Neck and neck: Jakarta teenagers gather for a recent late-night motorcycle race. (kompas.com/Taufiqurrahman)

The Jakarta Police, in cooperation with the city administration and the Indonesian Motorcycle Association (IMI), has agreed to organize motorcycle races to accommodate teenagers, who frequently hold illegal races on the city'€™s streets, especially at weekends.

'€œWe will try to accommodate such activities committed by teenagers,'€ Jakarta Police traffic division chief Sr. Comr. Risyapudin said on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.

Risyapudin said that the police, the city administration and the IMI would discuss a number of issues, including the formation of an institution to organize events for young motorcycle enthusiasts.

The first official race, he added, was expected to be implemented in February, with the race track to remain those streets currently popular as illegal drag-strips.

The initial roads that would be used as venues, Risyapudin explained, included Jl. Benyamin Sueb in Kemayoran in Central Jakarta, Jl. Asia Afrika in Senayan, also in Central Jakarta, and Jl. TMII in East Jakarta.

Other roads would be considered as future race tracks, he went on, as long as their condition did not pose a danger to racers, with no holes, no sheer bends and smooth asphalt surfaces. The IMI and Bina Marga (Roads) Agency would survey roads before agreeing for them to be used as race tracks, he said.

The City Police would also be on hand during events to monitor safety and direct traffic, he added. (bbn)(+)

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