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Local children rally in support of ‘becak’
Pedal power: Children wearing traditional uniforms ride in becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, on Friday to celebrate Kartini Day
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Pedal power: Children wearing traditional uniforms ride in becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, on Friday to celebrate Kartini Day. Posters attached to the becak call on Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to stop cracking down on the emission-free vehicles as they are helpful for short-distance travel.(JP/Fac)
Eighty-six children rode 27 becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) on a parade in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, on Friday.
Sporting various traditional outfits and military uniforms, the children sang the anthem “Ibu Kita Kartini” as they rode.
The march was held to celebrate the 137th anniversary of feminist heroine Kartini, which falls every April 21.
In the spirit of the feminist heroine, the children urged the Jakarta administration to stop confiscating becak, which they lauded as a helpful means of transportation for short-distance travel.
Attached to the front of the pedicabs were banners reading “Stop confiscating becak”, “The poor need to eat too” and “Don’t dream of winning the election, Pak Ahok” aimed at Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
Six-year-old Muhammad Juan Subandi, who took part in the convoy, said that traveling by becak was a richer experience than using other modes of transportation.
“I can’t sing on a motorcycle,” the boy noted.
Siti Marfuah, 28, a denizen of Muara Baru, said she would miss becak if they were all confiscated. Siti regularly uses pedicabs to go shopping at the market, as they are able to carry large bundles of vegetables and are also able to traverse the narrow alleys of her neighborhood.
Despite being aware of the ban on becak, Siti also often takes them to go shopping for clothes at Tanah Pasir in North Jakarta.
Becak driver Tasa, 76, said that he was a construction worker before switching jobs to the transportation business eight years ago. Given his old age, he said, it was impossible to find work in the physically demanding field of construction work.
Earning fares of between Rp 40,000 (US$3.03) and Rp 60,000 daily, Tasa makes enough to cover his daily needs.
Despite being appreciated by local people, becak are frequently confiscated by the city administration, following the issuance of Bylaw No. 8/2007 on public order, which stipulates that individuals and organizations are prohibited from making or selling becak and are prohibited from operating or storing becak. The emission-free vehicles are deemed to exacerbate the capital’s traffic problem, despite not operating on main thoroughfares.
Another becak driver, Wahyu, said that confiscations by the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) were excessive and often violent.
“We were told not to operate on main roads — we agreed. But even when our becak are parked in front of our houses, they still get cracked down on,” he said.
Ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver Untung Sudaryono meanwhile called for the bylaw to be revoked and for becak to be allowed to operate once more.
“We have different customers. I usually pick up passengers who are traveling far, while becak mainly carry short-distance travelers,” he said.
However, Ahok said in February that he would not revise the bylaw and advised drivers to seek alternative work. (fac)
