October 10, 2015

What it feels like to be a pedestrian in Jakarta


Since I got new job in Jakarta. I tried to find a place to stay close by my office. It takes only 10-15 minutes walking from my place to my office. I couldn't be more grateful than this. When people have to wake up at 4 or 5 a.m to avoid crazy traffic jam or early morning train to catch so they won't be late. Meanwhile, I wake up at 6/6.30 a.m or sometimes 7 a.m. And I have to be at the office by 8 a.m.

I thought it will be great to be a pedestrian in Jakarta.

But actually, it is not great.

Metro mini, bajaj, ojek, angkot (maybe you could search on Google if you don't have any idea of these things) and other kind of public transportation in Jakarta sucks. They loveeee to drive on sidewalk! Most of the sidewalks are not on a proper condition. Not only that, many drivers of any kind of vehicles stop right after the zebra cross when the traffic light is red. So pedestrians cannot walk on the zebra cross.

They're not afraid of police even when the police was in front of them, and police seemed to be "don't-care".

Not only crazy riders who took sidewalk, there are also "warung" or "pedagang kaki lima" that sell stuff on the whole sidewalk so I cannot walk on the sidewalk and I need to walk through the main street.

I hope in the future there will be a "real" punishment to those who disobey riding rules and pedestrians can safely walk on the sidewalk.

image: wikipedia.org

3 comments :

  1. It sounds so unsafe! Hope the govt will take this matter seriously:/

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    Replies
    1. yes! hopefully people understand how unsafe to be pedestrians in Jakarta

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  2. I feel you! Kemarin juga jalan, dan ternyata mau jalan juga udah susah karena "jalan setapak" sudah hilang / bolong-bolong / jadi tempat warung. Really no place to walk even though we want to. It's just real ignorant. :/

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