Cycling to work

We should give a big salute and strong support to the Indonesian Mountain Biking Community (MTB Indonesia) in organizing "A Bike to Work Event" on Aug. 6 (The Jakarta Post of Aug. 7). Let us treat this as a starting point for Jakarta people who really care about worsening air pollution and congestion. I am sure the bicycle community understands the constraints they face, and how to keep cyclists motivated and involve more people in cycling to work.

Some years ago, if we remember back, former president Soeharto and his (late) wife, rode bicycles to commemorate special occasions and to promote public health. On another occasion -- the official inauguration of the University of Indonesia in Depok -- the rector and his entourage, lecturers and students, declared the new campus a car-free zone. Unfortunately, these activities were little more than ceremonial events engaged in just to please the leaders, and lacked any further action or follow-up programs to ensure success in reducing air pollution.

Though it will be hard, and almost seems impossible, for the Jakarta administration to provide special lanes for bicycle lovers as this would require a lot of money, there are still many ways in which cycling can be reintroduced to the Jakarta people.

Besides educating public transportation drivers to be more polite and mindful of cyclists, who as things stand at the moment are in great danger, public parks, shopping centers, office buildings, malls and supermarkets should set aside part of their parking lots for bicycles. Organizing cycling activities as part of various ceremonial events, and asking people to use bicycles on public holidays, are other ways of promoting cycling.

PAULUS GUNAWAN Jakarta