The "Invisible" Ecosystem at Stations: Motorcycle Parking Fuels Warung Kopi to Workshops

DEPOK, KOMPAS.com – Warung kopi (warkop) is also feeling the economic impact from the growth of the motorcycle parking ecosystem around commuter halts and stations.

This phenomenon is evident at several transport hubs, from Depok Baru Station to the Tebet and Cikoko Timur areas in South Jakarta.

At these locations, informal motorcycle parking services are developing rapidly in line with the increasing daily commuter flow.

Amid the tightly packed motorcycles, small-scale economic activities are also flourishing.

Warung kopi, cigarette sellers, small workshops, and tyre inflation services have become part of the ecosystem that supports the mobility of public transport users.

Near Depok Baru Station, Sofyan (47) says he directly feels the impact of the increased parking activities around the station.

Sofyan says that customers at his warung kopi do not only come in the morning, but also in the afternoon and evening when workers return from Jakarta.

“Afternoons or evenings after work are the same; they stop by first, sometimes for coffee or to buy cigarettes. So it’s not just the parking that’s running, but the small-scale economy around it is also turning,” he said.

He mentions that the relationship between the warung kopi and the parking attendants is mutually beneficial. Parking attendants often help direct customers to the warung.

A similar situation is occurring in the Tebet area, particularly Cikoko Timur in South Jakarta, which is one of the dense access points to public transport.

Santi (52) says that activities in her area even run almost non-stop.

“In Cikoko Timur, it’s even more noticeable. Because many people leave their motorcycles overnight, so there’s activity 24 hours,” said Santi.

According to her, the presence of motorcycle parking services has made her warung business more stable compared to before this ecosystem formed.