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Down these mean streets ' and even meaner sidewalks
JP / Ricky YudhistiraThe Jakarta Post takes a look at the problems facing pedestrians and how the Jakarta government is responding, with articles prepared by Agnes Anya, Alin Almanar, Farida Susanty, Indra Mauraga, Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Prima Wirayani, Safrin La Batu and Stefani Ribka
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JP / Ricky Yudhistira
The Jakarta Post takes a look at the problems facing pedestrians and how the Jakarta government is responding, with articles prepared by Agnes Anya, Alin Almanar, Farida Susanty, Indra Mauraga, Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Prima Wirayani, Safrin La Batu and Stefani Ribka.
The 2015 Safe Cities Index ranked Jakarta 48 out of 50 for adequate infrastructure, citing a lack of sidewalks, especially along main roads, in the city.
'The sidewalks are good in the city center now. Jokowi has even provided benches for walkers,' says Amanda Choes, a 25-year-old dangdut singer, referring to President and former Jakarta governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. 'But the government needs to build sidewalks along the smaller roads too, not just the boulevards in the city center.'
She also complains about the encroachment of vendors.
'They are OK during events in parks like Monas [National Monument], but they take up too much walking space on the sidewalks every day,' Amanda says, adding that motorcyclists trying to avoid the congestion on the roads were also a problem.
Andy, a multimedia businessman, finds navigating sidewalks daunting. 'The sidewalks are unsafe. There are thieves ready to grab your bags, and motorcycles to dodge.'
Yusmada Faizal, the head of the Jakarta Public Works Agency, cites other problems making the capital's sidewalks dangerous places to navigate.
'It is important to reclaim the sidewalks for the sake of pedestrians,' he says.
'Right now, the sidewalks are built over water ducts and electrical and communication system conduits, so if anything malfunctions, the sidewalks get dug up and ruined,' he explained, also citing a previous policy of planting trees on sidewalks.
He envisions wider sidewalks, with the underground water and other systems relegated to the back edges of the walkways, so if repairs are needed they do not disturb foot traffic.
'We could narrow the vehicle lanes to gain the necessary space, and create more one-way streets if we have to,' he says. The ideal sidewalk width in urban areas ranges from 1.5 to 3 meters.
Abimantra Pradhana, a 31-year-old architect, sees adequate sidewalk space as a must for overall effective urban design that is supportive of business and recreational activities.
'The solution is to transform Jakarta into a city where the majority of people walk and take bicycles,' says Yoga Adiwinarto of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.
Elisa Sutanudja, an expert on urbanization, sees sidewalks as integral to the city. 'A proper sidewalk provides good accessibility and mobility, which means that it is able to accommodate pedestrians in reaching their destinations, such as connecting with bus stops or stations near their offices.'
However, according to Nirwono Joga, an urban analyst from Trisakti University, it is not enough to just develop sidewalks of adequate width.
'The sidewalks should be easy and convenient to use by pedestrians and people using wheelchairs alike,' he said, pointing out that Jakarta's sidewalks, which often span only short distances between streets and alleys, are usually higher than the recommended standard of 15 to 20 centimeters.
Nirwono said that the problems would continue unless one agency was given control of the city's sidewalks. Currently, the Public Works Agency is responsible for the development and construction of sidewalks, while the Transportation Agency covers the development and maintenance of crosswalks and overpasses.
'The government has made pedestrians their last priority. It lacks concern about the need for sidewalks,' he says. 'The government lacks the political will to come up with more pedestrian-friendly policies.'
