Run the gautlet

Kuala Lumpur is not exactly a friendly place for cyclist.  Many friends I know are reluctant to take up cycling in Kuala Lumpur ‘cos there are no specific lanes for bicycles and many KL motorists are aggressive driver who believe in the maxim that might is right.  To cycle in KL and be safe, one has to be careful and give way wherever necessary.  

Cycling from KL center to Brickfields and onward to the suburbs of Bangsar and Petaling Jaya one has to pass through a narrow stretch of road near Pasar Seni.  Going through this stretch of road is like trying to run the gautlet.  The road is a narrow two lanes road and many buses used it too to get to the suburbs and at any one time there will always be one or two buses stopping at one of the lane leaving only one lane for moving motorist. So to pass through here one has to choose the right timing and cycle fast enough to get through the stationary buses to reach the other end before any motorist attempt to pass you at the same time.  If a car passes you at that moment, you would only have a small space for yourself and if a bus or a truck passes, you would be squeeze like a hamburger

Where is the Bukit?

Cycle to Bukit Bintang area recently.  This is Kuala Lumpur's main shopping centre.  Lots of shopping malls, hotels and tourists.  The name Bukit Bintang means there is a hill here by the name of Bintang but where is the hill? 

This view is from the Imbi junction and at the front I believe is where the hill is supposed to be.  Looks like it has been pretty flatten out by the years of development around it.

 This view is from the top of the Bukit looking down towards Pavillion Mall and if you are on a bicycle you will know that you are on top of a hill 'cos you can ride down smoothly from here for about 300 metres.