So Much Information Built Into the Streets

I know that in most parts of the world, a street is covered in tarmac and then a whole bunch of paint is applied in various configurations to delineate the different functions of different parts of the street. And a lot of the time, the lines are worn away making the street quite unsafe.

If you think about it, a street has to communicate a lot of information to the various types of users on it. You have pedestrians, bicycles, rickshaws, carts, cars and trucks amongst other things, depending on where you live (I’m talking cows in India!)

In Penang, the Malaysians have taken this to a whole new level, and in a way that is not likely to be worn off soon. The street is cast in concrete and brick in various colors. The main driving lanes are gray in an interesting pattern. The bicycle lane is cast in a red toned concrete with a horizontal gray concrete brick separator. The parking areas are outlined with a yellow toned concrete brick. The intersections are a criss cross pattern of gray and red toned concrete. And there is even a pattern in gray and red for motorcycles and cycles to park in.

The result looks very sophisticated, is very informative, and naturally very durable and permanent as it is all cast in concrete. Pretty smart!