Gregers (IEN) was invited to give a talk about "Bicycle commuting in Kuala Lumpur" at the inaugural Malaysian Urban Forum (MUF2019) inside the session about Urban Mobility and Bicycle Culture. The keynote speaker for the conference was deputy primeminister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who delivered a good speech that quoted many of the same arguments from our article "Traffic jams cost us billions", namely that the annual cost of congestion in Kuala Lumpur annually amounts to RM20billion as 1 million hours are wasted in traffic daily. As well as the fact that the car-based culture adversely affects public health, with the majority of Malaysians not getting sufficient exercise and Malaysia having become the fattest nation in Asia will the multitude of associated adverse health effects that come with being overweight and/or obese. So, arguments for making more livable cities with good and safe pedestrian and bicycling networks that can make the general public exercise as part of their daily commute are plentiful.
In addition, Gregers also lent his electric pedal assisted cargobike to be exhibited at the conference. It created much interest, as cargobikes are seen to be an important element in the future of urban transportation, as it in many instances can replace the need for a car or motorbike. For example, the Gregers' Omnium cargobike, which can carry a total load of 175 km, is widely used by bicycle couriers in Copenhagen, Denmark. Bicycles are pollution free, silent, reduce traffic congestion and improve public health.
Conference website (click)
"Commuting by bicycle in Kuala Lumpur" presentation:
Event Picture:
Electric cargobike with mayor Yang Di Pertua Noraini Roslan as "valuable cargo"
MUF Program Day 1 & 2 - 18th & 19th February 2019
Comments