EDITORIAL: STARTING WITH SMALL STEPS TO MAKE SUBANG JAYA WALKABLE AND CYCLABLE

I watched an elderly couple walking to their car recently. They had just finished lunch at the coffeeshop in USJ4.

Uncle was with a walking stick guided and aided by Auntie who had an umbrella with her. As they made their way to the divider, I contemplated walking across to help but paused when I saw how confidently Auntie was leading the way.

The cement slab across the drain was small but somehow the couple managed to get across it. They continued on the badly broken up divider. They took some time to get over this obstacle before crossing the other road to get to their car. Auntie was at the driver’s seat.

Two things came to mind after observing this couple:

1. The divider needs a major overhaul to make it safe for pedestrians. The council had just recently felled a tree at the divider and had previously trimmed down the trees along the stretch. It is timely now for the council to repair and redo the divider to make sure it’s safe for pedestrians especially the elderly. Walkability and accessibility have to be for everyone; especially for the senior citizens and physically challenged.

2. One day we will all grow old and we will have to rely on someone to help us when we go out. Hopefully, we will all be fit and healthy in our golden years; being able to walk and go anywhere and everywhere the heart desires.

Last month, ADUN Subang Jaya Michelle Ng talked about addressing walkability and cyclability in Subang Jaya.She said “As a matured township, Subang Jaya has many established neighbourhoods that lack adequate pedestrian infrastructure. To ensure these older areas are not left behind, I have been working closely with the mayor to discuss how we can build walkways in these already developed areas. This initiative is crucial to ensuring that all parts of Subang Jaya are walkable, safe, and inclusive, regardless of when they were developed.”

We welcome this initiative to make all parts of Subang Jaya walkable, safe, and inclusive, regardless of when they were developed.

While the town planners map out where and what they are going to do about this plan, can we perhaps start with small steps – repairing and restoring broken passageways like the divider at USJ4? It may appear trivial to the engineers and architects, but it would mean a lot to residents like the elderly couple I mentioned to be able to walk from and to their vehicle without any fear of stumbling over broken tiles and exposed roots from a tree.

In October, we had a road accident that claimed the life of an elderly driver along Persiaran Tujuan. As rescue personnel rushed to assist the victim and his wife at the scene, Community Whatsapp Groups and social media started buzzing like a hornet’s nest stirred.

It started with netizens describing what had happened. But after just awhile, it turned ugly as “Citizen Crime Scene Investigators” reared their ugly head. Everyone and anyone started speculating about what had happened and fingers started pointing in all directions. Netizens became traffic experts; road engineers; road architects and I suspect if given a chance, they would also want to be driving instructors.

Without any consideration for what could have actually happened, netizens became insensitive and insensible; all just for the sake of wanting a piece of the action. Lines were crossed; fingers pointing in all direction; and even unrelated topics were hurled into social media just so they could have an audience.

Come on guys! Imagine if you were in the driver’s seat and an accident occurred. Would you want people to say nasty things about you like you have of others? Would you feel just as irresponsibly excited on social media if it was you or your loved ones who were in the accident?

Let’s be mindful of what we post on social media. Let’s also be respectful. There is always a place and time to get the excitement off your chest but not at the expense of someone else.

Perhaps it is a good time to add this to your 2025 New Year resolutions. Be mindful; Get the Facts First and Don’t Jump the Gun.

Here’s to a good month ahead of us.