Bicyclists can bring foldable bikes onto MRT trains, expect more racks at stations
KUALA LUMPUR: More bicycle racks will be installed at Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations to encourage the public to cycle to MRT terminals.
What is more, cyclists are allowed to take foldable bicycles with them onto MRT trains during off-peak hours.
Prasarana Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azmi Abdul Aziz said the decision was made after receiving feedback from the public.
"Bicycles are considered part of public transportation, while cycling is a healthy activity that is being encouraged by the government," he told reporters after inspecting trains on the first day of operations of the first phase of the MRT's Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line here today.
Also present was Datuk Zohari Sulaiman, chief executive officer of Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, the appointed operator of the SBK line.
Azmi however, said full-sized bicycles or motorised personal transporters, such as the Segway, are not allowed on MRT trains.
On the subject of ridership, Azmi said first-day numbers were encouraging, and they are expected to increase on the weekend and beyond.
"Based on our experience, the number of passengers will increase gradually when more people have tried and are satisfied with the MRT and its feeder bus services, which are of international standard," he said.
Ridership is expected to increase to around 160,000 daily next month.
The first phase of the SBK Line was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at Kwasa Damansara MRT station near Sungai Buloh yesterday.
Najib also announced that the public can enjoy MRT and feeder bus services for free for a month until Jan 16. He said it was a New Year gift for the people, which also gives them the opportunity to try the new, modern and efficient public transportation system.
The RM21-billion MRT SBK line, which covers 51km with 31 stations, is part of the Economic Transformation Programme initiated by Najib.
Phase 1 covers 21km of the SBK Line's northern elevated section, which includes 12 stations between Sungai Buloh and Semantan in Bukit Damansara.
The second phase, from Semantan station to Kajang station, will be operational by July 2017, allowing trains to run the entire SBK Line.
