And while the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases are fossil-fuel companies, everyone has a role to play in safeguarding the planet’s future.
Cars, for instance, create a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, so opting for alternative forms of transport such as bicycles, trains or buses could help combat climate change.
In fact, studies show that ditching cars for bicycles, even for just a day, can positively impact the environment.
In conjunction with World Bicycle Day today and World Environment Day on Sunday, FMT talks to Justin Lee and Yasmin Lane of Bike Commute KL, a collective that educates and advocates for better cycling infrastructure.
Lee, 32, founded the group in May last year and has been car-free for two years, opting instead to commute and run his errands via bicycle and public transport.
“Given our background, we’re aware that cities could be better designed to be less car-centric, similar to the Netherlands, Japan, or even Singapore,” he told FMT.
“This way, the city becomes more accessible, liveable and inclusive, as more people from all walks of life would be able to get around without a car.”
Apart from giving talks to universities and other organisations, Bike Commute KL works closely with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and public officials with regard to bike-friendly infrastructure.
For instance, “we were recently invited to go to the new MRT stations on the Putrajaya line to give feedback on bicycle parking”, Yasmin, also 32, said.
The collective also creates artist impressions of existing roads with the addition of bike lanes.
“The aim is to show it’s possible to have shared streets and spaces. When you have a visual representation, it’s easier for people to latch on to the idea,” she added.
And although they are a cycling advocacy group, they take into account the needs of non-cyclists such as pedestrians, people with strollers, and wheelchair users.
Creating a community
Inspired by co-operatives he encountered while living abroad, Lee recently started a monthly bicycle kitchen – which, despite its name, has nothing to do with food.
Rather, it is a gathering where enthusiasts can learn more about safety and cycling etiquette, as well as how to repair their bikes.
As Yasmin explained: “It brings like-minded people together and creates a community amongst cyclists.”
The bike kitchens are held from 9am to 11am every fourth Sunday of the month at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail MRT station. The collective is hoping to get funding so it can run the activity sustainably.
In the meantime, to further spread awareness on the ongoing climate crisis, Bike Commute KL will be organising a ride this Sunday in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Held in collaboration with other bicycle groups across Asia to push governments and corporations to move towards a fossil fuel-free future by 2050, the ride starts at 8am at Dataran Merdeka, and cyclists of all levels are welcome.
Related to this is a sign-making workshop at the REXKL event space on Jalan Sultan the day before, the end result of which will allow cyclists to display climate-related slogans on their bikes during the ride.
“We wish to encourage recreational cycling communities to join the global effort in fighting climate change,” Lee said, while Yasmin added: “Cycling together in a group certainly sends out a strong, positive message.”
They hope the KL mayor, who has been extremely supportive of their initiatives, will join the event.
The car conundrum
No doubt, cyclists in car-centric nations such as Malaysia face many challenges.
“It is understandable why we have many recreational cyclists but not commuters, as it can be quite challenging to cycle to work, especially if you have to transition to highways,” Lee said.
The recent approval of three new highway projects will only lead to the demand for more cars, he added, when it would instead be better to allocate resources to improve public transport.
Further compounding matters is the fact that highways reduce accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Over the years, some of the smaller roads are no longer accessible, forcing cyclists to use highways, which is risky,” Yasmin pointed out.
“For example, I live in TTDI and Justin lives in PJ, and although it’s not very far, I have to use the highway to get to his area.”
Despite these issues, the cycling community in Malaysia is certainly growing and, in time, Lee and Yasmin hope all their hard work will see positive results in the form of more bike-friendly infrastructure and the adoption of more eco-friendly measures.
So, if you have been thinking about cycling, now is as good a time as ever to join Bike Commute KL or one of the many other cycling groups around. Not only is it a lot of fun, you’ll also get fitter and reduce your carbon footprint.
Register here to be a part of the climate ride this Sunday. You can also find out more about Bike Commute KL, including the sign-making workshop, through its website, as well as Facebook and Instagram accounts.