Latest news with #LRT

Over 60 police reports lodged nationwide over planned rally in KL

The Star

7 hours ago

Politics
The Star

Over 60 police reports lodged nationwide over planned rally in KL

KUALA LUMPUR Over 60 police reports have been lodged across the country on a rally scheduled to take place on Saturday (July 27) here. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said 10,000 and 15,000 people are expected to join the rally. He said participants are expected to gather at five main locations, namely the National Mosque, Pasar Seni, Sultan Abdul Samad Masjid Jamek, Kampung Baru Masjid Jamek and a shopping complex in the capital before moving to Dataran Merdeka. "To ensure the safety of public service users, personnel of public service operators and police will be increased at several stations," he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 23). Mohamed Usuf said among the stations involved are the LRT stations at KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni, Dang Wangi, Plaza Rakyat and Bandaraya; as well as MRT and Monorail stations such as Muzium Negara, Merdeka, Bukit Bintang, Imbi, Raja Chulan, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku and Chow Kit. He said police expect traffic congestion heading towards the city centre due to participants entering affected areas but there will be no road closures. "Organisers and participants are advised to comply with all existing regulations and laws during the assembly in line with the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly as provided for under the Federal Constitution," he said. Mohamed Usuf also warned participants not to carry weapons or sharp objects; set off firecrackers or flares, display provocative banners, give defamatory speeches, bring their children or disobey instructions of authorities. "Strict action will be taken against any individual or group that causes chaos, riots or excessive provocation," he said. The public can contact the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or the nearest police station for any inquiries. On July 18, Mohamed Usuf said that police had received notification on the gathering from the organisers. He said police would deploy more than 2,000 personnel to provide security for the gathering on July 26. – Bernama

[UPDATED] Turun Anwar rally: Police boost security at 15 Kuala Lumpur stations

New Straits Times

7 hours ago

Politics
New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Turun Anwar rally: Police boost security at 15 Kuala Lumpur stations

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will deploy additional personnel at 15 transit stations in anticipation of the Turun Anwar rally scheduled for Saturday. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the move aims to ensure public safety, particularly for commuters using public transport that day. "Transport operators have also agreed to station additional personnel for the same purpose," he said in a statement today. The 15 stations are: LRT Stations: KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek, Dang Wangi, Plaza Rakyat, Bandaraya, Sultan Ismail MRT Stations: Muzium Negara, Merdeka, Bukit Bintang Monorail Stations: Imbi, Raja Chulan, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku, Chow Kit He confirmed that the police received early notification from the organiser, Dewan Pemuda Pas Malaysia, regarding the planned rally. "We have received information that the demonstration, which is expected to attract between 10,000 and 15,000 participants, will include representatives from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), university students, and members of the public. "Participants are expected to gather at five main locations comprising Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and Sogo Shopping Complex," he said, adding that they would then proceed toward Dataran Merdeka as the final convergence point. Usuf said that while police do not plan to impose any road closures in Kuala Lumpur, traffic monitoring and control operations will be in place to ensure smooth movement in and out of the affected areas. It was reported that police anticipate a turnout of between 10,000 and 15,000 people at the 'Turun Anwar' rally scheduled for July 26. The organisers had already informed the Dang Wangi district police headquarters of the planned gathering. About 2,000 officers and personnel would be deployed to help manage the rally and ensure the safety of participants and the general public. Police anticipate crowds will begin assembling from as early as 11am at various locations before marching towards Dataran Merdeka at 2pm.

Traffic gridlock, street vendor takeover blighting Bangsar South

The Star

a day ago

Automotive
The Star

Traffic gridlock, street vendor takeover blighting Bangsar South

WHEN I first moved into this neighbourhood, it felt like a pocket of bliss tucked quietly away from the chaos of city life. Surrounded by lush greenery, it was a gem – peaceful, charming and untouched by the hurried pace of the outside world. Today, that serenity has given way to a daily struggle against a maze of traffic and congestion. The skyline has transformed dramatically, and the infrastructure now mirrors that of a bustling city – sleek and modern. But at street level, the experience tells a different story. Beneath the gleaming facades and towering buildings, the reality is far less bearable. The general disregard of developers towards traffic flow and connectivity is often well-documented. It's perplexing how approvals continue to be issued for new developments while existing traffic issues remain unaddressed. Bangsar South was once hailed as a transit-oriented development (TOD), built on the assumption that residents and commuters would shift towards public transport. However, Malaysians still rely heavily on cars for convenience and connectivity. The proliferation of office towers and condominiums has created traffic bottlenecks at key entry and exit points and this has overwhelmed the existing road infrastructure. The KL Gateway road network is a prime example of a poorly conceived design that resulted in traffic gridlock and confusion. Motorcyclists weave through traffic at high speeds, delivery riders zigzag recklessly and frustrated drivers abandon all lane discipline in desperate attempts to escape the congestion. Bangsar South was once touted as a model township – celebrated for its seamless connectivity and proximity to the light rail transit (LRT). Yet on the ground, that vision is undermined by a growing problem. Walkways meant for pedestrians are now increasingly hijacked by unlicensed vendors. What was intended as pedestrian-friendly infrastructure has been appropriated by stall operators, some with temporary permits, many without any at all. These vendors encroach on walkways, turning public space into commercial turf. As a result, pedestrians are forced off the pavement and onto the road, navigating between moving traffic and parked vehicles. It's mentally exhausting to wade through the aggressive and selfish driving culture that has taken root on the streets. But what truly exacerbates this daily stress is the lacklustre enforcement that overlook a multitude of traffic offences. Instead of enjoying a smooth drive back to our homes, we brace ourselves for survival. Defensive driving has become second nature – constantly checking the side and rear-view mirrors, scanning blind spots, steering clear of delivery riders who dart dangerously close, and keeping our distance from aggressive tailgaters. The inconsistency of enforcement leaves us navigating a system where rule-breaking becomes a calculated risk, not a deterrent. When the authorities are invisible, the system becomes optional. Occasional operations by enforcement teams do little to solve long-term issues because they are reactive, not reformative. It's a cat-and-mouse game. The reality is stark: unless residents file formal complaints, the system rides on inertia and the status quo remains. Urban planning is more than glossy brochures and transit maps – it must be backed by responsible governance and continuous enforcement. What we need isn't more flashy infrastructure. We need consistent deterrents. Strategic urban design can offer relief. Instal fences at key waiting zones like schools, bus stops or shop rows to prevent illegal roadside parking that clogs narrow lanes. Use bollards to enforce lane discipline. The installation of bollards at key locations could prevent last-minute lane changes and enforce better traffic flow. Without structural deterrents and serious enforcement, chaos will continue to reign on the roads. Empower enforcement officers to revoke repeat offenders' licences without delay. The law must be applied not just swiftly but visibly, with zero tolerance for repeat violators. Public compassion for street vendors is understandable, even admirable. Communities thrive on empathy. But when this goodwill is manipulated and exploited, it breeds disorder. Walkways should not be appropriated; roads should not be taken over by lawlessness. We deserve better planning, consistent enforcement and above all, respect for the people who choose to follow the rules. Quality of life should be central to town planning, not an afterthought. A little dignity shown to us, the residents, is not too much to ask. J. GOMEZ Bangsar South

Hersh: Free Transit isn't just possible, it's popular

Ottawa Citizen

a day ago

Politics
Ottawa Citizen

Hersh: Free Transit isn't just possible, it's popular

At the beginning of the month, our Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced on social media that it was a record day for the LRT Line 1. Article content 'Almost 250,000 trips were recorded,' he said. 'The highest single-day ridership in the history of Ottawa's LRT, and a 66 per cent increase over Canada Day last year.' Article content Article content He forgot to mention an important detail: it was free. Article content Every year on Canada Day, the City offers residents a day of what they call 'no-charge' transit. They did the same thing at the beginning of May to encourage people to take the new LRT line. The result was similarly positive. Ridership was up 54 percent that weekend, according to OC Transpo. Article content Article content In December 2021, OC Transpo offered free transit for the whole month as a way to make up for the failings of the LRT. Despite it being a bit of a gimmick, the transit riders group Ottawa Transit Riders reported, based on a survey they conducted, that 'people chose to ride transit more often because it was free and some people changed their travel patterns.' Article content Other cities have also shown us that free transit is a popular idea. Article content Last month, Zohran Mamdani was elected as the candidate for the New York City Democratic Party. One of his biggest and most prominent promises was 'making buses fast and free.' Article content According to his campaign, it would save New Yorkers 36 million hours every year and generate $1.5 billion in economic benefits. The promise was also popular; according to a poll from the organization Data for Progress, 72 per cent of New York voters approved of the idea. Article content Article content Several other cities across the U.S.—like Albuquerque, New Mexico and Kansas City, Missouri—have also made transit completely free. The small Ontario town of Orangeville introduced free transit in 2023, and its ridership increased by 160 percent. Article content So, if fare-free transit is popular and might help encourage people to ride the bus or LRT, why hasn't our city jumped on the free transit train yet? Article content The argument is often made that there is a binary choice, that we must choose between reliability and affordability of our transit services. Article content Detractors argue that if we spend money on making our transit system free, then we would not have enough to increase reliability — something that is admittedly sorely needed in Ottawa, especially after Mayor Sutcliffe and our council approved the largest service cut in a decade in the last city budget. Article content This premise, however, presents a false choice — we can and we should have both. Our current approach makes clear that higher fares do not lead to a better, more reliable system, and the pandemic made it clear that solely relying on transit fares for revenue is not sustainable. Article content Ottawa's fares have now crossed the $4.00 threshold and are some of the most expensive in North America, yet our transit system has continued to disintegrate because of a lack of political will to improve it. Article content If ridership was up to pre-pandemic levels, free transit would cost the city about $200 million, according to OC Transpo's own estimates. This might sound like a lot. Article content However, when you consider other unnecessary expenses like the $258 million the city is projected to spend on road widening in the next couple of years, then the number does not seem that out of the ordinary. Article content Free transit on its own will not solve our transit woes. What it does do, however, is signal our city's willingness to prioritize the climate crisis, a cheaper alternative to car travel, and improve our most valued public services like health care, schools, roads and sidewalks — which by the way, are all free.

What caused Ottawa's 2021 LRT derailment?

CBC

2 days ago

Business
CBC

What caused Ottawa's 2021 LRT derailment?

CBC has obtained a report from trainmaker Alstom that blames the tracks for Ottawa's LRT issues.