I

n response to the positive reaction from the public, the Jakarta administration has designated more car-free days each month at more streets across the capital.

In the new plan, the city will close off adjoining main thoroughfares Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday and will close a number of streets in each municipality once a month.

Previously, the city only closed off the two main thoroughfares twice a month and had a rotating schedule for the closure of municipal streets.

“We have received very positive comments from Jakarta residents in relation to the Car-free day program,” Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said Thursday.

The program was launched in 2007 on the two main thoroughfares. It aimed to reduce gas emissions and provide open spaces to facilitate city residents to interact with each other on weekends.

City bylaws on air pollution control stipulates that each of Jakarta’s five municipalities hold its own car-free day once a month.

Car-free day areas were expanded in 2008, including to other streets in municipalities and the Kota Tua area, with traffic blocked from Jl. Tongkol, Jl. Cengkeh, Jl. Kali Besar Timur, Jl. Pintu Besar Utara and Jl. Pos Kota.

The city claimed the car-free day program to be effective in reducing air pollution in Jakarta, citing that the amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) had significantly decreased in car-free day areas during the program.

Fauzi said that he had ordered the City Transportation Agency to provide clear traffic signs and alternative routes for private vehicles during car-free days.

Besides the weekly private vehicle ban on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, car-free day will also be held once a month on Jl. Pemuda in East Jakarta, Jl. Danau Sunter Selatan in North Jakarta, Jl. Letjen. Suprapto in North Jakarta, Jl. Sisingamangaraja in South Jakarta, and the Kota Tua area in Taman Sari in West Jakarta.

Transportation Agency chief Udar Pristono said that during car-free day, private vehicles would only be allowed to pass on slow-speed lanes stretching between Semanggi and Karet on Jl. Sudirman.

“The rest of the thoroughfare is off-limits for private vehicles every Sunday,” Udar said.

The car-free lanes were further divided into bicycle areas on left-hand lanes and non-bicycle areas for the right-hand side lanes, he added.

The agency has also set alternative routes for motorists during car-free day on Jl. Sudirman and
Jl. Thamrin.

Motorists going from South to North (from Blok M to Harmoni) are advised to go through Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda, Jl. Pakubuwono, Jl. Asia Afrika, Jl. Gerbang Pemuda, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Sudirman (slow-speed lane), Jl. Bendungan Hilir, Jl. Karet Pasar Baru Barat, Jl. KH Mas Mansyur, Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. Majapahit and the like.

Another alternative for South–North traffic is to go through Jl. Panglima Polim, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Jl. Trunojoyo, Jl. Senopati, Jl. Kapten Tendean, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto, Jl. Menteng Raya, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur and so on.

Traffic going from North to South (Harmoni to Blok M) is advised to go through Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. KH Mas Mansyur, Jl. Karet Pasar Baru Barat, Jl. Penjernihan, Jl. Tentara Pelajar, Jl. Teuku Nyak Arief, Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda and the like.

The alternative route for South-bound traffic is through Jl. Lapangan Banteng, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, Jl. Menteng Raya, Jl. Sam Ratulangi, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto, Jl HR Rasuna Said, Jl. Kapten Tendean, Jl. Walter Monginsidi, Jl. Trunojoyo and so on.