Car Free Day gets lukewarm response
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Cyclists cruised their way past joggers and pedestrians strolling leisurely along the quiet Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in the fresh morning air. Here and there, groups of children played soccer, while their parents got in a bit of exercise.
This scene, which would never happen on a weekday, played out on Sunday on the two main thoroughfares in Central Jakarta in commemoration of Car Free Day.
Centered around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, the event was a call for Jakartans to help reduce pollution by leaving their cars at home for the day. All motorized vehicles were barred from the streets' fast lanes from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"By not using motorized vehicles, we can enjoy at least one day of clean air," Car Free Day chief organizer Bambang Parlupi said.
The event was organized by the Clean Emission Partnership, comprising several environmental organizations, together with the Jakarta administration.
To add life to the event, organizers held a street fair near the traffic circle, featuring music, plays and a drawing competition for children.
An exhibition of posters promoting the use of bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles was held at the pedestrian bridges along Jl. Thamrin.
Residents could also rent bicycles, provided by the North Jakarta Bicycle Taxi Association. Costing only Rp 2,000 (22 US cents) for two hours, the bicycle rentals were a hit, and customers lined up for a turn. People were given the choice of peddling themselves or using the service of a driver.
Numerous visitors told The Jakarta Post the event was better than a normal Sunday, when both streets are regularly blocked off for joggers and cyclists, and they wanted more such events.
"Make it every day .... It is not every day that we can enjoy fresh air in the middle of the business district," said Rano, a resident of Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.
Rano, who came to the event with his brother and daughter, also suggested that for future events the streets be totally closed, including the slow lanes, which were still open to traffic.
"If not, we will still have to breathe in the air pollution from the vehicles passing by in the slow lanes," he said.
Starting at about 10 a.m., cars and motorcycles quickly backed up in the slow lanes of the two thoroughfares. Many motorists, noticing that the traffic police were no longer guarding the restricted lanes, jumped into the fast lanes before the event officially ended at 3 p.m.
Despite the praise, not all Jakartans welcomed Car Free Day. Several motorists complained that they got stuck in traffic when they were trying to enjoy their day off. The management of a restaurant on Jl. Sudirman also complained that the event disrupted its business.
The chairman of the Joint Committee for the Phasing Out of Leaded Gasoline, Ahmad Safrudin, however, said this event benefited all residents.
"During last year's event, the level of pollutants decreased by some 30 percent as compared with a week before the event and a week after," he said. "We expect a similar result this year, which shows the event actually makes the city's air cleaner and healthier."
Ahmad said he hoped the public would support the event in the future, including plans to hold it on a weekday.