Pac-Man Zebra Crossing Seen as Residents' Satire on DKI Provincial Government's Neglect of Road Maintenance

JAKARTA - Transportation expert Deddy Herlambang views the zebra crossing featuring the Pac-Man game character on Jalan Soepomo in Tebet, South Jakarta, as a form of residents’ satire against the DKI Provincial Government’s minimal maintenance of road facilities.

Deddy stated that the image is not merely an act of creativity but an expression of public disappointment over the poor condition of road markings.

“If the Pac-Man zebra crossing is indeed an artistic work as satire from residents towards the government regarding the lack of road maintenance or upkeep,” Deddy said when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

“That satire is akin to the scarcity of signs, damaged signs, damaged road markings, lack of enforcement on the roads, and so on,” he added.

According to Deddy, this phenomenon also indicates limitations in communication channels between the public and the government for voicing complaints.

“Actually, this is the voice of the residents via graffiti with visual art on the highway because there is no available channel for the public to communicate with the government,” he said.

“In the era of Governor Ahok, there was the Qlue app so residents or the public could report anything at any time. Now that app is gone and communicating with the government is difficult,” he continued.

“Clearly, the Pac-Man zebra violates the rules in Minister of Transportation Regulation Number PM 34 of 2014 because it does not meet national or even international sign standards,” he added.

For information, the Head of the South Jakarta Road Infrastructure Sub-Department, Rifki Rismal, stated that the DKI Jakarta Public Works Department will erase and repaint the zebra crossing on Jalan Soepomo, Tebet, South Jakarta, which was redrawn by residents and several graffiti artists because it is deemed not to meet standards.

In addition to black and white colours, the zebra crossing was also painted in various colours by the artists using spray paint, including adding the Pac-Man game illustration.

Rifki said that road markings with additional colours other than white do not meet technical requirements.

In replacement, the DKI Jakarta Public Works Department will repaint the zebra crossing with applicable materials and standards.

“Yes, it will definitely be done soon (erased). Later, the Public Works Department will handle it,” said the Head of the South Jakarta Road Infrastructure Sub-Department, Rifki Rismal, when confirmed on Sunday (29/3/2026).

“If technically it is not permitted (colourful) because overly busy markings or coloured ones can distract drivers’ concentration,” Rifki explained.