"Driving in Penang Island - challenging but OK" Top 5 Page for this destination Penang Transportation Tip by SLLiew

The roads in Penang has many traffic lights. The major traffic lights has digital display counters, in green showing how many seconds left before the lights will turn red and red countdown for how many seconds the traffic light will stay red.

Many major roads are turned into two lane one-way streets and so most of the roads do a big loop like a "round-about". Most original roundabouts have been replaced by traffic light junctions except a few notabe ones like the one at Bayan Baru and at Gurney Drive.

So with a map, you still need to look out for the road signs to know which direction to go, et "Tanjung Bungah" or "Penang Bridge". Ther are new signs with brown color to depict major tourist destinations, eg "Tokong Ular"=Snake Temple, "Bukit Bendera"=Penang Hill, "Kebun Bunga"=Botanical Gardens.

The coastal road on the island from the bridge will lead north quickly to Weld Quay and south to Batu Maung. Jalan Masjid Negeri and Scotland Road is still the main way from bridge to the Gurney Drive and northern beach area.

Usually traffic is smooth except during the early morning and after work rush hours and near school areas when school buses and parents pick up their kids.

Do not worry about the motorcycles. They will weave their way around. Just drive slowly and do not change lanes too quickly without signaling. Most cars do not give way even if you signal but some do.

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