'Sidewalks very disappointing'
'Sidewalks very disappointing'
The city administration plans to make Jl. Thamrin in Central
Jakarta pedestrian-friendly, and has said it will expand the plan
to include Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta. The Jakarta Post spoke
to some people about the idea.
Bowo, early thirties, is a supervisor at a construction
company in Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, who walks about one
kilometer to work on most days:
I find that sidewalks in Jakarta are generally very
disappointing.
The sidewalks, which are already not spacious enough, are
obstructed by street vendors.
Moreover, gutters sometimes block the sidewalks. I think it
would be better for the city administration to cover the gutters
with metal frames, so people could walk on them.
I also hope the city administration sets a minimum width for
sidewalks so people can walk more comfortably.
I can tolerate the presence of street vendors on sidewalks but
their numbers have to be restricted so they don't make the
pedestrians feel uncomfortable.
Fortunately, about one month ago, a private developer widened
the sidewalk near my workplace, from less than two meters to
about three meters. So now I can walk to and from work more
comfortably.
I think it would be good if the owners of buildings on Jl.
Thamrin were willing to give up some of their space for public
interests.
Nuning, 27, is a freelance writer who lives in Karet, near Jl.
Sudirman in Central Jakarta. She takes public transportation and
walks about two kilometers a day.
I feel that in Jakarta, pedestrians are forced to give in to
motorcyclists. Sometimes, if the streets are congested,
motorcyclists violate the law by driving on the sidewalks.
My friend was walking on a sidewalk once when a motorcycle
that was driving on the sidewalk grazed him. He got in a fight
with the motorcyclist, who didn't feel he had done anything wrong
because he was a soldier.
I often walk on Jl. Sudirman and use the pedestrian overpasses
that cross the street. They are always crowded with pedestrians
and street vendors. In many spots the effective width of the
sidewalk is less than one meter. If three people walk side by
side at the same time, they will certainly brush up against each
other.
Once, when I was walking on a pedestrian overpass that was
packed with people and vendors, two pickpockets tried to steal my
wallet from my bag. Fortunately, I felt them so they left me
alone.
I agree with the administration's plan to widen the sidewalks
along busy streets in Jakarta. I think it would be nice if
buildings were arranged like the Danamon building on Jl.
Sudirman, which provides public space, water fountains and small
benches. I sometimes sit there, watching the fountains. It's like
having a city park there.
I think pedestrians like me need benches -- it's OK if they
are just plain benches -- so we can take a break from walking.
Trees and public telephones along the sidewalks also would be
nice.
Dedi, 30, owns an architectural firm in Kemang, South Jakarta. He
takes public transportation and occasionally has to walk.
I once walked from Sarinah on Jl. Thamrin to Plaza Indonesia,
near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. The sidewalks were not
flat because the ground had buckled in places, and the sidewalks
were interrupted by driveway entrances to buildings.
So I had to walk up and down and it made me uncomfortable.
When I was in Singapore I felt comfortable walking because the
sidewalks are flat.
Around my office in Kemang, most of the streets do not even
have sidewalks. So I have to walk along the side of the road and
sometimes public buses blow their horns for me to get out of the
way.
I support the administration's attempt to widen the sidewalks
in Jakarta. I find that the Danamon building on Jl. Sudirman,
which provides public space, is a good example. Unfortunately,
street vendors misuse the space.
It would be nice if all the buildings provided space for the
public.
Because Jakarta has a tropical climate, it would also be nice
to plant trees along the sidewalks to make pedestrians more
comfortable. Evi Mariani