Navy cyclists set good example

Navy cyclists set good example

Antara, Jakarta

Rear Admiral Slamet Subijanto used to ride around the naval base
in Surabaya on his bicycle when he chief of the Navy's training
department.

He continued to do so when he was made chief of the Navy's
Eastern Fleet.

But when he was appointed as chief of the Navy, which is based
in Jakarta, he abandoned his bike.

Now thanks to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's instruction
on energy saving in government offices, it has been suggested
that public servants ride to work.

The instruction, which came after the prolonged fuel crisis in
the country, has been followed up by many officials in the
regions, who are turning up air conditioners and dimming lights.

In the Navy's Eastern Fleet complex in Surabaya, officers have
for years ridden bicycles to perform their duties.

"When I joined the Navy many years ago, officers were riding
bicycles. I don't know when the practice began," said the Navy's
Education Office spokesman Lt. Col. Tony Syaiful.

Tony said that each Navy task force in the Eastern fleet
complex had at least two or three bicycles that were used in turn
by the officers. Officers rode bicycles when they traveled to
other sections or offices within the complex.

The use of bicycles in the training department was initiated
by Slamet when he was appointed as chief of the Eastern Fleet. He
bought hundreds of new bicycles so that officers could travel
from one place to another, said spokesman of the Navy's Eastern
Fleet Lt. Col. Guntur Wahyudi.

"Riding a bicycle can reduce pollution and it is good for your
health," said Guntur, quoted as saying by Antara.