The presence of road-closing portals, or Regol Ayom, at several\npoints along Malioboro Street in Yogyakarta has come under scrutiny.\nThis follows reports that the structures are making it difficult for the\nelderly and wheelchair users to pass through.<\/p>\n
Various parties, including the Regional House of Representatives\n(DPRD), have called on the local government to resolve this issue\nimmediately.<\/p>\n
Design to be Modified<\/strong><\/p>\n In response to the growing criticism, the Yogyakarta Special Region\n(DIY) Provincial Government has stated that the design of the portals\nwill be modified.<\/p>\n The Regional Secretary of DIY, Ni Made Dwityanti, stated that the\ndifficulties faced by the elderly are being used as a basis for\nevaluation. She noted that the portal design must consider access for\nmembers of the public using mobility aids.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, if it is found in the field that people with disabilities\nor pedestrians are struggling to use the path, this will be addressed by\nthe officers in charge of managing it,\u201d Made told reporters on Tuesday\n(1\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n Made admitted that the current portal design does not fully account\nfor the needs of pedestrians using mobility aids. While she noted that\nthe access provided is sufficient for general pedestrians, it does not\nprovide adequate space for wheelchair users or other mobility\ndevices.<\/p>\n \u201cIt serves as an evaluation that those passing through may be using\nmobility aids. Therefore, they must have sufficient space regarding the\nuse of the area. While space exists for pedestrians, it has not yet\nconsidered those using wheelchairs and other aids that require different\ndimensions,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n Adjustments to be Made<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the difficulties faced by the elderly and those using\nmobility aids, Made mentioned that the DIY Provincial Government does\nnot plan to dismantle the existing Regol Aylam portals entirely.\nInstead, adjustments will be made to the design so that they can still\nrestrict motor vehicles while providing proper access for pedestrians,\nincluding wheelchair users.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not a demolition, but rather an adjustment. An adjustment in\nterms of what the design should look like,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She emphasised that these adjustments must be carried out carefully.\nThe new access for wheelchair users must be designed so that motor\nvehicles cannot exploit the gap to enter the pedestrian zone.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must ensure that we do not create a situation where, in our\nattempt to allow pedestrians with mobility aids to pass, motor vehicles\nend up using the same route. This is something we must monitor,\u201d she\nadded.<\/p>\n In addition to improving the physical design, the presence of\nofficers near the portals is considered vital. Officers will assist in\nmanaging access and educating the public on the function of the Regol\nAyom.<\/p>\n Guarded by Officers<\/strong><\/p>\n The Yogyakarta Department of Transportation (Dishub DIY) will station\nofficers to assist in opening the portals for pedestrians.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a trial period. This is our first time operating all of\nthem, and we are observing the issues that arise in the field,\u201d said the\nHead of Dishub DIY, Chrestina Erni Widyastuti, in a written\nstatement.<\/p>\n Erni noted that one of the identified problems relates to pedestrian\naccess. Under certain conditions, the portals must be opened by officers\nso that pedestrians, including the elderly and those using mobility\naids, can pass through.<\/p>\n Erni stated that having officers at every Regol Ayom point is a\ncrucial part of implementing the system. Officers will be able to open\nthe portals when pedestrians require access.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the schemes we have prepared is that when a pedestrian needs\naccess, the middle section of the portal can be opened,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe principle is that the area must be guarded because we prioritise\npedestrians,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n For certain types of Regol Ayom, Erni noted that a telescopic\nmechanism is available, allowing the portal to be raised or opened to\ncreate space for pedestrians.<\/p>\n Dishub DIY has prepared officers working in shifts at various Regol\nAyom points. This monitoring is also being conducted in collaboration\nwith the Yogyakarta City Transportation Department.<\/p>\n \u201cThe refinement of Regol Ayom remains directed towards supporting the\nimplementation of a full pedestrian zone in Malioboro. Our commitment is\nto prioritise pedestrians,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n DPRD Urges Follow-up<\/strong><\/p>\n Commission C of the DIY DPRD has highlighted that the portals in the\nMalioboro area are causing difficulties for elderly citizens. They have\ndemanded that the issue be evaluated and executed promptly.<\/p>\n The Vice Chairman of Commission C, Amir Syarifudin, stated that an\nevaluation is necessary given that Yogyakarta promotes itself as a\nchild-friendly and elderly-friendly city. This is particularly urgent as\nincidents have already occurred where the elderly struggled to navigate\nthe portals.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless, as a child-friendly and elderly-friendly city, if such\nincidents occur, there must be an evaluation,\u201d Amir said when contacted\non Tuesday (1\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n He noted that the evaluation must be followed by concrete action,\nespecially since the Malioboro area is a public space that will become\nincreasingly crowded during the upcoming holiday season.<\/p>\n \u201cThere needs to be execution. After all, this is a public area,\u201d he\nconcluded.<\/p>",
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