E

very morning on weekdays, since last year, the mother of three, who lives in Bogor, West Java, never forgets to bring along her folding bicycle onto an intercity bus that takes her from Bogor bus terminal to Lebak Bulus terminal, South Jakarta.

From Lebak Bulus, she pedals for four kilometers to an international school in Pondok Indah, also in South Jakarta, where she works as a librarian.

"Riding a bicycle makes me feel healthier and has also boosted my spirit," Sekar told The Jakarta Post Friday.

Meanwhile, Ella Serdani, 30, another cyclist, underlined the economic benefits of her latest transportation option.

The mother of two, who cycles from her house in Slipi, West Jakarta, to her office in Cipete, South Jakarta, said she used to spend at least Rp 50,000 (US$5) every day on taxis or ojek (motorcycle taxi).

"Since I began cycling, everything has changed.

"Now I spend almost nothing on transportation."

Sekar and Ella were among hundreds of B2W members who gathered Friday at the Bank Mandiri Museum, West Jakarta, to celebrate the community's fourth anniversary.

Established on Aug. 27, 2005, the B2W community has encouraged more than 5,000 residents in Greater Jakarta to leave their motor vehicles at home and cycle to their office.

As of August, more than 11,000 people across the nation have officially joined the community.

B2W chairman Toto Sugito said he was happy seeing the community had successfully inspired more and more people to make a real action in solving problems over air pollution and severe traffic jam in the city.

"Whoever the president is, or whichever parties win the elections, I am very sure that this movement will always get significant public support since air pollution and traffic jam have become a common problem for residents in big cities."

With more than 2 million cars and 3.5 million motorcycles on the city's streets everyday, Jakarta has long been at the top of the list of the world's most polluted cities, competing with Beijing and Mexico City for the dubious honor.

Every year, the city consumes at least 6 million kiloliters of fuel.

To attract more Jakartans to cycle to work, the B2W community has repeatedly asked the city administration to build more facilities for cyclists, like cycling lanes and public bicycle parking lots.

It has urged shopping malls and building operators to do the same.

Toto said he had met with several shopping malls operators earlier last week to discuss providing bicycle parking lots in the malls.

"So far, they *the malls managements* actually have no objections. We are now still discussing how to ensure the security of the bicycles."