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Motorcycle ban signs taken down
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Officers take down a motorcycle ban traffic sign at Hotel Indonesian traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Jan. 10. (JP/awo)
T
he Transportation Agency began taking down signs banning motorcycles along Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat on Tuesday afternoon, following a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a petition from motorcyclists on lifting the ban.
The head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Andri Yansyah, confirmed on Wednesday that his agency would take down the signs.
“We will also take down the signs between Bundaran HI [Hotel Indonesia traffic circle] and Bundaran Senayan. We will do that gradually,” he said.
The Jakarta administration, under former governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, had planned to expand the ban from Bundaran HI to Bundaran Senayan in South Jakarta, however the regulation was later revoked following public protests.
Andi said he would first meet with the Jakarta Police’ traffic division and the Bina Marga Road Agency to determine whether motorcyclists should be permitted to drive along the thoroughfares immediately after the signs were dismantled.
Traffic division chief Sr. Comr. Halim Pagarra told The Jakarta Post that his division would follow the policy issued by the Transportation Agency.
“I haven’t heard from the agency’s head. However, if they have already taken down the signs the police will cooperate accordingly,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Halim said that besides helping to decrease traffic congestion the motorcycle ban had also helped reduce pollution. (gis)
