Joggers protest Thamrin closure

Joggers protest Thamrin closure

Damar Harsanto and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

Jakartans who used to jog and exercise along the capital's
main arteries Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central
Jakarta on Sundays, blasted the decision of Governor Sutiyoso to
close the roads to all sports activities, saying the policy
restricted access to public spaces.

"The reason given for closing the roads is nonsense. It seems
that the administration is more concerned with the median strips
than the people's need for open space," Rima, 27, an employee of
a private firm on Jl. Thamrin, told The Jakarta Post.

Rima was alluding to the administration's failure to provide
open spaces and parks where residents could exercise. Thus, it
was no wonder that Jakartans had to exercise on the streets.

"It's only once a week for a couple of hours while the road is
empty, so it doesn't disturb motorists ... It is possible that
people damage some parts of the median strips, but I don't think
its a big deal as they can be maintained by the parks agency,"
Rima argued.

Similarly, Anita, 30, a graduate student of a state
university, labeled the policy ridiculous.

"Jakarta residents are the taxpayers. They pay taxes for the
roads too, so they deserve to enjoy their use. It's completely
unfair as the corrupt administration has never provided proper
facilities for the public. Now, tell me, where do they think
people can go to exercise for free?" said Anita.

Jl M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, which used to be packed with
joggers, were quiet last Sunday morning with no joggers or people
exercising to be seen.

Sutiyoso had allowed Jakartans to use the arteries to jog or
exercise since the early years of his first term as Jakarta
governor (1997-2002).

City spokesman Muhayat said the National Monument Park (Monas)
and the Senayan sports stadium's parking lots had been chosen as
the designated places for Jakartans wanting to exercise or engage
in other recreational activities.

"Instead of closing the arteries for joggers, we have provided
Monas and Senayan sport stadium's parking lots. They still have
alternative places to exercise," Muhayat told The Jakarta Post.

Muhayat said the policy had been adopted due to the fact that
joggers were ruining public facilities along the roads' median
strips, including intentionally walking on the grass and sitting
on the wire fences.

However, Muhayat said the governor's policy would be subject
to review if many people objected to it "just as happened when
the administration decided to close these roads for sports
activities in the first place."

Sutiyoso said on Monday he would change his mind if the people
who used the roads to exercise could ensure that public
facilities would not be damaged.