Crackdown on Street Vendors on Jalan Raya Bogor Reduces Traffic Congestion During Peak Hours

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Joint personnel regulated street vendors (PKL) who were trading on the roadway and pavements along Jalan Raya Bogor in East Jakarta to reduce traffic density, especially during peak hours. “That’s correct, one of the causes of congestion. Therefore, we need to organise it. This doesn’t mean that our fellow citizens can’t trade, but please arrange their trading so as not to disturb pedestrians and road users,” said the Head of the East Jakarta Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Muhammadong, after the crackdown on Jalan Raya Bogor, Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Thursday. He emphasised that the presence of unregulated PKL is one of the factors causing congestion in the area. According to him, organising PKL must be done in a balanced manner between the community’s economic interests and public order. He asked the vendors to be more disciplined in choosing trading locations, especially not using pavements and roadways that should be intended for the public. In addition, he stated that the crackdown, which began around 14:35 WIB, was not without reason. He explained that they deliberately chose the time when PKL activities were busy to ensure the crackdown was effective. “Indeed, we did it when it was crowded. If in the morning it’s quiet, it wouldn’t be effective. Instead, during peak hours, when the vendors are setting up their stalls, that’s when we carry out the crackdown,” he explained. He acknowledged that the implementation of the crackdown during peak hours temporarily caused disruptions to traffic flow. However, this was considered a consequence that must be faced to create a more orderly road condition in the future. “We apologise to the road-using public if they were temporarily disrupted. This is part of the organisation process so that in the future it will be smoother,” he said. He hopes that this crackdown is not only temporary but becomes an initial step towards a more organised PKL organisation. The government is also expected to provide long-term solutions, such as relocation to more appropriate places without disturbing public facilities. With consistent organisation, congestion on Jalan Raya Bogor is expected to decrease significantly, while still providing space for small business actors to earn a living in an orderly and safe manner. As many as 250 joint personnel were deployed to regulate street vendors (PKL) in the Jalan Raya Bogor area, which is on the border of Kramat Jati and Ciracas sub-districts in East Jakarta. The joint personnel consisting of Satpol PP, TNI elements, and Polri combed along Jalan Raya Bogor, especially in the border area of Pasar Kramat Jati, which has long been crowded with PKL and illegal parking. This crackdown is part of the enforcement of Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2007 on Public Order. The crackdown on street vendors (PKL) by joint officers in the Jalan Raya Bogor area, Ciracas, East Jakarta, was marked by threats of sharp weapons (sajam) from vendors. The initial crackdown, which took place around 14:35 WIB, was already met with resistance from several vendors. There was a verbal altercation between the vendors and the joint officers who began dismantling and organising the stalls standing on the pavements and road shoulders. Panic peaked when the vendor suddenly went berserk. Unable to accept his stall being regulated, the vendor protested loudly while placing his approximately two-year-old son on top of the officers’ vehicle. The situation became increasingly tense when the vendor brandished a sharp weapon towards the officers while venting his emotions. Fortunately, Satpol PP, TNI, and Polri personnel at the location quickly secured the situation. The vendor was calmed down, while the sharp weapon he carried was immediately secured before anything worse happened. Despite the incident, the joint officers continued the crackdown. Illegal stalls were levelled, and the area previously crowded with vendors was gradually cleared to restore the road’s function.