Viral Video Shows Children Blocking Motorbikes on Jakarta Footpath

A video showing a group of children blocking motorcyclists from using a footpath on Jalan Daan Mogot in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, has gone viral on social media. In the footage, the children are seen brandishing tree branches to force riders to turn back onto the main road, while some motorcyclists attempt to push through the makeshift barrier. The footpath near a traffic light is frequently used as a shortcut by riders seeking to avoid congestion.

Responding to the incident, Cengkareng Police Traffic Unit Head AKP Yeni stated that officers routinely monitor the location, but motorcyclists often only obey the rules when police are present. “We often conduct surveillance there. But when we are on site, they suddenly stop using the footpath. It is like a cat-and-mouse game,” Yeni said. He confirmed that his unit will submit a proposal to the DKI Jakarta Highways Department and coordinate with the Transportation Agency to install permanent barriers to prevent vehicles from accessing the pavement. He stressed that footpaths are exclusively for pedestrians and that motorcyclists riding on them not only violate regulations but also endanger public safety.

Yeni also cautioned the children about the dangers of playing football on the footpath, which is located beside a busy arterial road, reminding them that the space is designated for pedestrians. He urged all road users to comply with traffic regulations and refrain from using pavements as alternative routes, even during traffic jams, emphasising that safety must be the top priority. A similar incident involving children confronting motorcyclists on the same road went viral in May, prompting Jakarta’s Head of Transportation, Syafrin Liputo, to remind the public that pavements are the right of pedestrians and disabled people.