Bike parking fee angers residents

Bike parking fee angers residents

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): About 100 Tangerang residents
protested a new Rp 200 (8.5 U.S. cents) parking fee for bicycles
and carts yesterday.

Carrying placards the protesters asked Mayor Djakaria Mahmud
to revoke the parking fee regulation.

Residents' spokesman Lahmudin said the fee was unfair because
it affected poor people.

"Doesn't the administration have other ways to get funds for
development other than imposing such a fee on poor people?"
Lahmudin said in front of the mayoralty office.

The mayor, represented by public order office head Suparman,
said the mayor did not have the right to revoke regulation no.
17/1996 which imposed the parking fees. "It's the legislative
council which has the authority," Suparman said.

However, Suparman said "as far as I know there is no parking
fee for bicycles and carts. There must have been a mistake in the
application of the regulation."

The protesters then marched to the legislative council office,
demanding the regulation being revoked.

They said the mayoralty and the legislative council should
have done thorough studies before imposing the regulation.
(27/jun)