'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