One dead in bicycle taxi accident

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)