Getting to Penang by Road

Getting to Penang by Road

Getting to Penang by road is facilitated by the opening of the Penang Bridge that links the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia to Penang Island. Driving on the road is the best way of getting to Penang by road. A charge of RM 7.00 is levied on all classes of cars at the tool plaza in Perai on the mainland. You are not required to pay for traveling from the island to the mainland.

Penang is a densely populated island. It gets pretty congested during rush hour in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. The roads on Penang Island are also narrow having been built without foreseeing such a large volume of traffic in the future. To curb this problem, plans are afoot to build a monorail system, similar to that in Kuala Lumpur. The Penang Outer Ring Road Project that is planned to make getting to Penang by road easy by providing ease traffic between the north and south of the island is currently underway.

Other Modes of Transport by Road

Taxis: Cabs are commonly available around the island. Although they are designated by the Authorities to use a meter for transport charges, most do not conform to the standard and it would be best to agree on a fixed fare before boarding.

Buses: Buses ply the major routes around the city and island. The main terminals are located in Weld Quay and in front of the Komtar Shopping Centre in Georgetown. Buses have machines that accept coins to pay the fares.

Trishaws: The three-wheeled trishaw used to be a common sight on the island, but modern times have phased into near non-existence. Today, they exist as a novelty for tourists to enjoy.

Rented Cars: Renting your own car offers you great flexibility and convenience. By paying a deposit, you can take a car to drive around and pay the corresponding rate measured daily.

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