Promoting Utility Cycling: Prospects and Challenges from Penang Island, Malaysia

Abstract

Penang is arguably one of the most developed and urbanized areas in Malaysia. Like most cities typical of Southeast Asia, Penang experiences significant traffic congestion regularly. When the current government was established in Penang in 2008, it aimed to transform the region into a sustainable state. Among the efforts to achieve this goal was a drive towards cycling as a viable mode of transport, which entailed building cycling infrastructure, staging cycling events, and establishing a bike-share system. Despite these consistent efforts by the state government, utility cycling, or commuting cycling, is still a rare sight in Penang. This paper, therefore, attempts to assess the current situation surrounding utility cycling in Penang Island by highlighting the key factors that either enable or discourage utility cycling there. Data were collected from 25 personal interviews with cyclists and other cycling stakeholders. The findings from this data highlight key issues that will help the state government create an action-oriented path toward better utility cycling, thus fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).