City shortens Car-Free Day amid safety concern

Fri, 04/24/2009 12:54 PM  |  City

Following the deadly accident on Jl. Letjen Suprapto last week, the city administration has decided to reduce the hours dedicated to Car-Free Day, starting this Sunday.

City Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) head Peni Susanti said the monthly event would now run from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m rather than from 6. a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We will also ask for more traffic police to be deployed to ensure safety during the event," Peni told reporters Thursday.

On last week's Car-Free Day, 5-year-old Hari Ardiansyah died on Jl Letjen. Soeprapto, Central Jakarta, after a speeding Mayasari Bakti bus hit him while he was crossing the road to chase his ball.

Peni said earlier her board would also improve the event's standard procedures, by placing more lane dividers and road markers for operating public buses.

Peni said the event was shortened to take on board the results from a BPLHD review of the event.

"Our survey concludes most Jakartans prefer shorter hours *for the Car-Free Day event*," she said, adding many motorists complained they had to look for alternative roads, as more roads were closed for motorized vehicles during the event.

The administration introduced the program for the first time in September 2007, coinciding with the International Car-Free Day, which falls on Sept. 22. Car-Free Day was then made into a monthly event on city thoroughfares, including Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin.

The event has recently expanded to other roads, including Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta and Jl. Letjen Suprapto.

Another official with the BPLHD, Joni Tagor Harahap, said the program often led to gridlocks in other roads not included in the event.

"Jakartans are still not ready to put up with eight hours without driving their cars," Joni said.

The agency claimed the program had eased air pollution in the city.

The BPLHD 2008 data shows dust particles in the air on Car-Free Day fell by 34 percent on average, carbon monoxide by 67 percent and nitrogen oxide by 80 percent. (JP/dis)

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Jim S (not verified) — Sat, 04/25/2009 - 9:17am

I lived in Korea in the 90's and they had a few car free days in Seoul. The difference from what Jakarta does is that in Seoul, and other countries that do the car free day, they really have a car free day. They don't allow ANY private cars in the city. They only allow public transportation such as buses, taxi's, and emergency vehicles. It just doesn't make sense to just close a couple streets and call it a car free day.

Nevets (not verified) — Fri, 04/24/2009 - 3:47pm

Reducing the hours is as good as admitting it's a failure. I don't know why this car free day is still running. I'm sure the "data" that shows improved air quality is taken from the empty streets, whereas all the other clogged side streets would show drastically reduced air quality.

Anyone who has taken a drive around Central Jakarta during car free day will know that it's a complete waste. There are huge traffic jams at time where there would normally be smooth driving conditions. This means cars are on the road much longer than they should be, and this means more pollution, energy consumption, frustration and accidents. The fatality last week is proof.

Why doesn't the government do something useful about air quality. Can I suggest they put more effort into enforcing the smoking ban and vehicle emissions limits (especially for buses). That would be a wonderful positive impact instead of the traffic jams you are causing.

Wake up, open your eyes, and look at the damage you are doing!!

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