Taxis waiting for customers cause traffic jam in Jalan Bukit Bintang
METRO NEWS
Saturday, 29 Sep 2018
by edward rajendra and oh ing yeen
Irrespective of the time, taxis parked on the roadside add to traffic congestion.
MOST of the time, the four-lane Jalan Bukit Bintang is reduced to three as numerous taxis hog one lane, worsening the already congested busy road at the popular tourist spot.
It was observed that the taxi drivers would park at the roadside, turn off the engine, alight and start touting their services.
Some would even chat with fellow taxi drivers or even sleep in their taxis, only leaving the spot when a customer wants to use their services.
The parked taxis also obstruct the public’s view of oncoming traffic, forcing pedestrians to step onto the road to see if the road was clear to cross, putting pedestrians’ safety at risk.
Fong said he has notified the traffic police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement unit about it and the authorities promised to look into the matter and take action against taxi drivers who flout the laws.
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Congestion at night
“If taxi drivers stop for a while to let passengers alight, that is understandable.
“However, it is a huge problem if they park for a long time and cause traffic congestion.
“I will follow up with the relevant authorities on this and see if there is a solution to easing congestion along the road,” he said.
A visit by StarMetro revealed that taxi drivers who used to wait for passengers outside Pavilion have moved away from the street after traffic police lined the road with traffic cones.
According to a traffic policeman, the taxi drivers had been advised and most of them have complied not to wait for passengers at the busy road.
Cones with reflector strips are a common fixture at certain parts of the street.
“Only one or two would stop for about three minutes with the hope of getting passengers, mostly foreigners but as we patrol, we would gesture to the drivers to move on,” said the policeman.
Lebanese tourist Mahmouf Ahmed Michael, 55, an expatriate in Malaysia suggested that DBKL construct a lay-by for the taxi drivers where they could stop for a short time for passengers to get on board or alight without interrupting traffic on the main thoroughfare of Jalan Bukit Bintang.
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“Most expatriates and tourists love to be at the shopping area and we need the convenience of having taxis within walking distance for quick movement.
“It is a matter of better road amenities. Instead of closing off the current lay-by with road cones it would be good to widen and lengthen the stretch with embedded reflectors for the taxis,” he said.
Mahmouf added that now he had to wait for at least 10 minutes to hail a taxi on the road.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/09/29/taxis-waiting-for-customers-cause-traffic-jam-in-jalan-bukit-bintang/#PSbic8EHpEq35tic.99
