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Jakarta Post

Reaching critical mass in Denpasar

Journeying: A lone bike rider enjoys a sunset ride in Bali (photo above)

Agnes Winarti (The Jakarta Post)
Denpasar
Thu, March 1, 2012

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Reaching critical mass in Denpasar

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span class="inline inline-left">Journeying: A lone bike rider enjoys a sunset ride in Bali (photo above). Indonesia Critical Mass 2012 took over Denpasar’s streets one Friday evening(photo right). JP/Agung ParameswaraIt was 8 p.m. Friday night and the traffic of motorcycles and cars in the streets of Denpasar was as busy as ever.

Hundreds of cyclists hit the road, hoping to make themselves heard and seen while fighting for space and tolerance in the already jammed streets.

Around 200 cyclists from dozens of Denpasar-based cycling communities gathered at the Bajra Sandhi monument in Puputan Margarana square in South Denpasar, where the event began and ended. Gearing up on their various bicycles — onthel (classic Dutch bikes), mountain bikes, fixed-gear bikes popularly known as fixies, and folding bikes – these bicycle enthusiasts pedalled for the 2012 Indonesia Critical Mass.

The event organizers’ Twitter account, @ID_Fixed, tweeted that on Friday night the rides were simultaneously performed in 26 cities, including Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, Gorontalo, Palu, Medan, Aceh and Samarinda.

The Indonesia Critical Mass event, with the motto “We are the traffic, not blocking the traffic”, serves as the nationwide cycling community’s plea for better public transportation in the country, while offering bicycles as an alternative to the worsening problems of traffic and pollution.

“Just like the origin of the critical mass bike ride in San Francisco in 1992, we now also hope to develop a better sense of belonging and togetherness on the streets among all users from cars and motorbikes to bicycles and pedestrians. A critical mass is also about showing off our forces, claiming that we too own the space,” fixed-geared biker Marlowe Bandem of the Psyclo Bali bike community and one of the Critical Mass organizers told The Jakarta Post before the ride.

For the past five years or so, the city of Denpasar has boasted the growth of cycling communities, with more than 50 currently actively promoting bicycling. They have also been quite progressive in raising the culture of cycling among residents by implementing a Car Free Day every Sunday in the Renon square area since 2009, and providing 17 kilometers of bicycle lanes in the Renon and Sanur Beach areas. Nonetheless, more concrete efforts need to be done in order to ensure that bike culture progresses.  

Earlier this year, a cycling enthusiast died after being struck by a motorist going the wrong direction on the street. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet.

“Among all street users, there’s still a lack of respect in adhering to traffic rules. Although cycling is good for the environment we must remember not to become arrogant and behave however we like,” Marlowe said.  

Unfortunately, among the hundreds of cyclists riding along the approximately 14 kilometers from Bajra Sandhi to the Sanur
bypass and back to Bajra Sandhi, some did not have safety-first principles in mind. Some didn’t wear helmets and others moved back and forth from sidewalk to street, which can harm others in traffic and the cyclists themselves.

Trendy: Fixed-gear bicycles are a method of transportation and a fashion statement. JP/Agung Parameswara
Trendy: Fixed-gear bicycles are a method of transportation and a fashion statement. JP/Agung Parameswara“In terms of numbers of participants, this event is quite good. But safey concerns are still lacking and traffic-wise we did still block the streets. This is the homework for our cycling communities. If we want to be respected in the streets, we must respect others,” Denpasar-based SAMAS (Sekretariat Bersama Sepeda) secretary Endra Datta told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Endra said SAMAS this year aims to introduce a Bike to School program among junior high school students in Denpasar, most of whom already drive their own motorbikes despite not having driver’s licenses because they are still underage. “When junior high schoolers bike to school they will develop a sense of empathy and tolerance toward fellow cyclists if they switch to driving motorbikes when they get older,” said Endra, whose organization plans to begin with Bike to School programs at two junior high schools in Denpasar.

Full commitment among stakeholders, which includes bike communities, the city administration and society in general, is a must, Endra added. He hopes that this year the administration prioritizes the creation of more bicycle lanes that pass schools so that the Bike to School program can become a success.

“Building a cycling culture can’t be the responsibility of bike communities alone. We need the government to be consistent in enforcing real action. People will follow what the leaders do,” Endra said, adding that he regretted the already dysfunctional Cycling Friday program among state officials launched by the Denpasar mayor some time ago.

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