Pedestrian Only Zone Proposal For Bukit Bintang.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Geotechnics and Transportation Department Assoc Prof Dr Sitti Asmah Hassan said from a road safety perspective, closing a key stretch of Jalan Bukit Bintang to vehicles would lower the risk of pedestrian-related road crashes.

Journal of Public Health Medicine records in 2018 showed that there were over 500 pedestrian fatalities in the country annually.

She said this accounted for about 7% of traffic-related deaths, adding that reducing or removing vehicles from the equation could lower the risk for pedestrians in high foot traffic areas such as Bukit Bintang.

“While closures could improve safety within the pedestrian area, there might be spillover effects in the surrounding roads as increased foot traffic often extends into neighboring streets and sidewalks.

“Traffic that typically passes through Jalan Bukit Bintang may shift to parallel roads, increasing collision risks there. Traffic rerouting must be done intelligently.”

She said it is essential to plan special access routes for emergency services to maintain swift response times.

She suggested installing additional road crossing facilities, signages, pathways and lighting so that the closure could accommodate people who gather or pass through adjacent areas.

“To ensure the effectiveness of the plan, a public awareness campaign is vital, informing road users of the closure rules. Penalties, fines and specific regulations for delivery and emergency vehicle access must also be communicated.”

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