Acting Governor Heru Calls Bicycle Path Conditions In Europe Cannot Be Implemented In Jakarta

Acting Governor of DKI Haru Budi Hartono (Photo: Public Relations of the DKI Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono compared the use of bicycle lanes in Jakarta with European countries. This was revealed in a meeting with international organizational partners. Based on his experience of staying in Europe for several years, Heru views that bicycle lanes are quite needed by the community as a means of transportation for those who use bicycles a lot. "I mentioned a little about bicycle lanes. In Europe it is very good and needed," said Heru in the City Forest area by Plataran, Central Jakarta, Friday, November 18. However, Heru continued, the construction of bicycle lanes that span several countries in Europe cannot be implemented in Jakarta that has hot weather. "But all the necessities of life there cannot be implemented here, the weather is hot, the distance is far away. For example, from Bekasi, (from) Bogor, you can't ride a bicycle either," said Heru. Until 2021, the bicycle lanes that have been built are 103 kilometers. Throughout 2022, the DKI Provincial Government is targeting the construction of bicycle lanes of up to 196 kilometers. Currently, the progress of bicycle lane construction from the target has reached 70 percent. Then, by the end of December 2022, the DKI Provincial Government targets bicycle lanes in Jakarta to have built a length of 300 kilometers. In the draft DKI Regional Budget for the 2023 fiscal year, the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency has proposed a budget of IDR 7.5 billion for bicycle lanes. However, the budget will not be used to increase the construction of bicycle lanes. In detail, the DKI Transportation Agency admitted a budget of IDR 2 billion to evaluate or study the bicycle lanes that have been built. The DKI Transportation Agency also proposed a budget of IDR 500 million for the socialization of bicycle lanes in each administrative city, as well as IDR 5 billion for the optimization of existing bicycle lanes.