Malioboro Barriers Cause Difficulties for Wheelchair Users
A video recently went viral on social media showing an elderly woman in a wheelchair struggling to navigate the barriers located on the side streets of Malioboro, Yogyakarta. The footage, uploaded by the Instagram account @jogja_admin, depicts the elderly woman attempting to force her way under a green and yellow barrier. She required physical assistance from family members and nearby residents to pass through.
The Regional Secretary of the Yogyakarta Provincial Government (Pemda DIY), Ni Made Dwipanti, stated that the difficulties faced by the elderly woman would serve as a basis for evaluation. She noted that the design of the barriers needs to consider access for members of the public using mobility aids.
“If it occurs in the field that people with disabilities or pedestrians find it difficult to use the path, this will become a priority for our officers to manage,” Made told reporters on Tuesday. She admitted that the current design does not fully account for the needs of pedestrians using mobility aids, noting that while the space may be sufficient for general pedestrians, it lacks adequate room for wheelchairs and similar devices.
Furthermore, Made clarified that the Provincial Government does not plan to dismantle the existing ‘Regol Ayum’ barriers entirely. Instead, adjustments will be made to the design so that they can still restrict motor vehicles while providing proper access for pedestrians, including wheelchair users. She emphasised that these adjustments must be handled carefully to ensure that the new access points are not exploited by motor vehicles to enter the pedestrian zone.
In addition to physical design improvements, the presence of officers near the barriers is considered vital. Officers will assist in managing access and educating the public on the function of the Regol Ayom.
The installation of these barriers on several sections of Malioboro Street has faced scrutiny. The Yogyakarta Provincial Transportation Agency (Dishub DIY) stated that the implementation is still in a trial phase and that officers have been deployed to assist pedestrians.
“This is a trial. Since this is our first time operating all of them, we are observing the issues that arise in the field,” said the Head of Dishub DIY, Chrestina Erni Widyastuti. She noted that one of the identified problems relates to pedestrian access. Under certain conditions, officers will be required to open the portals to allow elderly individuals and those using mobility aids to pass.
Erni explained that a scheme is being prepared where the middle section of the portal can be opened when pedestrians require access. She emphasised that the primary principle is to protect the area as a pedestrian-priority zone. For certain types of Regol Ayom, a telescopic mechanism is available that allows the barrier to be raised or opened to create space for pedestrians.
Dishub DIY has prepared officers on a shift system at various Regol Ayom points, working in collaboration with the Yogyakarta City Transportation Agency. “The refinement of the Regol Ayom remains directed towards supporting the full pedestrianisation of Malioboro. Our commitment is firmly towards pedestrians,” concluded Erni.