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.