Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is reportedly seeking to open a dedicated bike lane on one of the city’s main toll roads, in a move that will undoubtedly be popular amid the biking boom in the capital.
The governor reportedly sent a letter to Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), requesting authorization to open a dedicated bike lane every Sunday from 6am to 9am on the west side of the Jakarta Inner Ring Road, which connects Cawang in East Jakarta to Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. The request was reportedly made following an increasing number of cyclists amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Danang Parikesit, who heads the ministry’s toll road regulatory agency, confirmed today that Anies had sent the letter on Aug. 11. At this point, officials are discussing and evaluating the safety and operational aspects of the proposed plan along with Bina Marga, the ministry’s directorate general of road authority.
Jakarta Transportation Agency Head Syafrin Liputo said that the current plan is for the bike lane, which is estimated to be between 10 to 12 kilometers long, to be opened on the section of Ir. Wiyoto Wiyono toll road, which stretches from Kebon Nanas in East Jakarta to Tanjung Priok. However, only those with road bikes will be permitted to use the lane.
Syafrin explained that cyclists on road bikes generally bike faster compared to casual cyclists.
“The required specifications [for the road bikes] include sufficient and adequate [track] length, and those can be found on toll roads,” Syafrin said.
Last year, Jakarta opened 63 kilometers of dedicated bicycle lanes, which were spread throughout at least 22 streets throughout the capital.
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