T

he city administration has denied a proposal for establishing special bicycle lanes, even though the City Council had included the plan in the city’s 2010-2030 spatial planning draft.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said Friday that the administration did not see sufficient reason to provide special lanes for bicyclists.

“It’s possible for some parts of the city, but not all over the city. There aren’t enough people using bicycles,” he said, adding that it was more important to focus on providing public transportation, which would affect a larger proportion of the population.

Transportation experts and urban green advocates have renewed calls for building bicycle lanes throughout Jakarta, citing an increasing number of cyclists in the capital.

Bike To Work (B2W) co-founder Toto Sugito told The Jakarta Post Friday that the governor’s argument was based on a fallacy.

“If he’s saying there aren’t enough bicyclists for the city to provide special lanes, then he is using false logic. If the city wants more bicyclists, then the city should encourage more people by providing bicycle lanes,” he said.

Toto said that bicycles not only provide an alternative solution to public transportation, but also a cleaner and more environmentally-friendly means of commuting.

Established in 2004, B2W has successfully persuaded more than 6,000 residents in Greater Jakarta to leave their motor vehicles at home and cycle to their offices. More than 12,000 people across Indonesia have officially joined the B2W community.

The South Jakarta administration announced last year that it would establish a bicycle lane in a planned pilot project. The Jakarta Police have also announced plans to help the administration conduct feasibility studies for bicycle lanes and assist in resolving technical issues.

In another development, to help reduce severe traffic jams caused by the current construction of two elevated roads, the Jakarta administration is directing traffic to alternative routes in South and Central Jakarta.

Residents and critics have blasted the administration for the ongoing construction which will connect Jl. Pangeran Antasari and Blok M in South Jakarta and Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta to Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta. Many complain that the developments will worsen already horrendous traffic.

Jakarta Public Works Agency bridge division chief Novizal said the agency has coordinated with the City Police to direct traffic to alternative routes.

“We have also put up signs warning motorists to avoid roads affected by the construction,” Novizal said.

The 4.8-kilometer Antasari-Blok M elevated road will straddle Jl. Pangeran Antasari, Jl. Prapanca Raya, Jl. Sultan Iskandarsyah and Jl. Sultan Hasannudin in South Jakarta.

The Kampung Melayu-Tanah Abang road will add a 2.3-kilometer strip to the section above Jl. Casablanca and Jl. Dr. Satrio in South Jakarta and to Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur in Central Jakarta.

The administration is directing traffic around Antasari-Blok M to Jl. Brawijaya, Jl. Prapanca I, Jl. Brawijaya IV, Jl. Darmawangsa VIII, and Jl. Brawijaya Raya.

Motorists driving through Jl. Casablanca and Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio are advised to use Jl. Denpasar, Jl. Karet Pedurenan, Jl. Bendungan Hilir, Jl. Dukuh Atas, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, and Jl. Raharjo.

The Public Works Agency said the construction would foul traffic in the affected areas until September, as heavy machinery will take up several lanes while workers erect pillars for the elevated roads.

The Rp 2.2 trillion (US$244.2 million) project is expected to be completed in 2012.

Governor Fauzi Bowo asked citizens to be patient with the construction. “Many are not willing to be selfless and instead look to fulfill their own needs. The elevated roads are built for the public,” he said, adding that a lack of road discipline was one of the main factors causing congestion.

The Jakarta Transportation Agency claimed the elevated roads would improve the city’s “road ratio” — the number of vehicles to the length of available road — and could cut traffic congestion by 30 percent.

Critics, however, have blasted the elevated road plan, saying that it would only encourage the use of private vehicles and that the city should spend its money on additional public transportation.