(Refer to http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/04/25/marked-trees-on-jalan-ara/)
I've written to KL's Mayor, Datuk Hj. Amin, to plead for the life of 16 trees along Jalan Ara which are on the dead-roll. The reason?
Due to proximity to the road, people are afraid it will fall and hit their vehicle or people. Another reason is obstruction to pedestrian especially handicap or OKU(Orang Kurang upayah).
However, I think there's more can be done to achieve the equilibrium between society needs, environment protection and economy viability. And obviously the trees should be save!
First, there is the forgotten MS1183& MS1184 which already merged into MS1184, a code of practice for accessibility for the built environment. In the first instance, the pedestrian walkway should not designed in such a way (non-compliance to accessibility code). Nonetheless, if the designer were a bit creative or on the ground, he or she should have make use of the drain area as part of the pedestrian path. Simply by cover the drain with galvanized steel grating or concrete culvert will solve the problem.
Trees not only act as free oxygen machine, it also sequestrate carbon and act as carbon sink to store carbon. in another word, it make our world colder, cooler and climate more stable. Especially century old trees in the tropical area which provide 28% of world oxygen.
So how to justify the cutting of trees if the fault is not with the trees? the trees exist long before the road or pedestrian path. It is the questionable consultant who didn't designed it logically.
Compliance of MS1184 has been questionable since its inception. Literally, my experience with Malaysia's Architect& Engineer is not very favorable. Most of them, especially the young one, have no idea about the existence of UBBL and what more Accessible code or Universal Design which I picked up from my working experience in Singapore.
In Singapore, Accessibility Code is very much adhered to. HDB spent billions of dollars in upgrading their government apartments for the compliance. Another also very important code for design is CPTED.
CPTED stand for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design which I also encountered in Singapore. Malaysia have a similar set of CPTED guideline published under Town Planning authority which is another myth it seems disappear into the thin air. I do hope town council and city council start audit the existing building and regulate it into Building Plan submission& CCC approval.
In Malaysia's CPTED, plants should not grown over 0.8m or trees branches should lower than 2m. it's to have a better natural surveillance and openness so theft or whatever can't hide or do their notorious things. While planting edible plants like chili or flower plants allow either public to have free food or bees to have theirs. If harvest is a problem then ginger plants would be nice as it is optional to whether you want to harvest or just let it be.
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| Hydrophobic coated pedestrian |
Sustainable development come with three elements; Social, Environment& Economy. We shouldn't chop the trees (favor social, neglect environment) or close the pathway for trees (favor environment, neglect social) or spend a deal of money to make over-bridge or fancy things.
Think simple!
There are numerous ways earth regulate itself. Plants and soil is one of the best way to store carbon (carbon sink) and stabilized the climate. Fossil fuel that give life to our transport is suppose to R.I.P.(Rest In Peace) and should be doing so since we have the technology to replace it.
