Jakarta Cyclists Beat Gridlock and Rising Fuel Prices

In a city where gas costs less than $.50cents (US) a litre and streets are typically fourteen lane highways crammed with cars, SUV's and motorcycles the mission of a group like Jakarta's biking commuter lobby 'Bike to Work' seems almost an impossible one.

However there is a growing acknowledgment that Jakarta must find solutions to crippling traffic congestion that leaves much of the city at gridlock during peak hours and causes related environmental problems of noise and cronic air pollution.

Compounding the need for a change of transport direction is the government reducing its domestic energy subsidies from Rs 265.6 trillion as it moves to supply more profitable export markets with oil during a time of record prices.  This will result in price increases for Indonesia's oil consumers, many of whom exist on extremely low incomes.

Encouraging a city that consumes at least 6 million kilolitres of fuel annually and contributes a leading share of Asia's harmful transport originated climate change emissions to transit to low-carbon alternatives such as cycling or use of the newly implemented prioritised bus lanes will be no easy task despite the obvious economic, environmental and public health benefits.

Presently 'Bike to Work' counts just 4000 members in a mega-city of 12 million inhabitants who regularly cycle short distance journeys.  The hope is that rising fuel costs and raising awareness through events such as the forthcoming city fun ride, part of Jakarta Sport Festival will encourage more to join the movement.

Realistically greater numbers of cyclists can be expected only by providing designated routes across key areas of the city free from the physical danger, air and noise of the congested roadways. 

However getting backing for such schemes may not prove easy given the influence of a powerful automotive and oil lobby in a political landscape rife with corruption. 

TransJakarta, the cities pioneering prioritised mass transit bus network continues to face massive political resistance despite the initial implementation of the scheme proving to be a popular success.  

The cities fleet of cycle rickshaws saw their livelyhoods destroyed in the wake of legislation banning them from operating the capitals streets accused by the motoring lobby of obstructing the highways and endangering motorists.

Bike to Work - Jakarta

b2w-indonesia.or.id

+62 (21) 912 66 555

[ this is an original article : copy-left applies which means you are free to copy, reprint, edit and distribute this writing and the accompanying photos in the interests of furthering the possibility of a future where low-carbon, low-pollution forms of efficient mass transport prevail  ]