BY TANIA LAM & ALVERDTEKOSTER ANYAP
KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has launched the construction of its proposed pedestrian and cycling track along Jalan Stutong to the junction of Lorong Song 3C here, on Friday (Sept 18).
MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said that the RM460,000 funding for the project was from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak.
The project is expected to be completed by Dec 16 this year. The 1.2km track has a width of 2.5m – with 1.6m width for the cycling path and 0.9m for the pedestrian walkway.
“The reason we are doing this is that as a healthy city, we expect all our people to be healthy also,” he told reporters at the site.
He added that the pedestrian and cycling track would be more convenient for those living in modern housing estates rather than driving to a further location to exercise.
“This project is in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. This project is part of MBKS’ efforts to realise the vision of a clean, green, beautiful, and liveable Kuching city.”
He said the council encouraged more healthy exercise such as cycling, walking, or jogging on bicycle tracks and pedestrian paths.
“At certain areas we visited a few weeks ago, we saw people running on the road rather than on the paths. So that is why we are now trying to create space for people to exercise,” he explained, adding that this new track would separate people from the vehicles on the roads.
He also said that MBKS encouraged the use of bicycles for short trips such as within the neighbourhood.
“We will implement a combined footpath cum bicycle track area for a dense housing estate and also cater for people with disabilities with other safe city features at our roads and streets.”
According to Wee, this new project was their second pedestrian and bicycle track. The first one covered Jalan Keranji 4 to Jalan Kedandi, passing Stutong Community Market in Tabuan Jaya.
