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