One dead in bicycle taxi accident

JAKARTA (JP): A 27-year-old man died when a vehicle carrying employees crashed into a bicycle taxi on Jl. Cakung-Cilincing in North Jakarta on Wednesday.

The victim who died was Muslimin, the passenger of the bicycle taxi. The bicycle driver, Muslim, 29, is under intensive care at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

The driver of the vehicle carrying employees of the Cakung bonded zone, Sarjan, 32, was still being questioned by police yesterday, Antara reported.

North Jakarta Police Chief Lt.Col. Ibrahim commented that the thousands of bicycle taxis in the area are vital for transport, but at the same time pose huge problems of public order and safety.

However he was not blaming the bicycle taxi for the accident.

Bicycle taxis, the cheapest of public transport, mainly operate in North and West Jakarta.

Given the need for the two-wheeled taxis which also provide thousands of jobs, Ibrahim said police and traffic officers take minimum action to control them.

"We just limit each bicycle terminal to 20 bicycle taxis to maintain healthy competition," he said.

To motivate bicycle owners in upholding safety and public order, Ibrahim said the North Jakarta police precinct is holding a bicycle taxi race on July 1, in conjunction with the police department's anniversary, called Bhayangkara Day.

"We will use the opportunity to tell the drivers of their role in upholding public order," he said. (anr)