Pedicab drivers demand to ply narrow streets

JAKARTA (JP): About 2,000 becak (pedicab) drivers pedaled their three-wheeled vehicles to Jakarta City Hall yesterday morning to urge the authorities to allow them to operate in the city's alleys and narrow streets.

Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of members of the security forces, the pedicab drivers said they were very upset with Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who recently allowed them to operate in the capital and then seven days later reversed his decision.

"The authorities can arrest us if any of us are found operating on the city's main thoroughfares," a spokesman of the pedicab drivers, Slamet Edi Prayitno, told the city officials.

"We are now facing difficulties finding jobs during the current crisis. So now, please, give us the chance to operate in alleys and narrow streets here," he said.

In an attempt to persuade the governor to change his mind again, the drivers suggested the administration limit the number of pedicabs and issue identification cards for the permitted drivers.

The flow of pedicabs heading to the City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta started as early as 6 a.m. yesterday.

In front of the City Hall, where Sutiyoso has his office, the drivers peacefully parked their light vehicles on the road's median and sidewalks.

Seven representatives of the drivers, mostly from towns in West and Central Java, were then invited by the city officials -- led by the head of the city's social and political affairs directorate Herbagus Suharyono -- to press their case.

The city officials insisted in the meeting that the administration would stick to the existing 10-year-old city ordinance that Sutiyoso ignored when he announced that the city was opened to pedicabs.

"I hope all of you could understand it," Herbagus told the representatives.

"We have offered to finance your transportation back to your hometowns," he added.

The meeting was also attended by at least three reporters, including one from The Jakarta Post.

The seven representatives then left the meeting.

Outside the City Hall, Slamet -- one of the representatives and who also claimed to be the drivers' coordinator -- told his colleagues that the city officials had promised "not to take stern action" against them.

His explanation was greeted with cheers.

"Hidup (Long Live us!), hidup, hidup," yelled the crowd.

The drivers then took their vehicles and left the scene in a long convoy that caused heavy traffic congestion as people packed the sidewalks to watch them pass.

Sutiyoso publicly announced on June 25 that he was allowing the pedicabs to operate again after they had been banned for 10 years in a bid to enable unemployed people to make money during the economic crisis.

The governor changed his mind and revoked his own decision on the pedicabs on the grounds that drivers had entered the forbidden areas.

He also ordered an immediate crackdown against the pedicabs, which are banned in the city based on City Ordinance No. 11/1988 which states that the capital is a pedicab-free area.

Last Friday, the governor set aside Rp 50 million (US$3,400) to pay for the drivers to return home.

According to Slamet, by yesterday 3,000 pedicabs had returned to the city.

Following Sutiyoso's order for the immediate crackdown on the pedicabs, many drivers and owners rushed their vehicles to Tangerang, the nearest town to the west.

According to the head of the Tangerang public order agency, Prana Sigit, the town, home to many export-oriented factories and industries, is now hosting an additional 10,000 pedicabs.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Sigit insisted pedicabs were free to operate in any part, including major thoroughfares, of Tangerang. (ind/bsr)