Sidewalk obstacle course keeps us on our toes

Sidewalk obstacle course keeps us on our toes

A walk on the streets of Jakarta can be compared to the tough
journey of life: There are inevitable ups and downs, and you
stumble and fall sometimes.

When luck is on our side, a smoother path lies ahead. At times
like these, we get to walk a few hundred meters on a well-
designed sidewalk that is wide and even, with no pesky potholes
or unexpected obstacles in the way.

For a few moments, we imagine we are on a smooth Singapore
sidewalk, walking along without having to worry about the
possibility of having to dodge a motorcycle careening along the
sidewalk.

Most of the time, however, there is no sidewalk to speak of,
and pedestrians must take their chances by stepping into the
street. And if there are sidewalks, we must gingerly maneuver
around all the street vendors who have set up shop.

My Australian housemate told me once that he did not like
being forced onto the street because of the vendors.

But what he hates most of all are the other mysterious
stumbling blocks, like a stunted piece of metal spiraling out of
the sidewalk.

"At least I know the street vendors are earning their living,
so I can tolerate their being there. But the surprising obstacles
are really annoying," he said.

Once when two friends and I took a walk on the sidewalk near
Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta, we encountered a cement
stump in our way. Had we not been paying attention, we would have
tripped and fallen on our faces.

Later, we spared a few minutes contemplating the function of
the inexplicable object. We concluded that the thing was there
merely to keep inattentive pedestrians on their toes.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I walked along the sidewalk on
Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio, South Jakarta. We succumbed to some dark
humor when we encountered a series of newly planted trees
overhanging the sidewalk.

"When will these trees grow tall enough for people to be able
to pass comfortably," one of us said as we stooped on by. We did
not know, but it would certainly take several years, and a few
visits to a chiropractor for regular passersby.

What were they thinking when they planted these trees? Who was
behind it? Apparently, it was people who have never walked the
city's streets.

Most development policy-makers in Jakarta either use their own
car or an official vehicle. I have never heard of city hall
officials or city councillors who regularly take public
transportation, let alone walk.

I pondered this after I rode on the comfortable TransJakarta
Busway to Masjid Agung bus stop in South Jakarta.

Once I alighted, I walked happily on the crossing bridge,
refreshed from the cool, secure ride on the air-conditioned bus.

But as soon as I reached the end of the crossing bridge, and
stepped on to the sidewalk, the feeling vanished, and was
replaced by anger.

The crossing bridge has consumed all the space of the
sidewalk, and I had to step down onto the street for a few
meters. To add insult to injury, an insensitive driver in a
passing car honked at me to get out of the way.

Dear Governor Sutiyoso, what was on your mind when you
examined the busway master plan? Clearly, the powers that be did
not experience for themselves the major and minor irritants of
their grand design for the city.

Although I am glad to hear that the city administration is
planning to make Jl. M.H. Thamrin more pedestrian friendly, my
experience has left me plagued by doubt.

For if the city officials do not walk themselves, how will
they know what pedestrians need?

I have changed my mind. No, walking in Jakarta is not like
walking the journey of life. In the latter, we believe that God
tested us for a reason. Yes, we stumble and fall, but there is a
reward waiting for the courageous at the end of the challenge.

But when it comes to walking on a Jakarta sidewalk, your only
"reward" is likely to be a grazed knee and bruised ego.

-- Evi Mariani