These blue lanes are designated bicycle lanes, which are part of Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) efforts to turn the capital into a greener and more livable city by encouraging people to take up cycling as their mode of transportation.
According to The Star, this 11.86km blue belt wraps around Jalan Raja, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Pinang, Jalan Perak, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Gereja, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee and Lebuh Pasar Besar.
However, things haven't been going too smoothly for this green project right from the get-go.
Although the blue lanes are meant to be for cyclists only, some people just don't care. Many vehicles can be seen parked on the designated lanes and obstructing cyclists.
Professional cycling coach Kenny Kwan told The Star that the situation is worse during peak hours. At least three quarter of the lanes would be blocked because of cars that have double-parked.
If DBKL wants to fully rollout this green city initiative, they need to be more strict in enforcement, such as stopping vehicles from waiting on the lanes and issuing summons to cars parked there.
When there is obstruction on these dedicated bicycle lanes, the cyclists would be forced to take up pedestrian walkways instead, which would basically pose danger to both parties.
Some motorcyclists have also reportedly been taking advantage of these bicycle lanes, moving in and out between the lanes and the main road.
At the moment, it would seem like the bicycle lane initiative is not the most ideal in KL, being notorious for traffic congestions almost all day long.
Nonetheless, cycling is a great way to contribute to a greener and more livable city in the long run, but we just need the system to be more consistent and organised.
So, if you frequently drive through the city centre or are planning to utilise the bicycle lanes more in one way or another, do share your feedback on how the local authorities could improve the system so everybody wins!