Towards a Sustainable Urban Transport System in the Klang Valley, Malaysia: The Key Challenges

Growing urban population and increasing household incomes in the Klang Valley have led to a rise in motor vehicle ownership. A change in lifestyle has created greater demand for travel. Some well-intended policies have been formulated and implemented to rectify transportation problems in the area; however, they do not indicate the trend towards fulfilling sustainable transport agenda. It seems that not much consideration is given on the environmental and social aspects of the transportation system. Against this backdrop, the aim of the paper is to examine the factors that influenced the state of the urban transportation system in the Klang Valley. It will examine the way the policy agenda is being influenced by the practices, attitudes and beliefs of those working in the transport-related field. The primary data were gathered via semi-structured interviews. Government documents and archival records provide the main source for secondary data. The ideology and mentality of the transport communities seem to have major influence on sustainable transport agenda in the Klang Valley.