Legislator Praises Sarinah Pedestrian Bridge Revitalisation as Disability-Friendly Model
Jakarta – The head of Commission D at the Jakarta Regional Legislative Assembly, Yuke Yurike, has assessed the revitalisation of the Sarinah Pedestrian Overpass (JPO) as a positive step that should serve as a model for developing disability-friendly facilities, with expectations that similar infrastructure will be built at other locations across the city.
“We have received input from colleagues in the disability community, indicating that not all bus stops and pedestrian overpasses in Jakarta are sufficiently comfortable and accessible for persons with disabilities, despite efforts to adapt them,” said Yuke in Jakarta on Monday.
Yuke disclosed that during the inauguration ceremony conducted by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, she also received various inputs from the disability community. These inputs demonstrated that, to date, not all bus stops and pedestrian overpasses in Jakarta are truly comfortable and accessible for persons with disabilities, despite the fact that some facilities have been adapted in their design.
Yuke highlighted the significant benefits of the Sarinah JPO for wheelchair users. Persons with disabilities have frequently faced high risks when crossing roads in areas with dense traffic.
Regarding safety measures, Yuke explained that the Sarinah JPO, as a public facility, must be maintained collectively, including through security provisions such as CCTV and staff presence, which have in principle already been adapted accordingly.
Yuke emphasised that all public facilities built using Jakarta residents’ budgets should rightfully be maintained collectively by all parties.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung officially inaugurated the pedestrian overpass following its revitalisation. The Sarinah JPO now features a more inclusive design. In addition to remaining accessible to the general public, the pedestrian bridge is equipped with a lift to accommodate wheelchair users, elderly people, and other persons with special needs.
A pelican crossing is a pedestrian crossing facility equipped with traffic lights and a special activation button for pedestrians. This system provides safe priority for pedestrians by forcing vehicles to come to a complete halt when the red light is activated, unlike a standard zebra crossing which relies solely on road markings.