By The Star

Tuesday May 19, 2009
Beating a wonder trail
By CHRISTINA CHIN

Photos by RONNIE CHIN
PENANG Island’s beautiful coastline stretching all the way from Batu Maung, Pantai Jerejak and Bayan Bayan Lepas to the clan jetties, Esplanade and Gurney Drive in George Town and Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bunga, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang can be developed to become the latest tourism attraction for Penang.
Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin, who said this shoreline was currently under-utilised, has proposed the creation of the Great Penang Trail.

“The aim is to create a 3m-wide lane along a 30km scenic route from Batu Maung right up to Teluk Bahang.
“From Batu Ferringhi, the trail will pass the popular tourist belt and sandy beaches of Tanjung Bungah. In Gurney Drive, there will be famous food and shopping outlets. Trail users will find a different scene in George Town where they can admire colonial heritage buildings and visit century-old jetties.
“Up in Bayan Lepas, the trail will pass Queensbay Mall — the largest shopping complex on the island — before ending in Batu Maung, a small sleepy fishing village famous for its tasty ikan bakar,” he said.
Sim said the trail could be used by cyclists, joggers, trishaw riders, roller skaters, pedestrians and those using Segway personal transporters.
He added that viewing platforms,cafes, gift shops, barbecue areas, food courts and recreational facilities could be constructed at certain parts of the trail.

“We can build mini playgrounds and shopping areas like those at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angles and Pier 39 in San Francisco. This concept has proven to be a success in many other countries,” he said.

Sim noted that the Great Penang Trail would also create job opportunities for food operators, petty traders, hawkers and those in the hospitality and service industries.
“The cyclists can soak in the view, browse at the shops or grab a quick bite,” he said, urging the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to conduct a study to determine the cost of designing and constructing the trail.
He said the MPPP could initiate the Great Penang Trail by linking up the existing partial trails like the ones in front of Queensbay Mall and the Jelutong Expressway (JE) pedestrian promenade.

Sim proposed that an open tender be called to design the trail using the California Transportation Design and Standards as a yardstick.
Sim said he drew inspiration for his idea from the San Francisco Bay Trail (SFBT) where he used to cycle.
“To date, the trail is 288 miles long and will eventually connect San Jose in the south to San Francisco and eventually Napa Valley up north,” he said.
Sim said the plan was tabled during the local government meeting in January as well as the recent state assembly sitting in April.
“The MPPP seems keen and I hope it will start working on a master plan.
“I hope to get the support of everyone as it will surely benefit Penang,” he said.

BY The Star
Monday April 27, 2009
Penang cycling event to be extended to the rurals beginning June
GEORGE TOWN: The state government’s monthly cycling event within the city, now into its third edition, will be extended to several villages beginning June.
Expedition leader, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, said the event would be extended to villages in Balik Pulau and Bukit Mertajam to give more people a chance to participate.
On tour: The 100 cyclists who participated in the ‘Heritage Experience On Wheels’ expedition yesterday passing by the Penang High Court building.
“Besides promoting heritage sites in George Town through our ‘Heritage Experience on Wheels’ cycling expedition, we also want to showcase the beautiful scenery and padi fields in the villages.
“The theme will be ‘Kampung Rides’,” he said at the third monthly cycling event at Upper Penang Road yesterday.
The drizzle at the start of the event at 8.30am did not deter 100 cyclists from taking part in the two-hour expedition, held every last Sunday of the month.
This time around, the cyclists stopped at seven heritage sites where a tour guide explained the history of the buildings in detail.
The seven sites were E&O Hotel, Convent Light Street, Church Street Pier, Penang Islamic Museum, Goddess of Mercy Temple, St George’s Church and the Hainan Association and Temple.
Teh said the first two events, over a 6km route, attracted a total of 160 cyclists.
“We had planned to extend the route to 14km.
“However, since the trishaw rider who was ferrying the tour guide got tired, we cut short the route to 11km,” he added.

March Heritage Video

By The Star
Monday April 20, 2009
100 cyclists on 20km ride to deliver Earth Day pledge
THE people should practise sustainable consumption of resources as it would help ensure a better tomorrow, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“This is one of the values which we want to spread among the public, and it goes in line with our aim of making Penang an international city and habitat of choice.
“To do this, we need to practise a sustainable lifestyle and reduce our carbon footprint. By practising the 3R’s — reduce, reuse and recycle, we’re doing our part to help the environment,” he said.
Cyclists on a mission: Lim flagging off the cyclists from his official residence, Seri Teratai, on Macalister Road.
Lim said this after waving off almost 100 cyclists carrying an Earth Day declaration — a pledge to care for the environment — to Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru from his official residence, Seri Teratai, on Macalister Road yesterday.
Held in conjunction with the Earth Day Carnival 2009, the 20km ride was aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and a love for the environment.
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who was also the organising co-chairman, said that if more people opted for bicycles as their transportation of choice especially in congested urban areas, it would greatly cut down the number of cars on the road and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, although it might take some time to change their mindsets.
“To celebrate Earth Day, we wanted to send a green message and raise public awareness, and we’re glad that Penangites have thus far been very supportive of such efforts.
“Not only is cycling a very healthy activity, it is economical too,” he said.
Teh added that the local government was also considering plans to designate special bicycle lanes on existing roads or construct dedicated bicycle paths in its efforts to promote cycling among the public.
The cyclists, mostly clad in green T-shirts, were in jovial mood as they gathered at Seri Teratai on a lazy Sunday morning.
Among them was Sim Lai Seng, who took part in the campaign as he believed in preserving the environment.
“The most important message to get across is — don’t destroy the Earth.
“We should keep it green, for the sake of future generations,” he said.
Avid cyclist Cheng Kim Heng enjoys the exercise, and every morning without fail, he would cycle from his home in Kampung Baru to town to meet up with friends.
The 20km route took the cyclists down Jalan Residensi, Jalan Utama, Scotland Road, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Green Lane, Jalan Gelugor, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and on to Sunshine Square where they delivered the declaration to the organiser of the World Earth Day 2009 celebration held at the supermarket.