cities around the globe have been planning for the future needs of their citizens. Penang needs to do likewise."
What Penangites need now is a holistic approach to tackling the traffic woes, and the first two things that come to mind are reliable public buses and taxies.
All credit goes to Rapid Penang for implementing comprehensive network coverage and high bus frequency for high ridership routes since 2007, which has benefited thousands of commuters on a daily basis.
With the Federal Government committed to setting up bus stops not more than 400 metres from each household, which is a reasonable walking distance, Malaysians just need to change their mindsets to leave their cars at home and start taking public transport.
Of course, much more needs to be done.
Taxi services in Penang have been in the doldrums for a long time because of the cutthroat fares charged.
Passengers are forced to haggle with recalcitrant taxi drivers over the fare.
It is unfortunate that taxi drivers continue to flout the rules and are in loggerheads with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) over the process of recallibrating their meters.
There is, unfortunately, no quick solution to the impasse and the matter can only be solved amicably between SPAD and the Penang taxi associations.
Monorail services is another good way to encourage the public to use public transport, provided there is ample parking lots to make the park-and-ride concept possible.
Also, the conversion of two-way streets into one-way streets should also be put at the top of the agenda.
However, some residents continue to hit out at the local authorities because the traffic restructuring leads to detours and temporary traffic jams in front of their homes.
These people must try to see the bigger picture, as one-way traffic is precursor to eradicate the traffic gridlock.
We can all help make Penang a better place to live in by making a collective effort.
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