Bylaw irks pedicab drivers
Bylaw irks pedicab drivers
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang
More than 1,000 becak (pedicab) drivers in Tangerang municipality
demonstrated on Friday against a bylaw that limits the areas in
which they can operate.
Carrying red-and-white flags, they arrived at Tangerang City
Hall after marching across the city since morning, causing heavy
traffic jams.
They managed to force their way through the City Hall gates
after scuffling with security guards who had been guarding the
gates.
"We want justice. It's already difficult for us to feed and
send our children to school. Now our operations are being
restricted. Let pedicabs operate freely," shouted Mamat, one of
the drivers.
"You all get monthly salaries to feed your wives and children.
We have to paddle through the roads every single day, and now you
stop us from earning money," said another driver, Suhandi,
pointing to a number of public order officers arriving in a van.
Some angry drivers immediately ran after the van, but were
calmed down by colleagues.
The drivers declared that they would stay there until they met
Mayor Wahidin Halim, who was not in his office.
Mamat demanded that the mayor repeal Bylaw No. 5/2004, which
bans becak from operating on main roads. Since the bylaw was
implemented in June, public order officers, the police and
military personnel have held joint operations to remove becak
from Tangerang's main roads.
Wahidin said later that the bylaw was aimed at limiting the
areas in which becak could operate.
"If pedicabs were allowed to operate on main roads, they would
be endangering themselves, their passengers and other road
users," he said.
Becak have been banned from operating along Jl. Daan Mogot,
Jl. Kisamaun, Jl. Kiasnawi and Jl. Dimyati.
Many road users have complained that becak contribute greatly
to traffic congestion.
"We would be happy if pedicabs were banned from downtown.
Becak should only be allowed to operate in residential areas,"
said Hery Ubaidillah, adding that his sister had been hit by a
becak.