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🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Can cheaper latte and starting the day early solve KL’s perpetual traffic jams?

From The Straits Times · (16h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Kuala Lumpur launched the "Bangun KL" (Wake up, KL) campaign to alleviate traffic congestion by encouraging commuters to start their day earlier.
  • Transport experts and commuters express skepticism, citing inflexible work schedules and underlying issues like job concentration and inadequate public transport.
  • A coffee discount incentive has seen low uptake, with less than 4% redemption in the first four days of the campaign.

Kuala Lumpur's authorities have rolled out the "Bangun KL" initiative, a novel attempt to tackle the city's notorious traffic jams by urging residents to embrace an earlier start to their day. Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh champions the campaign, believing that spreading the morning rush will create a more manageable flow on the roads. The core idea is simple: shift travel times to ease the gridlock that plagues the capital.

One cannot remain comfortable with the old pattern where everyone travels at the same time and ends up stuck in traffic

— Hannah YeohFederal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh explaining the rationale behind the 'Bangun KL' campaign.

However, the campaign has been met with considerable skepticism from those who navigate KL's streets daily. Transport experts like Dr. Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia point out that the fundamental problems – a high concentration of jobs in the city center, a strong reliance on private vehicles, and insufficient public transport options – remain unaddressed. For many, like shift workers or parents needing to drop off children at school or childcare centers, adjusting their schedules is not a matter of choice but a rigid necessity. The notion that commuters can simply 'stretch' their time is out of step with the reality faced by millions.

The underlying problems remain the same

— Dr Law Teik HuaHead of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Road Safety Research Centre, commenting on the limitations of the campaign.

Adding to the skepticism is a promotional tie-in with ZUS Coffee, offering early-bird discounts. This incentive, intended to encourage early risers, has seen a modest response, with redemption rates below 4% in its initial days. Critics argue this discount is tone-deaf, failing to recognize the financial constraints many commuters face. From a local perspective in Malaysia, the "Bangun KL" campaign highlights a disconnect between policy initiatives and the lived experiences of ordinary citizens. While the government seeks innovative solutions, the public's reaction underscores the need for more comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of traffic congestion, rather than relying on behavioral nudges that may not be feasible for a large segment of the population.

The vast majority of travellers’ timetables are institutionalised in nature

— Dr Law Teik HuaDr. Law Teik Hua explaining the inflexibility of commuters' schedules.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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