When getting from A to B is no walk in the park

Winda A. Charmila
The Jakarta Post

Jakarta / Fri, July 14, 2017 / 07:30 am

There is one reason why there are millions of motorbikes in the capital; in downtown Jakarta, it is almost impossible to travel by foot — even for short distances — with so many things standing in the way of pedestrians. Wilson Christopher, 24, a native of Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, is one of millions of Jakartans who rides his motorbike to get from one point to another. In fact, Wilson said he found walking unsafe and uncomfortable. “Some roads only have poorly-maintained sidewalks for pedestrians. They are narrow and occupied by street vendors. Some are severely damaged and have construction work that could cause people to trip,” Wilson told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. On the rare occasion he decides to walk, Wilson said he steps onto the road, which could be dangerous due to traffic. The hot and humid conditions in the city further dissuade Jaka...