JAKARTA - Who knows, the proliferation of electric scooters in Jakarta has in recent months caused a polemic. Starting from operational regulations to traffic accidents involving electric otopet users with private vehicles.
In fact, initially the DKI Provincial Government intended to improve air quality by reducing the circulation of motor vehicles in Jakarta. At the same time, the on-demand service provider Grab launched the GrabWheels service. An electric scooter facility that can be used by residents of Jakarta to travel from one place to another.
During the operation of GrabWheels which continues to be loved by Jakarta residents. The DKI Provincial Government is currently drafting regulations regarding the use of electric scooters as a mode of transportation, ranging from rental shelters in several locations to safety regulations.
But, instead of being used as a transit vehicle to the MRT station or TransJakarta bus stop as expected by the DKI Provincial Government. This GrabWheels electric scooter facility is actually a means of entertainment for Jakarta residents, when enjoying the open spaces around Senayan to city streets.
The absence of strict regulations regarding the operation of electric scooters has prompted the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency (Dishub) to issue a regulation so that electric scooters should only be operated on special bicycle lanes and not exceed 11pm.
"For bicycle lanes it is specifically for cyclists, for scooters [electric scooters] it is electric. Regarding the speed, it varies, I think it is not a problem to enter and use the bicycle lane. Currently we encourage bicycle rental, we set regulations regarding that, "said Head of DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, last October 7.
On the other hand, the operation of an electric scooter takes an unpleasant precedent from pedestrians. To VOI, the founder of the Pedestrian Coalition, Alfred Sitorus, said that electric scooter users disturb pedestrians because they enter the sidewalk and are used on the Pedestrian Bridge (JPO).
Through the Instagram account of the DKI Jakarta Bina Marga Service, it even shows that there are many irresponsible electric scooter users at a number of JPOs. There are at least three JPOs around Jalan Jenderal Sudirman which are often used by electric scooter users to cross.
"The panels (floor) of the JPO are damaged because of the electric scooter tires. We will repair the panels from Sunday to the next two days (Friday)" said Head of the DKI Jakarta Highways Agency Hari Nugroho.
In fact, according to Hari, there are signs that prohibit riding electric scooters onto JPOs. This sign is attached to each access to the JPO. However, scooter users are still stubborn by riding the JPO, because there is no direct supervision.
"Well, what we see from CCTV, the use of scooters at the JPO is at night. If it is during the day he doesn't have the courage. So, when there is no surveillance, they just play," he said.
Returning to the issue of electric scooter regulations, the Transportation Agency has actually advised electric otopet users not to cross the sidewalk, including on motorized vehicle free days (HBKB) or car free days. However, there have been no strict sanctions imposed on stubborn electric scooter users.
The lack of regulations and safety support facilities from the operation of electric scooters has caused casualties. Two GrabWheels users are known to have been hit and run victims on Sunday, November 10.
The traffic accident occurred in the Gate 3 area of Gelora Bung Karno. Where there was a group of teenagers who were using GrabWheels and were hit by a car from the direction of Senayan to the FX Sudirman shopping center.
my younger brother, Ammar is one of the victims of this accident and strangely enough, none of the media has covered this accident, please @TMCPoldaMetro thoroughly investigate this accident. and @GrabID, make a review of your safety grabwheels service. pic.twitter.com/qAyq0KZ7Lz
- Alan Darmasaputra (@alandarma_s) November 12, 2019
"When he was about to overtake towards the left lane, he ended up crashing," said Head of Sub-Directorate for Traffic at Polda Metro Jaya, Kompol Fahri Siregar.
Could it be Banned?
The current polemic for electric scooters is not only happening in Indonesia. Since early November, Singapore has issued a ban on the use of electric scooters on sidewalks. The prohibition is made for security reasons. In early 2020, users who use electric scooters on sidewalks will be fined.
This policy came out after the carelessness of an electric scooter rider killed a cyclist named Ong Bee Eng (65). He was seriously injured as a result of being hit by an electric scooter rider in the Bedok area, near the Tanah Merah MRT station.
Now electric scooters in Singapore can only be used on bicycle lanes. Singapore became the third country to ban the use of electric scooters on sidewalks after Germany and France previously imposed a similar ban.
Seeing that there are quite a number of problematic cases of using electric scooters, will Indonesia, especially DKI Jakarta, also ban escooter operations. Moreover, there are problems with damage to public facilities, and even casualties.
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