Traffic Gridlock. Jakarta, Indonesia

A photo cannot convey the unpleasant noise and pollution that such a clutch of private vehicles creates.

In a city where gas costs less than $.50cents (US) a litre and the 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 with a growing awareness that Jakarta must find solutions to crippling traffic congestion that leaves much of the city at gridlock during peak hours and the related problems of noise and cronic air pollution that negatively impact the lives of its citizens.

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 in a time of record prices. This change will result in price increases for Indonesia's oil dependant 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 the use of the newly implemented prioritised bus lanes will be no easy task despite the obvious economic, environmental and public health benefits that can be gained.

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 growing awareness of the benefits of cycling 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 has faced massive political resistance and the cities fleet of cycle rickshaws saw their livelhoods destroyed in the wake of legislation banning them from the capitals streets.