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KL Car Free Morning has come a long way since it was first introduced by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) in December 2013
Originally launched to encourage active living, reduce carbon emissions, and give people the opportunity to experience Kuala Lumpur from a quieter, early morning perspective, the initiative seems to have become one of the city's most popular weekend activities.
What initially began as an event held only on the first Sunday of every month has since expanded into a weekly activity.
Now held every Sunday from 7am to 9am, KL Car Free Morning temporarily closes selected roads in the city centre and opens them up for the public to run, walk, cycle, skate, or simply enjoy the outdoors without traffic.
For regular runners and cyclists, it is also one of the best places in the city to exercise while taking in the iconic skyline — especially since participation is completely free.
In recent weeks, many members of the community have noticed that the event appears to be drawing larger crowds than ever before
Many have described the growing turnout as an encouraging sign that Malaysians are becoming more interested in leading active lifestyles.
"The KLCFM crowd is getting bigger by the day. This is a good sign that Malaysians are becoming more aware of the importance of staying active and healthy. Yes, it's crowded, but I'm so happy to see people moving," wrote one netizen after Sunday's session.
Another shared photos of the crowd, saying, "KL Car Free Morning already feels like a major running event. But it's free, so why not?"
"The increase in participants during KL Car Free this morning is enough proof that people are yearning for a healthier lifestyle. With proper planning and the right initiatives from the government, we might actually reduce our obesity rate from being the highest in Southeast Asia. Kudos to all Malaysians! Keep showing up," said another.
However, some also pointed out that the overwhelming turnout highlights the need for more accessible recreational spaces in the city
"This further proves that society craves becoming part of a healthy community, but KL lacks big, functional, and accessible parks, so everyone ends up going to the same few places every weekend morning," wrote one netizen.
Another added, "My husband and I take a weekly morning walk at a park near our place, and we've been noticing, 'Eh, it's getting more crowded, isn't it?' Teens, families, senior citizens — you name it. It's really nice to see. Hopefully this encourages our parks and green spaces to be improved. Also, yes to healthier generations!"
If you'd like to join KL Car Free Morning, the event currently features a 5km route on the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays of the month, and a 7km route on the first and third Sundays
All routes begin at Dataran DBKL, with the event taking place every Sunday from 7am to 9am.
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