On a Jakarta overpass, lovers tryst while others stargaze

Of all the rendezvous places available in the city, overpasses are one of the favorites among young Jakartans from the lower- and middle-income brackets.

One of them is Pasar Rebo overpass in East Jakarta that, if it could talk, would have many tales to tell — be it of love or desperation.

While lovebirds consider the 20-meter high overpass an ideal dating venue, food and beverage sellers count on this place to earn money and parents take their children there for “fresh air”.

It also attracts others in different mind frames. In October, a teenager who was depressed after losing his tuition fees attempted to end his life by jumping off the overpass during busy traffic. His fall was miraculously broken by a bus moving slowly beneath the overpass. His arms were broken and his face was bruised, but he survived.

Every evening, couples on motorcycles pull over to the left and right sides of the bridge, spend one or two hours watching the sunset, the city lights or the busy traffic at the Pasar Rebo intersection below. Their numbers may notably increase on weekends and special days like Valentine’s Day.

For these “overpassers”, a parking space is all they need. If they need anything else — a cold drink, a slice of fresh watermelon or some fritters — dozens of sellers are available right there.

The city administration has warned people not to occupy the sides of overpasses for safety reasons, but to no avail.

“Don’t worry about the warnings. No officials or public order officers would raid the overpass anyway,” Paino, a beverage seller on the overpass told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. “It is a safe place to date.”

Paino, who has sold drinks on the overpass for two years, said he had seen many romances blossom.

“Sometimes a man will take off his jacket and let his date wear it,” he said. “They kiss each other too. But you can only see people kissing late at night when the road is less crowded.”

Fruit salad seller Muhammad Karim said lovers’ spats were bad for business. “It creates an uneasy situation for others. People hesitate to pull over when they know there is a fight. It can affect my income.”

Anita and Romi, a couple who regularly spend time at night on the overpass, said the attention the place had received had its advantages.

“With dozens of motorists passing through anytime, people behave themselves,” she said. “It is a better option than a dark corner in a park.”

Anita, who lives in Pinang Ranti, a few kilometers from the overpass, enjoys the atmosphere at the overpass. “Sometimes the noisy horns create a nice rhythm for my ears. It’s relaxing,” she said.

Joining in was Muhammad Irham and his son. “When it is not so cold outside, I love taking my son here. Various cars always fascinate kids,” he said.

Irham acknowledged that the overpass was lacking in safety features, but said that the people living in the area did not have many choices.

“There are several small city parks near this area. But they are not comfortable. We love fresh air,” he said.

Fanny Fajariyanti, a resident of Pasar Rebo who frequently travels over the overpass, said she first noticed the phenomenon three years ago and was amazed at how so many people just sat on their motorcycles and enjoyed the city’s skyline. “I can understand why they do that. We don’t have many places to go to for simple leisure time.”

The head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Udar Pristono, said the overpass was unsafe for leisure, no matter the reasons people were drawn to it.

“We understand the need for public space, but the overpass cannot accommodate this,” he said. “The overpass is not designed to hold many stationary loads. It is designed as a place to pass through.” (lfr)