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Cyclists continue asking for safety protection, comfort
Cyclists attending the first Bicycle Congress of Indonesia (KSI) last weekend at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta, have shown support for authorities to improve the safety and comfort of cyclists including implementing bike lanes
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yclists attending the first Bicycle Congress of Indonesia (KSI) last weekend at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta, have shown support for authorities to improve the safety and comfort of cyclists including implementing bike lanes.
Some of the 4,000 bikers joining the congress even cycled from as far as Central Java.
For example, the 63-year-old farmer Juid from Dukuh Waru village in Tegal, Central Java. He told The Jakarta Post that he cycled for three days to reach the congress.
“I always love to gather with other cyclists to share the same love for the sport,” Juid said adding that cycling was his main form of private transportation.
The rice farmer said he cycled alone to the congress and sacrificed sleep.
He did not have enough money to join a group from his hometown, which asked Rp 150,000 (US$16) for the transportation fee.
“If I felt sleepy, I stopped at a coffee stall and drunk a cup of black coffee with salt,” he said smoking a clove cigarette.
Juid departed from his village last Wednesday and arrived about 4 a.m. last Saturday.
He said that he loved riding bicycles because it was healthy and he could meet new people.
“I hope we can organize similar activities like this in our village,” Juid said.
Eight teachers from a state vocational high school in Sumedang also cycled to Jakarta. It took about 16 hours to reach the capital.
One teacher, Ony Kaswoyo, 54, said that he loved to see cyclists gathered because they were sociable because had things in common.
“I met some people in the previous cyclists meeting, they know each other well. I think we should hold more events like this in the future,” Ony said.
He said that he liked cycling in Jakarta, however, he said the city should have a bike lane.
“It is difficult for us to cycle in the lanes used by buses and other vehicles,” he said.
Another teacher, K.H. Sarbini, 43, encountered a challenge when his group began cycling to Jakarta.
“We were lost late at night in the middle of nowhere.
“We lost our way, so we decided to take a break,” he said.
However, he said that he would join another event in the future.
As part of the event, the KSI declared Saturday a new committee called the Indonesian Bicycle Committee with South Jakarta Mayor Syahrul Effendi acting as its chairman.
“The committee will be the voice of the cycling communities to the government.
“We will keep making recommendations to improve the safety and comfort of cyclists,” Syahrul said. (not)
