Respecting pedestrians<\/p>\n
The rapid proliferation of motor vehicles in the ever-
\nenlarging and teeming megalopolis that is Jakarta has created
\nserious problems for pedestrians.<\/p>\n
It is obvious that the pedestrians' rights have been denied by
\nfellow residents and administration officials.<\/p>\n
The sidewalks constructed for pedestrians have been used for
\neverything it seems except for walking. Motorcycles can usually
\nbe seen speeding along sidewalks, and heedless drivers park their
\ncars on them.<\/p>\n
Street vendors' overbearing stalls on the sidewalks are also a
\ncommon sight in the capital. Even overhead crossings are packed
\nwith vendors selling their wares.<\/p>\n
But what has the Jakarta administration done to put things in
\norder? Nothing concrete, just a recent series of public service
\nannouncements on TV about respecting pedestrians.<\/p>\n
Raids against the roadside vendors illegally occupying
\nsidewalks have been carried out now and then. Yet, plans of the
\nraids have usually been leaked by local authorities -- presumably
\nfor money -- and so their effectiveness is diluted. Worse, many
\nroadside vendors have complained about illegal fees imposed by
\nlocal authorities.<\/p>\n
It seems that there is no special law protecting pedestrians.
\nGiven this, no pedestrian has reported to the authorities about
\nthe denial of their rights as sidewalks become vehicle repair
\nstations, welding service stations or furniture shops.<\/p>\n
Most people would probably say that pedestrians should have a
\nright to take legal steps. Pedestrians just cannot walk without
\nfear for their safety, especially when strolling across the
\ncrosswalks. Motorcyclists grow wilder on the streets with each
\npassing day and seem to enjoy running traffic lights, ignoring
\ntheir own safety and others'. Public bus drivers are no
\nexception.<\/p>\n
Those, who have visited Yogyakarta with its historical
\nMalioboro thoroughfare, Bandung's well-known Jl. Braga or
\nthe famous Jl. Tunjungan in Surabaya, would be surprised upon
\narriving in Jakarta, which has no such lovely walkways. Strolling
\nin the Kemang area, which used to be dominated by foreign
\nexpatriates with relatively well-ordered streets and walkways, is
\nno longer enjoyable as the streets have become overcrowded with
\nthe increasing number of vehicles and encroaching buildings.<\/p>\n
It is not even clear if the regulation introduced in the 1980s
\non the provision of sidewalks is still recognized. According to
\nthe regulation, a road must be constructed with a sidewalk. The
\nwidth depended on the number of pedestrians passing the area per
\nday. The more pedestrians, the wider the sidewalks were supposed
\nto be.<\/p>\n
When planning a road project, the designers draw it up in
\ndetail, including the sidewalks. However, the sidewalks are not
\nintended to be part of an integrated city transportation system.
\nSidewalks must be made available for all pedestrians, including
\nthose who need access to catch buses or other means of city
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
Worse, the sidewalks have been converted into businesses. It
\nis not debatable that the pedestrians' rights have been violated
\nby fellow residents and the administration officials, who should
\ninstead be working to find ways to create better conditions for
\nall citizens.<\/p>\n
Now that the parks have gradually disappeared and walkways are
\nno longer a pleasure to use, people now tend to go stroll around
\nsupermarkets, plazas or malls. Governor Sutiyoso has pledged to
\nhave more plazas and malls constructed in the future. This has
\nevoked concerns among planners who are not part of the
\nbureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Some of them say that the absence of sufficient sidewalks for
\npedestrians means a lack of respect for citizens who want to, or
\nhave to, walk around town. Such a phenomenon has come about
\nbecause the decision-makers lack a \"sense of humanity\" when
\nmaking plans to develop the city.<\/p>\n
After decades of ignoring the issue, the administration seems
\nto have become aware of its mistakes. And efforts to mend its
\nimage started with the widening of the sidewalk along Jl. MH
\nThamrin. The ongoing project is meant to both beautify the
\nthoroughfare, which is known as the \"capital's face\" as well as
\nto improve conditions for pedestrians.<\/p>\n
But, one thing the administration must be aware of is that
\nenforcing traffic regulations is the key.<\/p>\n
Widening the sidewalk along Jl. MH Thamrin and promotional
\nbits on TV without more comprehensive action to clear other
\nsidewalks and enforce laws to protect pedestrians, will be of no
\nuse unless there is improved respect for pedestrians among the
\ngeneral public.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/respecting-pedestrians-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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