Cycling we will go:Participants are free to walk, jog, cycle and skate along a 5km route in the city centre during the Johor Baru Car-Free Morning programme. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
ON THE second Saturday of every month, Johor Baru city centre which is usually packed with traffic goes car-free for about two hours.
During this period, the public is free to walk, jog, cycle and even skate along a 5km route that starts in front of the old Johor Baru City Council (MBJB)building at Jalan Dato Onn.
The August edition even saw some people riding in trishaws to enjoy the sights.
The Johor Baru Car-Free Morning (JB CFM) programme also gives families like Kevin Lim Li’s an opportunity to bond and spend quality time together.
Participants get to pass by iconic landmarks in the city including the crown structure along Jalan Ismail Sultan in Johor Baru. — Photo courtesy of MBJB
“I have been taking my wife and teenage son to this monthly event as it allows us to enjoy the outdoors instead of being on our gadgets all the time.
“We used to bring our own bicycles to the event, but since the organisers started providing bicycles for free use, we are only required to bring our helmets,” the 54-year-old told StarMetro.
Lim said his son’s friends also decided to join the event after seeing his photos on social media.
He also hoped the event could be expanded to a longer duration and include more activities.
“This will bring more health and environmental benefits.
Participants taking trishaw rides while enjoying the car-free streets.
“I brought up the matter during my time as an MBJB councillor, but there were concerns about disruption to traffic flow.
“I still hope the programme’s expansion can be done,” said Lim, who served as city councillor until March.
First-time participant M. Kanagavalli, 32, was so excited to join the event that she did not mind leaving her house in Kulai at 5am.
She said her friend Faridah Hanim convinced her to turn up after the latter had an enjoyable time during the July edition of JB CFM.
“Our group of friends used to go hiking and camping regularly before the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to stop such activities,” said Kanagavalli.
“After that, we were all so busy with work and our everyday lives that we never got back to our regular outings.
Lee (right) and her husband taking their two children for a ride around the city centre on a tandem bicycle with child seat attachments.
“I hope the car-free event can kick-start our ‘semangat’ (drive) to go back to being active,” said the marketing and shipping support executive.
She added that getting a good sweat from outdoor activities was satisfying and a good stress reliever.
Kanagavalli enjoyed the aerobics session held at the start of the event, which helped warm up her body ahead of the walk around the city.
“The event allows us to enjoy the sights of the city centre without having to worry about getting in the way of traffic, as the area is usually busy and full of vehicles.
“I hope more areas such as Kulai can also have a car-free event to promote better health and environmental awareness so residents do not have to travel far to join in the fun.
Danish Arfan focusing on hitting the bullseye at one of the booths.
“I think such initiatives are also great for promoting the district and local attractions at the same time,” added Kanagavalli.
Cycling enthusiast Noor Hamizah Noordin, 39, brought along her own folding bicycle to participate for the first time.
“I saw the poster for the event on social media and decided to gather some of my fellow cycling enthusiasts to join in the fun,” said the F&B franchise area manager and mother of four.
“We arrived at the location at 6am to assemble our bikes.
“We also cycled around near the flag-off point to warm up before riding along the 5km route.”
Noor Hamizah said since her children enjoyed cycling around their neighbourhood, she planned to bring them along for a future car-free event.
“I am glad Johor Baru has this kind of activity that is suitable for the young and old.
Participants excitedly kicking off Johor Baru Car-Free Morning programme which takes place on the second Saturday of each month. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
“I was also happy to see the multi-racial crowd mingling and having fun together,” she said.
For bicycle shop owner Rita Lee, JB CFM was not only a good way to spend quality time with loved ones, it was also a chance for them to support F&B businesses in the city centre.
“My husband and I brought our two children and rode on a bicycle that can fit the four of us.
“Two of our friends, who are ardent cyclists, also decided to join in,” said the 38-year-old.
“My children are no strangers to cycling or having an early start to the day as they have been exposed to such activities from an early age.
“They had so much fun that we rode two rounds along the 5km route.
“We stopped by the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee cultural street to have breakfast and our friends also bought the famous banana cake from the century-old bakery.”
Four-wheeled and two-wheeled fun on Johor Baru streets.
Lee, who has cycled in various parts of Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, hoped to participate in more such events.
“I think it is a good way to get the whole family excited about the outdoors,” she said.
“It is also good ‘training’ for my little ones so that we can start exploring longer routes together when they are older.”
The event also featured other activities such as frisbee-throwing and archery .
Mother-of-four Arlinawati Akob, 43, said her seven-year-old son Danish Arfan Mohd Adam did not mind waking up early to join her at the event.
“I told my children the night before that I was going to the event and Danish Arfan was excited to tag along,” she said.
Arlinawati was also seen snapping photos of her son trying his hand at archery at one of the exhibition booths.
She added that Danish Arfan was given some shopping vouchers for his archery attempt and hoped it would motivate her other children to join at future JB CFM events.
From Jalan Dato Onn, the 5km route goes along Jalan Ismail Sultan, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Gereja, Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, Jalan Dato Dalam, Jalan Khalid Abdullah and Jalan Air Molek before concluding at the starting point.
JB CFM participants can look forward to seeing iconic landmarks such as the Johor Baru Sky Screen, Zero Mile icon, Sungai Segget, Johor Baru Ancient Temple, Gurdwara Sahib Johor Baru, the former state administrative centre Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim at Bukit Timbalan, Persada Johor International Convention Centre and the crown structure along Jalan Ismail Sultan.
