More and more Malaysians use motorcycles due to traffic and transport issues — Transport think tank
Motorbikes tell the real story of Malaysia’s transport problem In Malaysia, the sustainable transport debate is often framed as a simple : public transport versus private cars. Build better trains, the argument goes, and people will leave their cars at home. But for millions of Malaysians, that framing does not reflect reality. For a large number of daily commuters, the real alternative to trains and buses is not a car. It is a motorcycle. The kapcai is not a lifestyle choice or a hobby; it is a survival tool. It solves a problem Malaysia’s transport system has never fully addressed: how to move quickly, affordably and predictably when public transport does not work end-to-end. This matters because motorcycles now sit at the centre of Malaysia’s transport paradox. They are efficient, flexible and accessible, yet also account for a disproportionate share of road fatalities. Motorcyclists consistently make up the majority of road deaths in Malaysia, a pattern that has remained stubb...