The Yogyakarta municipal government (Pemkot) has firmly restricted\nthe Jogja Last Friday Ride (JLFR), the cycling activity held every\nfourth Friday night, from passing through the Malioboro area of\nYogyakarta. Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo has revealed the reason\nbehind the decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps the bicycles that are prohibited are only on that night, on\nFriday night. Friday night is an exception in that, on that night,\ncyclists entering Yogyakarta City arrive unexpectedly, without planning\nor programming, from all directions and flood into the city, so it\nseverely disrupts traffic,\u201d Hasto told journalists on Thursday\n(9\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
Hasto explained that when streams of cyclists fill the roads without\nany traffic management, officers are forced to carry out traffic\nengineering by closing certain routes on a situational basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, in a situation like this, we do have to manage conditions. On a\nSaturday night or weekend night, if we are swarmed by cyclists without\nrules, without coordination, it becomes very difficult. That is why we\nend up closing certain routes at the time as well,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
Hasto stressed that the restriction does not amount to prohibiting\nresidents from cycling in Yogyakarta. He expressed hope that the JLFR\ncan proceed in a more orderly fashion through better coordination.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that, although this community has no formal structure \u2014 there\nis no chairman, no organisation \u2014 I am convinced there are actually\nleaders who can provide direction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also asked JLFR participants not to crowd the core zone or buffer\nzone of Yogyakarta City, which serve as centres of public activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is my hope, and I convey it to the cycling community: on the\nfourth Friday, the last Friday, we hope the ride will be well\ncoordinated and will not swarm into crowded public spaces such as the\ncore zone and buffer zone of Yogyakarta City,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
JLFR Ready to Evaluate<\/p>\n
Previously, Jogja Last Friday Ride (JLFR) had spoken out regarding\nthe route restriction in the Malioboro area of Yogyakarta. The group\nsaid it is ready to be evaluated.<\/p>\n
In a statement received by detikJogja, JLFR highlighted the irony\nthat congestion caused by the dominance of motor vehicles is regarded as\ncommonplace, whereas residents\u2019 activities such as cycling and walking\nin public spaces are seen as a nuisance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is ironic today is not merely the debate about a cycling event,\nbut the way we view the space of our streets,\u201d JLFR wrote in its\nstatement, delivered through a representative who declined to be named,\non Thursday (9\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
JLFR asserted that from the outset the community was not formed to\ntake over the roads or obstruct people\u2019s activities. According to the\ngroup, the Last Friday Ride aims to celebrate cycling culture while\nreminding everyone that streets are public spaces that should be enjoyed\nfairly, safely, and with mutual respect by all users.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aware that every activity in public space must be carried out\nin an orderly manner, respecting the rules, and minimising the impact on\nthe community. If there are shortcomings in its implementation, we are\nopen to evaluation and improvement,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there are shortcomings in its implementation, we are open to\nevaluation and improvement,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mayor-hasto-reveals-reason-for-restricting-jlfr-from-entering-malioboro-disrupts-traffic-1783608755", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }