Along the roadside leading to Pasar Rumput Market in Manggarai, South Jakarta, which is now being rebuilt, are laid out hundreds of used bicycles for sale.

For years, people from Greater Jakarta and beyond have been attracted to the market by the quality and low prices.

Thanks to the vendors, the area has remained vibrant despite the recent demolition of the market building.

Many may question whether it is legal for the vendors to occupy pedestrian space to run their businesses but the area has been renowned as the place to go for those on a tight budget wanting to buy quality bicycles.

For only Rp 500,000 (US$38.50), buyers can snap up a second-hand bicycle that is as good as new.

A 55 year-old vendor, Nurdin, said quality control was essential. He said he always checked the condition of used bicycles when he first got them before selling them on.

“I do a quality check of the bicycles’ components such as handlebars and brakes before putting them on the market. If any of the components are broken, I have to fix them first,” he said on Thursday.

Nurdin explained that the prices of bicycles he sold varied depending on the bicycle’s size and brand. “The better the brand, the higher the price,” he said, adding that he sold small bicycles for Rp 200,000 to Rp 500,000, while bigger ones sold for between Rp 500,000 and Rp 1.5 million.

Another vendor, Agus, 63, said he could sell both large and small bicycles from Rp 200,000 to Rp 500,000.

The low prices and the good quality of bicycles sold in the market have even attracted customers from outside Java.

“One of my costumers lives in Kalimantan. When he came to Jakarta, he visited this market and bought one of my bikes. He then asked me to pack the bike and send it to Kalimantan,” said Sanif, a 60 year-old vendor from Cisalak, Depok, West Java.

A buyer, Ading, 35, said he came all the way from Pondok Bambu in East Jakarta to buy a bicycle as a birthday gift for his son who had just turned two years old.

He chose to purchase the bike in Pasar Rumput because of its reputation as a place to buy cheap bicycles.

“As you can see, I just bought this new-looking bicycle for only Rp 200,000,” Ading said, adding that he also bought his own bicycle in the market years ago.

All three vendors said that many people would come to buy bicycles during the fasting month of Ramadhan, Independence Day and the start of new school years.

“At the start of the new school year, many parents will come here to buy their children bicycles for them to go to school,” one of the vendors told The Jakarta Post.

He added he could sell up to 10 bicycles a day during the first days of the academic year.

And it is not only bicycles, used wheelchairs are also sold for around Rp 800,000 to Rp 1 million in the market.

The city administration plans to rebuild Pasar Rumput Market and develop an apartment building in the same location.

Pasar Rumput vendors are currently relocated to temporary shelters near the demolished building. They have been there for about two weeks. (vny)

Popular

Growing discontent with policymaking keeps students on streets

Protest works

Dollar firms as cracks emerge in peace deal, shipping through Hormuz drops sharply