Mendikti Saintek Encourages Campus Community to Cycle or Walk: Not Something Inferior

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendikti Saintek) Brian Yuliarto has invited the entire academic community to switch from using private vehicles to cycling or walking to campus.

Brian stated that this movement is being promoted to support the government’s policy on energy efficiency, both in terms of petroleum fuel (BBM) and LPG, which is being vigorously pursued by President Prabowo Subianto.

“We are also actually inviting universities to engage in healthier mobility. In the past, we were accustomed to some people walking or cycling. This is perhaps also hoped to become a habit again,” said Brian when met at the Mendikti Saintek Office, Jakarta, on Monday (6/4/2026).

“Cycling is also not something inferior compared to using private vehicles, because in European countries and advanced nations, cycling has become a habit,” he said.

Brian acknowledged that the terrain or poor road conditions are one of the main obstacles in developing cycling infrastructure.

Nevertheless, said Brian, this should not be a reason for the academic community or civil servants not to adopt energy-saving habits.

According to Brian, the use of electric bicycles can reduce petroleum fuel consumption, which is still partly imported.

“This also helps in changing mobility that still depends on fossils or subsidised BBM, so that our habits become healthier,” he stated.

“We all appreciate the initiatives from provincial and district governments, for example, by starting to encourage the culture of cycling to work,” said Prasetyo in a press conference on Tuesday (31/3/2026), quoted from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube.

In addition to saving BBM consumption, this cycling habit can also improve public health.