GEORGE TOWN: The speed limit for several roads in the George Town World Heritage Site has been reduced to 40kph from 50kph.
Among them are the inner roads within Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, Gat Jalan Prangin, Pengkalan Weld, Pesara King Edward, Lebuh Light, Lebuh Farquhar, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and Jalan Penang.
Other roads include Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Jalan Padang Kota Lama, Lebuh Duke, Jalan Green Hall, Gat Lebuh Leith, Lebuhraya Merdeka, Jalan Merdeka, Lintang Merdeka and Pintasan Pengkalan 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The speed limit for main roads — Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, Gat Jalan Prangin, Pengkalan Weld, Pesara King Edward, Lebuh Light, Lebuh Farquhar, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and Jalan Penang — remains at 50km per hour.
Penang Island City Council councillor Edward Tan, who is the Infrastructure and Traffic Committee alternate chairman, today said most of the roads in the World Heritage Site were narrow and motorcyclists usually rode at high speed there.
"This is dangerous for the public, especially those on foot, on bicycle as well as trishaw men.
"So the speed limit for the specific roads has been gazetted to 40kph."
Tan said studies on reducing speed limit in other cities had shown that it could reduce accidents in heritage sites.
"It will also improve livability in the heritage area and boost the safety of those walking here.
"It will also create a greener environment as studies show that carbon emissions will be lower when the speed is reduced
"All these are early steps to reduce environmental pollution and improve livability, just like in vehicle-free and green zones."
Meanwhile, Tan said, as an initiative to prevent vehicles that often park in road intersections and cause traffic congestion, the council had painted the curb in red and white so that drivers were more alert and did not park their vehicles haphazardly.
He, however, said enforcement was the same for all areas where parking was prohibited.
In 2020, then MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang had proposed a lower speed limit in the World Heritage Site.
