National Police Chief Sigit Wants Permanent Bike Lane To Be Dismantled, PAN Party Faction Of Regional Representative Council: That Is Not Wise!

Illustration of cyclists crossing JLNT (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of the PAN Party faction of the DKI Jakarta Regional Representative Council (DPRD) Farazandi Fidiniansyah considers that the desire of the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to dismantle the permanent bicycle lane on Jalan Sudirman-Thamrin is not a wise thing in harmonizing road users.

"If every time there is a polemic regarding policies related to the construction of transportation facilities in Jakarta, the solution is dismantled, we consider this unwise", said Farazandi to reporters, Thursday, June 17.

Farazandi said that the purpose of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to create a permanent bicycle lane was to increase the use of bicycles for transportation.

So, if more people are traveling by bicycle, the use of private vehicles can be reduced. This, said Farazandi, was the transformation that Anies wanted.

"The transformation must start now, considering that the number of motor vehicle accidents that cause deaths every year is always increasing, not to mention in the future, such as when we face a fuel crisis, if that is the case, bicycles are the most suitable alternative transportation so that city productivity can run because the mobility of citizens is still alive", he said.

To stimulate the habit of cycling as a means of transportation in DKI Jakarta, a trigger is made, namely building facilities that make cyclists safe and comfortable.

"Just look at big cities in the world such as Bangkok (Thailand), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Gottingen (Germany), Moscow (Russia) and Copenhagen (Denmark) bicycle lanes are built with great attention to the safety and comfort of cyclists", he said.

Previously, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Ahmad Sahroni asked the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit to review the permanent bicycle lane on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman-MH Thamrin that was created by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan.

"Please Mr. Chief of Police to evaluate the permanent bicycle path that already exists in Sudirman-Thamrin", said Sahroni, during a working meeting of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives with the National Police at the Parliament Building.

In fact, Sahroni suggested that the permanent bicycle lane with a program cost of IDR 30 billion be dismantled. Because, apart from being prone to accidents, the permanent lane makes it difficult for other vehicles if the traffic is heavy.

"Please, the National Police Chief and his staff, especially the Traffic Corps (Korlantas) here to address the permanent route to be reviewed. If necessary, dismantle it and all road users can use the road", he said.

Responding to this, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo agreed with the proposal from Commission III of the DPR RI which asked for permanent bicycle lanes to be dismantled.

"In principle, related to bicycle lanes, we will continue to look for the right formula. We agree that the permanent (lane) problem should be dismantled", said Sigit.