`Jogging ban is ridiculous'<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso has issued a decree closing Jl. Thamrin and Jl.
\nSudirman to all Sunday morning sports activities beginning Jan.
\n26. The governor made the move because Sunday morning exercisers
\nwere, according to him, damaging the median strips and wire
\nfences that run along the streets. The Jakarta Post spoke with
\nsome city residents about the issue.<\/p>\n
Faril, 30, has been selling newspapers along Jl. Sudirman and
\nJl. Thamrin for 12 years. He lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta,
\nwith his wife and son:<\/p>\n
I completely disagree with the governor's ban on Sunday
\njogging along the streets. I think the governor has violated
\nresidents' right to use public spaces for exercise.<\/p>\n
Why would he close the roads to ordinary urban residents who
\nlack the space for exercise.<\/p>\n
Why should he prohibit people from trying to live a healthy
\nlife? It sounds crazy! I wonder what he really wants.<\/p>\n
Maybe he wants to raise money for the city by closing the
\nstreets and pushing the joggers into Monas (the National Monument
\npark), where people have to pay illegal entrance fees. It's less
\nlikely people will go to Senayan on Sundays because the area is
\nalready too crowded with joggers.<\/p>\n
The median strips being damaged is not a good reason to close
\nthe streets. It's Sutiyoso who is damaging the rights of the
\npublic. Worse still, I will make less money on Sundays. I used to
\nmake more money on Sunday mornings from selling papers and
\nmagazines to the joggers.<\/p>\n
Tomi, 27, works as a street musician along Jl. Sudirman and
\nJl. Thamrin. He lives in Bekasi, West Java, with his family:<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso doesn't know the meaning of ethics, which is why he
\nissued a decree barring city residents from exercising along the
\nstreets on Sunday.<\/p>\n
I think most of the people doing the exercise are low income.
\nI think they enjoy doing the cheap but fun exercise. They deserve
\nthe public space because they paid taxes for it.<\/p>\n
Exercising along the main thoroughfares on Sunday is the only
\nchance for poor residents to breathe fresh air, and they don't
\nhave to pay for it.<\/p>\n
I'm sure the decree will not have an impact on the rich
\nbecause they can afford to exercise in other places. The poor
\ndeserve the same rights but they don't have any other
\nalternatives.<\/p>\n
I disagree with Sutiyoso's accusation that the joggers damaged
\nthe median strips. I'm sure only few of them are guilty. But this
\ndecree has again made me distrust the government for being
\nselfish!<\/p>\n
Eka Dewi P.S., 21, works at the Egyptian Embassy in Jakarta.
\nShe lives in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I disagree with Sutiyoso's decree closing the main
\nthoroughfares. The ban is really inhumane because it violates the
\nright of residents to have public spaces where they can exercise
\nfor free.<\/p>\n
It is really a ridiculous ban. How could he bar people from
\nusing the streets to maintain their health? Poor people also
\ndeserve to be healthy.<\/p>\n
I used to go to the area on Sundays. It was fun. People of all
\nages and social status mingled, breathing in the fresh air. It's
\nrare just to get a few hours of fresh air in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I could have gone to an expensive gym or health center in one
\nof the star-rated hotels, but I preferred going there. The
\ngovernor should have sided with the low-income people, who will
\nbe the ones to suffer from the ban.<\/p>\n
His concern about damage to the median strips is not a
\nrational reason to impose the ban. Besides, I'm pretty sure that
\nnot every jogger is guilty of damaging the median strips.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jogging-ban-is-ridiculous-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }