Renovation work is under way on a sidewalk in West Sunter, North Jakarta, on Wednesday (27/9). Safe and well-constructed sidewalks support the capital’s residents in their daily activities.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno have won support from residents of the nation’s capital city to serve as governor and deputy governor starting next week. In a survey by Kompas research center conducted at the end of September, 46 percent of respondents believed the Anies-Sandi administration could solve the city’s various urban problems.
The residents believe the pair, backed by the Prosperous Justice Party and the Gerindra party, will be able to continue and improve on the programs already in place in Jakarta. People are also convinced they can keep their campaign promises.
The programs that Jakarta residents believe need to be continued and improved include the development of public transportation, improved sidewalks for pedestrians, facilities for the 2018 Asian Games as well as river and drainage improvements related to flood mitigation. Monitoring the performance of region-owned food enterprises to maintain food price stability is also considered important.
The realization of Anies-Sandi programs, such as the empowerment of small and medium enterprises and the development of houses for low-income families, are believed to be taking shape on schedule.
Regarding public transportation, in particular Transjakarta, M Sobari from the Transjakarta users community group said the bus mass transportation system was better than its pre-2013 condition. “The buses are new and comfortable,” Sobari said.
Technically, he criticized the performance of on board attendants, who sometimes do not understand the operational rules. In order to improve the Transjakarta services, Sobari suggested PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) directly inspect the field. Bus route integration to make it easier for passengers to move between routes also needs to be improved.
Sidewalks and urban face
One of the key infrastructure programs during the leadership of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat was the renovation of sidewalks for pedestrians. However, from the targeted 2,600 kilometers of new sidewalks, the administration only managed to renovate 2.3 percent or 15 km. As of the end of 2017, road management Bina Marga Office hoped to complete up to 5.6 percent of the sidewalk renovations.
Wide, accessible, disabled person friendly, neat and beautiful sidewalks that connect people to bus shelters, railway stations and public facilities as well as schools, offices and other commercial areas are a determinant factor of whether a city is safe and comfortable for the residents to live in.
Sidewalks are key to the integration of public transportation systems and facilities and can change the face of the city for the better.
Public transportation user Echi, 27, said not all sidewalks in Jakarta were wide and comfortable. She works at an office on Jl Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta. The sidewalks around Jl Juanda are now under renovation. “Currently, on the route that I take everyday, the sidewalk is under renovation. I hope it will be made wider,” Echi said.
As a public transportation user, when she wants to change between modes of transportation from the railway station to a Transjakarta bus shelter to reach her office, Echi chooses to walk. The Orderly Sidewalk Month campaign that seeks to protect the rights of pedestrians is expected to continue. Sidewalks are not intended for vendors, electricity poles, parking lots, motorbike lanes or other illegal activities.
Pedestrians Coalition chairman Alfred Sitorus said he hoped that under the leadership of the new governor and deputy governor law enforcement regarding the use of sidewalks would remain consistent and that police personnel would require assistance from the transportation office and public order personnel. Alfred said some sidewalks in Jakarta had been improved and that one way to maintain them was through law enforcement.
Revitalization and relocation
In the past five years, the riverbank and water catchment area management program to prevent flooding has stolen the public’s attention.
The success of the revitalizations of Pluit Dam, Ria Rio Dam and Ciliwung riverbank in Kampung Pulo and Bukit Duri areas have undoubtedly contributed to reducing flooding in those spots. Jakarta residents hope to see similar revitalization programs carried out throughout other problem areas in the city.
Nevertheless, the relocation of residents from these revitalized areas to low-cost apartments, or rusunawa, has triggered backlash and polemics. Sarman, 41, who resides in Rusunawa Rawa Bebek in East Jakarta appreciated the presence of free school buses and a Transjakarta line bus that helped residents. However, the public transportation does not serve people going to the closest market, the Ujung Menteng Market.
The management head of Rusunawa Tambora, who also manages Rusunawa Pesakih in West Jakarta, M Sidik said in early 2016 the Jakarta Micro, Small and Medium Business Office planned to develop kiosks on the ground floor but that the plan was yet to be realized. To date, it has only provided a showcase cabinet, chairs and tables for people to start small businesses.
In early August, the Jakarta administration released data on unpaid apartment rent, which stood at Rp 32 billion. Many of the people with overdue rent were people who had been relocated from the revitalized areas and who had not found jobs after moving to their new location.
