#UberPark: Reclaiming Paradise From Parking Lots

Joni Mitchell once shared the inspiration behind the line, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot” in Big Yellow Taxi. She said, “I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise.”

If you’ve recently been around the Klang Valley, you might have noticed an odd sight - a parking lot that has been “reclaimed” and made into a park. This initiative by Uber Malaysia, called #UberPark is designed to provoke Malaysians’ imagination and ask themselves: What would Malaysia look like if we had fewer cars on the roads, which needed fewer parking spaces, and had more parks or gardens instead?

Malaysia is known to have the third highest rate of car ownership in the world with 9 out of 10 households owning at least one car (Nielsen, 2014). In addition, Malaysia also ranks third in the world for multiple car ownership, with 1 in 2 households having more than one car. All these cars need to be parked somewhere!

“Uber sees a real need here to provide real solutions for real problems in cities. The concept of ride-sharing is about moving more Malaysians in fewer cars,” said, Kenny Choong, General Manager - Uber EVERYWHERE, of Uber Malaysia.

So, what’s the idea behind #UberPark? Choong said, “What we’re aiming to establish with #UberPark is a vision and challenge to Malaysians, that one fewer car on the road means one fewer parking lot occupied, and more space for leisurely activity. If this concept can be replicated, even by the people’s own initiative, it indirectly helps our environment a little more. Imagine what Malaysia would look like with fewer cars, and more parks or leisure spaces instead?”

Since Malaysia Day on 16 September, Uber has been transforming parking lots in various areas in and around the Klang Valley, into pop-up parks, attracting curiosity from Malaysians.

Miriam, from Kuala Lumpur stumbled upon an #UberPark on the way to get desserts at Inside Scoop in Bangsar. She said, “It was refreshing to the eye to see how a car park was transformed into a park. How unexpected! My friends and I ended up having our ice-cream at the #UberPark itself. It would be nice to see more spaces like this around KL.”

More #UberParks can be anticipated in various locations until the end of September. While the results are immeasurable, Choong said he hopes people will catch on to the idea and think proactively about contributing towards reduced congestion. He said, “Imagine what our cities could look like if we employed the concept of ride-sharing in our everyday routines. It creates an ecosystem that benefits the people and the environment. It’s a choice Malaysians can make with Uber’s technology, at the touch of a button.”

So, how about not driving, and letting Uber take you to an #UberPark today?

SHARING FESTIVES AND INSTILING LOVE OF CULTURE

Thanks Sunway Putra for inviting us to grace and involve with the event. The crowd is overwhelming and we are welcomed with colourful lanterns decorated around the mall this Mid-Autumn. The mall created a platform to promote Malaysian-Chinese culture by organizing Sunway Putra Mall’s first ever Lantern Parade, as well as a ‘reunion’ to promote racial harmony.

The tradition of mid autumn festival.

More than 150 shoppers and tourist gathered to join the kids from Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK) and Touching Lives Club Kuala Lumpur and Selangor for the lantern parade, parading together with the colorful lanterns which started along the route circling the mall.  During the event, Ms Phang Sau Lian, General Manager of Sunway Putra Mall together with Ms Melissa Hashim, the Marketing Manager were also present to make it even more cheerful.  

The founder of Touching Lives Club, Mr Raymond Chin was glad that the initiative to gather public and other races together as one came to reality. ‘This Mid- Autumn festival is the second biggest celebration for the Chinese. On this day, the moon is fuller and brighter and stands as a symbol of harmony and unity. We love this festive as much as the others.
It resembles very much of who we are. A community who looks forward to building up
community spirit and racial harmony.” Said Chin.

Shortly before the parade starts, the 100 children from the charity homes were treated to hone their artistic skills on mooncake and lantern making workshop followed by a dinner treat at Manhattan Fish Market. The children, age ranging between 7 to 12 years old, could not contain their excitement when they arrive at Selera Street, as they were about to start making their own crafts to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festive and for some, it’s their first time.

 “This time round, together with the Touching Lives Club Kuala Lumpur & Selangor, we taught the kids how to make their own mini-mooncakes in using dough, fillings and a mooncake mold. Some of the kids were also taught on how to make their own lanterns.” Added Phang.

The day was not over as the guests were also treated to a mooncake galore and the evening ended on a high note as moments after the credits rolled, Sunway Putra Mall donated 300 lanterns to the charity homes to decorate their houses. The mascots from The Parenthood and Mr DIY also appeared adding cheer to the kids.  

Create lasting memories this Mid-Autumn and celebrate the reunion of family and friends while spreading cheer, visitors and shoppers of Sunway Putra Mall can also enjoy the delectable choices of mooncakes from Swensen, Haagen-Dazs, Cold Storage and even Durian Mooncake by Durian King. 

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