CJMY
Historically, owning a car has been considered a rite of passage for youths transitioning into the next, highly-anticipated, exciting phase of their lives.
From receiving the official driving license to finally driving to a destination independently, this process was often regarded as going through the proverbial door into the world of adulthood.
However, things have changed over the years.
Globally, driving license applications have been downtrend and are now at their lowest point since World War 2. This trend can also be seen in Malaysia – while the passion for cars is still alive and well in some, that number is steadily declining.
In truth, applying for a driving license is an unnecessary hassle for a growing number of millennials and Gen Zs.
Considering finances owning a car is even more taxing.
When the total cost of car ownership (over a loan period of five years) can cost around RM95,000, car-sharing programmes or public transportation may be the better alternative on many fronts.
The high cost of depending on private car
According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Malaysians spend an average of RM611 per month on transportation alone, translating to a high 13.5% of total monthly spending.
Malaysia is also notoriously known for its high cost of car ownership – Kuala Lumpur was ranked the fifth most expensive city to buy a mid-sized car.
That aside, the idea of owning a car that depreciates yearly isn’t something that many are comfortable with these days.
For those who can comfortably afford a private car, the burden of braving traffic daily still lies before them, as the average motorist in the Klang Valley spends a whopping total of 44 long hours per month stuck in traffic jams.
These hours could have instead been invested in fitness routines or spending quality time with family to help maintain a healthy physical and mental well-being.
Relying heavily on private cars additionally significantly impacts the environment. In Kuala Lumpur alone, carbon emissions from vehicles amount to 444 kilogrammes per second.
Per year, vehicles from the city alone produce a colossal 14 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. These emissions unnaturally affect how the sun warms the earth’s surface by trapping heat and causes frequent respiratory illnesses among city dwellers.
The collective efforts to reduce car usage
To address these serious traffic concerns, the government has put into place effective action plans to reduce car usage by improving alternative transport options – starting with public transportation via the active additions of train lines, bus stops, and more.
City councils have also been actively looking to micromobility to help solve first, and last-mile issues commuters commonly face in their daily public transport journey.
Moreover, the authorities have ramped up their efforts to implement city car-free infrastructures so that micro mobility vehicles, such as bicycles and e-scooters, can travel safely.
With these active, ramped-up efforts, Malaysians will have more alternative modes of transport than their private vehicles.
This alternative mode means fewer cars on roads, less traffic congestion, enhanced city flow, heightened environmental friendliness, and improved personal physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Beam Mobility, Malaysia’s premier shared e-scooter service provider, is no stranger to this cause. In line with the government’s vision for better traffic health, Beam e-scooters are now readily available across critical points in the Klang Valley, with plans for even more.
With ready access to this service, Malaysians can depend on micromobility to help them complete their daily journeys with minimal effort, effectively putting away their over-dependence on their cars.
In a recent public survey by Beam Mobility, 76% of 670 Malaysians who use a car for all or part of their daily commute said they “definitely” or “probably” would switch to a combination of using e-scooters and public transportation.
Moreover, 26% of respondents from this group added that they “currently own a car, but would be more likely to sell it” if they had better access to shared e-scooters and public transportation.
“Beam is the fastest way around town. Knowing Kuala Lumpur, the traffic jam can get pretty bad sometimes. Using shared e-scooters would help reduce carbon emissions and also save me money and time”, said Zakwan, a 24-year-old Executive who later added that he doesn’t need to own a car as he can get around town using only Beam e-scooters.
Khairin, a 22-year-old student at the University of Malaya, added that she recently swapped her car commutes for a mixture of Beam’s e-scooters and public transport.
“I want to reduce traffic congestion, and micro-mobility is an excellent alternative mode of transportation. Now that there are Beam e-scooters near me, I am more likely to use Beam, compared to driving my vehicle, and I am more likely to get rid of my car,” she said
Be Car-Free and Drive Something New Today
In conjunction with World Car-Free Day this week, Beam Mobility celebrates the positive impacts of going car-free on a micro and macro level.
The benefits are undeniable, from physical and mental health to a greener environment for all. While there is work to be done to create and perfect a car-free generation, Beam invites everyone to take a step in this direction and drive something new today for the betterment of the nation.
“Beam’s mission is simple; to make cities flow better. Moving away from a car-free lifestyle is greener and kinder to the planet and keeps you active and healthy.
Malaysians have the opportunity to take a step towards adopting a more car-free lifestyle to benefit one and all with more of Beam’s e-scooters readily available at strategic locations,” said General Manager of Beam Mobility Malaysia Justin Tiew.
For more information, go to Beam Malaysia’s official Facebook or Instagram.
