(Pics by Stan) 

TRAKS (Trails Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor) is an organisation with members passionate about protecting the Bukit Kiara Green Lung for all trail users. To that end TRAKS members have been working with DBKL to protect the existing trail network and educate the users and public on the safe and sustainable use of the reserve. With the proposal by the government to re-develop the park, TRAKS will be proactively engaging Jabatan Landscape Negara  to present our views for this park. 

With the number of mountain bike users increasing every year, Traks was concerned about riders washing their bikes in a stormwater drain behind the amenities block at Taman Lembah Kiara and the same causing some extra work for their maintenance personnel.

As such TRAKS, in conjunction with DBKL commissioned a designated bike wash station that includes a settlement pit to ensure wash water does not inadvertently carry silt into the storm water system. The design of the station was done “in house” by TRAKS members experienced with concrete construction. TRAKS have paid tribute to Hanson Building Materials who donated the concrete to construct the facility.

According to TRAKS President, Mr. Huang Ying How, the facility gave TRAKS the chance to showcase to DBKL that it is serious about protecting the Bukit Kiara Green lung, and to show we have the capability of professionally working hand in hand with the relevant government agencies”.

The Bike Wash was commissioned on Saturday 18 August and about 20 mountain bikers gathered to officially open the facility. Mr. Huang stated that this is the first dedicated mtb facility in Kiara and is the first of three TRAK events in August and September. The second will be a bike clinic at Kota Damansara to celebrate Hari Merdeka on Sunday 26 August and the third will the CleanUp  Kiara Day on 16 September. Traks also conducts monthly trail maintenance.

- Simon Jeffery