The DKI Provincial Government Has Budgeted IDR 2 Billion For The Cycling Path Evaluation, What Is The Urgency?

Residents crossed the bicycle lane on Jalan MH. Thamrin, Jakarta, in July 2020. (Between-Aditya PP)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency (Dishub) has proposed a budget of IDR 2 billion in the 2023 APBD draft to conduct evaluations and studies on bicycle lanes that have been built in Jakarta.

This was revealed by a member of Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Muhammad Taufik Zoelkifli. Taufik said that this budget was discussed in a meeting to discuss the RAPBD at Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD two days ago.

Taufik views that the Rp2 billion budget for bicycle lane studies needs to be allocated. Because, he admitted, the current condition of the bicycle lane is not used optimally.

"The budget from the Rp2 billion APBD is necessary, yes. Right, it is undeniable that many bicycle lanes that were installed yesterday have problems," Taufik said when contacted, Friday, November 18.

Taufik gave an example, the bicycle lanes that have been installed by the barrier are still often used by motorists to pass.

Then, the lack of security for bicycle users on bicycle lanes mixed with other vehicles or mix traffic, as well as the location of bicycle lanes at a number of points that are considered dangerous.

"In terms of security, bicycle users or for other motorists are lacking. For example, there is no barrier, or too halfway through the toll road lane, it must be repaired. Indeed, there are many things that need to be evaluated," said the PKS politician.

Furthermore, Taufik said that the bicycle lane evaluation would be carried out by the Transportation Agency. Previously, the Transportation Agency planned to cooperate with the Institute of Transportation Development Program (ITDP) to evaluate bicycle lanes, but they were eventually canceled.

"So it is done by the Transportation Agency itself, not in collaboration with other institutions, ITDP," he said.

In addition to the evaluation budget, the DKI Transportation Agency also proposed a budget of IDR 500 million for the socialization of bicycle lanes in each administrative city, and IDR 5 billion for the optimization of existing bicycle lanes.

In optimizing bicycle lanes with a budget of IDR 5 billion, it will be used for repairs to bicycle lane transfer which is considered less than optimal based on evaluation results. Thus, the total bicycle lane budget in 2023 is IDR 7.5 billion. However, the budget will not be used for additional bicycle lane construction.