Flyovers at several urban points, such as the Pasar Rebo flyover in\nEast Jakarta, are no longer functioning solely as traffic infrastructure\nbut are evolving into transit spaces and gathering spots for young\npeople. At certain times, particularly from late afternoon into the\nevening, these areas are often filled with residents stopping briefly to\nchat, enjoy the city atmosphere, or simply unwind after work.<\/p>\n
According to Rissalwan Habdy Lubis, a social observer from the\nUniversity of Indonesia, this phenomenon is driven by economic factors\nand the need for communal spaces. He notes that economic considerations\nare a primary factor for young people when choosing where to congregate.\nFurthermore, the scarcity of public open spaces in urban areas\nreinforces this tendency.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides being free, these open spaces serve a purpose; while they\nare similar to parks, the reality is that such parks are very scarce in\nurban areas,\u201d Rissalwan said via WhatsApp on Friday (15\/5\/2026). \u201cThe\npsychological aspect is significant; there is a sense of freedom\nexperienced when they gather there, as if they are not being disturbed\nby the urban congestion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rissalwan believes the functional shift of flyovers into gathering\nspots is inseparable from the limited availability of public spaces in\nmajor cities like Jakarta. Although some open spaces exist, access is\noften difficult or requires payment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are some places, it is not that there are none at all, but\nonce again, they are far away and usually involve fees or are under\nspecific authorities,\u201d Rissalwan noted. He also observed a tendency\namong the youth to seek social spaces that are less regulated and do not\ncreate a sense of being monitored. \u201cPsychologically, young people want\nto gather without being confined by certain social boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to him, activities on flyovers generally occur from late\nafternoon to night, when traffic begins to ease but still maintains\nurban dynamism. From the vantage point of the flyover, the traffic below\nbecomes an interesting spectacle for some residents. \u201cThey can witness\nthe congestion below; the attraction lies in the fact that besides\ngathering and chatting, they can also observe the bustling pulse of the\ncapital,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-five-thousand-rupiah-coffee-and-jakarta-flyover-views-are-saving-workers-wallets-1780901631", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }