URBAN and transport planning in Penang should give more attention to the needs of motorcyclists, said Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
Speaking at the Smart Mobility, Rethinking, and Road Safety forum held in conjunction with Penang Transport Day 2025 in Komtar, Goh said motorcyclists are often unintentionally left out of the bigger picture when it comes to infrastructure planning.
“What we have often overlooked in road and transport planning is the motorcyclist.
“As town planners and traffic engineers, our focus is typically on roads for regular vehicles, light or heavy but not so much for motorcycles,” he said during the forum.
He noted that many road systems in Penang are inherited from countries like the US, UK, and Singapore, where designs have traditionally prioritised conventional vehicles.
Given that Penang is already highly developed, Goh said significant changes to road layouts may be challenging, but it remains important not to sideline motorcyclists.
“We may not be able to easily redesign our roads, but we still need to find ways to manage and accommodate motorcyclists, because they make up a significant portion of road users,” he said.
Goh also shared his view that while efforts to promote cycling are commendable, bicycle use in Penang remains mostly recreational.
“At the local council level, there is a lot of focus on bicycle planning, which is good but the reality is that bicycles are not a main mode of transport for most Penangites.
“Only a small number, mainly foreign workers, use bicycles to get to work,” he said.
He pointed out that only a few roads in Penang, such as the Jelutong Expressway, have dedicated motorcycle lanes and encouraged further development of such infrastructure.
Turning to public transportation, Goh said offering viable alternatives to motorcycle travel is key, especially with the upcoming Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.
“The LRT will be an important step forward.
“But even before it is completed, we need to continue improving our public transport network to make it more comfortable and reliable for the public,” he said.
While Rapid Penang remains the primary operator, Goh believes additional transport modes would better serve the community.
“We already have Rapid and also Rapid On Demand (ROD), but I think there is room to expand and introduce more options to meet the needs of different areas,” he said.
He also suggested that local councils work with developers to invest in electric buses, as part of broader efforts to encourage more people to take public transport.
“Instead of just focusing on building bus stops, perhaps the funds could be used to purchase buses.
“These buses can then be leased to Rapid or even operated by local councils themselves.
“The goal is to provide public transport that’s comfortable and dependable,” he added.
Relatively, Goh cited his own experience in Batu Kawan, where a request for bus services was not approved due to low ridership.
“When I asked for bus services in Batu Kawan, it could not be implemented because the passenger numbers were too low.
“That is why I feel local councils can play a more active role in bridging these gaps,” he added.
Story by Kevin Vimal