Jakarta bikelanes

[GWR]

Jakarta to open bicycle-only lanes

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The group Bike to Work (B2W) won a victory after two years of campaigning Friday, with the Jakarta administration promising to provide special bicycle lanes along city streets.

"More people commuting to work by bike has pushed the city to build traffic lanes for cyclists," Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said at the climax of a series of events to commemorate the first-ever National Bike to Work Day on Aug. 25.

Fauzi, who will be sworn in as Jakarta's first directly elected governor in October, has been an advisor for B2W since its establishment in August 2005.

The group used the ceremony to hand Fauzi a specially designed bicycle. The same type of bicycle, valued at Rp 1.4 million, has also been given to, among others, State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, Trade and Industry Minister Fahmi Idris and State Minister for Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman.

Fauzi said pedaling to work could significantly help to solve the city's traffic problems.

"It will be an alternative (form of) transportation in the capital ... it makes us healthier, too," he said.

There are currently about 3,000 members of B2W in Jakarta, most of whom ride their bikes to work every day.

Despite the group's successes, its membership pales in comparison to the 3 million motorcycles and over 2.5 million private cars that travel on city streets every day.

Jakartans breathed "clean air" for only 45 days last year, according to the City Environment Management Agency.

The City Transportation Agency said that it would be able to set up special lanes for cyclists, including along Jl. Yos Sudarso in North Jakarta and Jl. Ahmad Yani and Jl. DI Pandjaitan in East Jakarta.

"As for the high density of traffic along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, we could apply a system such as in Bogota (Colombia) by taking 1.25 meters of the existing 3 meter pedestrian lanes for the cyclists," agency head Nurachman told Antara.

The administration has started building parking lots for cyclists to be integrated with the busway stops.

"We are now building parking facilities at busway stops in Kalideres (West Jakarta) as well as Kampung Rambutan (East Jakarta) and Ragunan (South Jakarta). We hope they will operate this year," Nurachman said.

B2W chairman Toto Sugito said he was optimistic about the construction of facilities for cyclists.

"We will continue boosting public awareness about switching to non-emitting vehicles to protect the city," he said

Toto said that B2W has also raised the issue of global warming as another way of making the public aware of the importance of reducing the use of private cars.

"We're not asking motorists to stop using their private cars but we are inviting them to bike at least one or two days a week," he said.

"By doing so, (we) will reduce fuel consumption and clean the city's air."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070908.@03&irec=2
Bangkok & Kalasin Province bike lanes:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=17216#post17216

[Yappofloyd]

You'd have to be keen to bike long distances given the lack of bike lanes, the narrow streets in Jakarta and crazy drivers, so these keens cyclists should be given much respect ......and hopefully good insurance! Important last tip at the end.

Avoiding the traffic, biking to work instead The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Mon, 03/03/2008
When Dany Fernando decided to start cycling to work a year ago, he was hoping to lose some weight and help reduce pollution in the city. "There has not been any significant change with my weight," he laughed, "but I am a lot healthier." Dany, 27, lives in Meruya, West Jakarta, and works in Mampang, South Jakarta. He covers approximately 15 kilometers to work three times a week. He had been interested in biking to work and looked for information on the Internet. He found a biking commuters' group, Bike To Work (B2W)-Indonesia. He joined and started biking to work.

B2W-Indonesia is a group dedicated to the pedal-driven vehicle to commute; an answer to traffic congestion and air pollution in a city that consumes at least 6 million kiloliters of fuel annually. Started in 2004 by cyclists in the capital, the group's membership has rapidly grown in recent years.

Ozy Sjarindra, chief executive of B2W-Indonesia, said the community started with less than 100 members. "We now have more than 4,600 members listed on our website. If unlisted members or unaffiliated bike-to-workers are counted, I believe there are more than 10,000 bike-to-workers in Jakarta," said Ozy, a middle-aged man who rides to work two or three times a week. Ozy cited that the city's "crazy" traffic congestion, soaring fuel prices, and public awareness of the environment and good health as reasons more commuters have picked up biking.

Nirwana Noviani, 32, who works for an engineering consultancy, has been pedaling to work every day since 2005 to avoid traffic jams. She started to bike after a B2W campaign in August 2004. "I already had the idea to ride a bicycle to work, but I thought only chauffeurs, security guards or office boys rode to work," said the woman, who plies 14 kilometers from Pondok Pinang to Tebet, South Jakarta, by bike every day.

Biking commuters ride up to 35 kilometers each day to their work place from areas such as Bekasi and Tangerang in the city's outskirts. These cyclists wear sports clothes and carry their work outfits in backpacks. Most take a bath or shower at work, although others simply wipe off and change clothes.

Nirwana said in the beginning there were not many offices that provided bathrooms, but more and more offices are providing the service. "Even when there are no bathrooms or safe parking spaces, we can always find them at residents' houses around the office. A lot of my friends pay Rp 50,000 (US$5.50) per month for those facilities," said the woman who rode bicycles during her school years.

Tri Haryanto, 32, now rides to work in a group and covers 16 kilometers from his home in Ciputat, Tangerang, to his office in Pondok Indah and back. He said it used to take him an hour or more to go to work by car. "By bicycle it only takes me half an hour, sometimes less. My friends and I just smile when we pass drivers with unhappy faces stuck in a traffic jam," said Tri who works in human resources.

Many of the B2W commuting cyclists form groups based on their residential area or work area and ride together on certain days of the week. A group called Rombongan Bekasi, for example, rides together on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while Rombongan Selatan, in the south, get together on Wednesdays and Fridays.

There are more than seven large groups in B2W, who all agree that on Fridays they'll ride together forming a long line of bicycles, like snakes slithering through the city. "We do this to show off to other road users, who fill the streets on Fridays, that cyclists ride by the rules and are not polluting the city," said Nirwana. A cyclist unaffiliated with B2W-Indonesia, Max, rides because he loves bicycles and because it is healthy. "I haven't been sick since I started biking four years ago," said the 34-year-old journalist, who rides his bike at least twice a week. (dre)

Bike to Work preparation tips
- Map out your route. Check for the safest route, resting places, tire repair kiosks, parking places, showers/bathrooms and places to go in an emergency. - Check whether you have other bikers on the same route. It is better to ride with company. - Check the bike's tire pressure, chain, brakes, gears and nuts and bolts. - Bring a tool kit with these basic items: tire pump, spare inner tube, wrenches, locks, first aid kit, drinking water and rain coat. - Use safety gear: helmet, front and rear lights, pollution mask, gloves, safety goggles. - Wear appropriate clothing like sports shoes, etc. Avoid loose-fitting clothes. - Prepare a change of clothes and shower kit in a compact backpack. - Make sure you are in good mental and physical condition before leaving. Have breakfast and enough sleep. - Avoid crowded roads, take smaller roads instead. Do not overtake in busy traffic. - Obey the road rules. - Pray before and after the trip.

[Yappofloyd]

Non-polluting vehicle, but not always a cheap ride Mon, 03/03/2008
Bike to Work (B2W)-Indonesia head Ozy Sjarinda says people can use any kind of bike to take part in the commuting program, as the important thing is their participation in reducing traffic jams and pollution.

A simple bike costs less than Rp 1 million (US$108), but a sophisticated bike with accessories can cost more than Rp 100 million, he said. "Basically, a simple push bike will do for biking to work. But when biking turns into a hobby, you'll always want more and better," said member Dany Fernando, who spent around Rp 4 million for his bike.

Max, 34, a cyclist unaffiliated with B2W-Indonesia, said that although he agreed biking was the second cheapest exercise after walking, some cyclists made it more costly than using cars. "It's ironic when you see people ride bikes that cost tens of million of rupiah. Although you can't tell them not to do that, it does raise an exclusivity issue," he said.

B2W has since last year cooperated with a bicycle manufacturer in making available a commuting bicycle for Rp 1.4 million. B2W advises cycling commuters to also invest in a safety helmet, a face mask, gloves and rear and tail lights. "Wearing brightly colored clothes is also important because we want to be noticeable to other road users," a B2W pamphlet says.

With more than 8 million vehicles packing the city roads, cyclists struggle for space. "Drivers, especially those riding motorcycles, give us a hard time. It's a jungle out there, and you have to be mentally prepared," said Dany.

B2W member Nirwana Noviani said walking, biking or driving were all risky in Jakarta. "But bikers have to be patient and follow the rules, because we want to be a model for other road users. "We ride in the left lanes, not using the sidewalk unless there's no other choice," said Nirwana, who had been hit by motorcycles and side-wiped by buses several times. "But I won't stop riding bicycles. It's healthy, cheap, fast, and environmentally friendly. Is there anything better?" -- JP/dre

[Yappofloyd]

There was a car free day on Sunday on the main central north-south road (also BRT route) which meant that cyclists could ride without the stress of being knocked over by copious cars. Didn't get much of a write up it seems. Wonder what would happend if you tried to do the same in Bangkok somewhere.......?

LONE RIDERS Jkt Post 28/04/08:

Cyclists from Jakarta Cycling Club race in the fast lane of Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, on Sunday. The administration's car-free day allows them to use the main throughfare without having to compete with cars.