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Be patient: Jakarta sidewalk revamp testing time for pedestrians
In a city where pedestrians are second-class citizens and even harassed by motorcyclists on the sidewalks during peak hours, demolishing their only space to walk, albeit temporary, exposes them to danger by forcing them to walk among the vehicles.
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Workers revamp a sidewalk in the Kemang area of South Jakarta on July 3. (Antara/Indrianto Eko)
W
ithout neglecting the fact that the extensive renovation of sidewalks in Jakarta is aimed at providing more and safer space for pedestrians, questions have been raised as to where people should walk while the construction is underway.
In a city where pedestrians are second-class citizens and even harassed by motorcyclists on the sidewalks during peak hours, demolishing their only space to walk, albeit temporary, exposes them to danger by forcing them to walk among the vehicles.
The Jakarta administration is revamping sidewalks on several major roads, including Jl. Cikini Raya in Senen, Central Jakarta, where work is taking place on both sides of the road.
One of many pedestrians affected is Rahmat Hidayat, who works in a building located near the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural center.
Every working day, Rahmat takes a commuter train from Depok in West Java to the Cikini train station. He said that walking between the train station and his office was challenging since the sidewalk renovation began.
“During rush hour in the evening, the road gets congested with traffic and street vendors erecting tents for their business. Adding to that, we also ‘enjoy’ the dust from the construction and air pollution from the vehicles,” he lamented recently.
“But I suppose I just have to be patient, because after this, my daily commute between my office and the station will be more comfortable,” the 33-year-old added.
