City's plan to improve sidewalks praised

JAKARTA (JP): An urban planner hailed the city's long awaited plan to improve sidewalks in the capital, where recent emphasis has been on building more skyscrapers and roads.

Djoko Sujarto of the Bandung-based Institute of Technology said it was time that pedestrians be given priority.

"The city has far more pedestrians than motorists. But current developments give more priority to motorists," Djoko said.

Djoko was responding to the city's plans to improve and expand sidewalks along Jl. M.H. Thamrin. A new shopping area in Kuningan, South Jakarta, will also be prioritized for pedestrians. Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the widening process would begin this year.

Sidewalks and bus stops on Jl. Kiyai Tapa, West Jakarta, have already been renovated and benches added.

The plans, part of a larger plan to make Jakarta a friendlier city, also include the phasing out of borders between high-rise buildings. The plan, designed and supervised by the city's team of architects under Mohammad Danisworo, is expected to create open green spaces.

Danisworo, chairman of ITB's Center for Urban Design Studies, said recently that sidewalks should be at least 5.5-meters wide and lined with two rows of trees that form canopies to protect pedestrians from the heat.

"Sidewalk and street space should be balanced," Djoko said, adding that sidewalks in residential areas also be improved.

He praised the sidewalk project in Jl. Kebon Sirih, between Jl. Menteng Raya and Jl. Haji Agus Salim. "There are now good sidewalks and several well-designed bus stops," Djoko said.

He suggested that sidewalks be built close to street level to make it easier for fire engines to use them in case of emergencies and for elderly people who have difficulty climbing high curbs.

"Sidewalks should be comfortable and safe for all pedestrians," Djoko said.

On the plan to have fences and walls between buildings demolished, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja repeated his call that building managements help the city in its efforts.

The plan will begin along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman. Walkways will connect buildings, such the one connecting buildings under one management like the Setiabudi I and II buildings on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.

Building managements, however, said yesterday they were unaware of the plans to connect buildings. Surjadi said that his administration was speaking to various managements, who were still reluctant for security reasons.

Last month a staff member at the Bursa Efek building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman said local authorities had never mentioned the no- wall policy. They instead discussed garbage problems and the May elections.

Management staff at a few hotels refused to comment yesterday. The junior manager at McDonald's near the Sarinah department store, Mudjianto, also said they had not been informed. (ste)