Federal Highway to receive RM20mil to upgrade bike lanes; no plans to add more to existing roads

The Federal Highway is set to receive a much-needed upgrade to its motorcycle lanes, with an infusion of RM20 million coming its way, according to The Star. Works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the investment, part of an ongoing effort to enhance motorcycle safety, is in line with Rolling Plan 5 under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) that ends this year.

However, Nanta Linggi pushed back on a suggestion to build dedicated bike lanes on all major roads to cut down on high motorcycle accident rates. In a written parliamentary reply to a question from Baling MP Hassan Saad, he said that there were currently no plans to do so due to the costs involved, adding that efforts to build more bike lanes have been in the works for several years.

“We have carried out construction of motorcycle lanes in selected locations on federal roads for over a decade, he said. “These include exclusive motorcycle lanes, physically separated from the main road, and non-exclusive lanes built on widened road shoulders.”

Federal Highway to receive RM20mil to upgrade bike lanes; no plans to add more to existing roads

The government has to conduct comprehensive studies before new bike lanes are constructed, Nanta Linggi said, in order to avoid new conflicts on roads with numerous entry and exit points. “Technical justifications are essential, covering traffic volume, motorcycle composition, accident rates, and side friction scores (FS).

“Financial considerations are also crucial, given the high costs associated with construction, land acquisition, and utility relocation,” he added.

Nanta Linggi concluded by saying that the government is committed to ensuring motorist safety and comfort, particularly motorcyclists with the continued studying of the need for dedicated lanes. He previously said in April that the ministry was considering building bike lanes on new highways and that it was working with highway concessionaires like PLUS to establish dedicated rain shelters on space-limited elevated highways.