Joggers protest closure of Thamrin-Sudirman roads
Joggers protest closure of Thamrin-Sudirman roads
Damar Harsanto and
Muninggar Sri Saraswati
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Those who used to jog and exercise along Jakarta's main arteries
of Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta are angry
about Governor Sutiyoso's decision to close the roads to all
Sunday sports activities.
"The argument to close the roads is nonsense. It seems that
the administration favor parks more than the people's need for
open spaces," Rima, 27, an employee at a private company on Jl.
Thamrin, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Rima was referring to the administration's failure to provide
open spaces and parks for residents, forcing them onto the
streets for exercise.
"It's only once a week for a couple of hours, while the roads
are empty so motorists aren't disturbed .... Maybe people damage
the median strips (along the roads), but I don't think it's a big
deal and can be easily fixed by the parks agency," Rima said.
Anita, 30, a graduate student at a state university, also said
the new policy was "ridiculous".
"Jakarta residents are the taxpayers, they pay taxes for the
roads too, so they deserve to enjoy them. It's completely unfair
because corrupt administrations have never provided proper
facilities for the public. Now, tell me, where do they think
people will go to exercise?" Anita asked.
Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, which normally are crowded with
joggers and other Sunday morning exercisers, were quiet
yesterday.
The administration said it would deploy public order officers
to ensure people stayed off the streets, but the Post saw no
officers along the streets at about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, city spokesman Muhayat said Jakartans who wanted to
exercise should go to the National Monument (Monas) park.
"Instead of the closed arteries, we have provided Monas. So,
people have alternatives for exercise," Muhayat said.
The spokesman said the new policy was necessary because
joggers were damaging the median strips and wire fences that run
along Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
However, Muhayat said the policy was subject to evaluation,
"as happened when the administration allowed the roads to open
for sport activities in the first place".