Although no formal ranking has ever been made, Jakarta would almost certainly rank amongst the least pedestrian friendly cities in the world. Many areas lack sidewalks, and in those areas that do, they are often narrow, cracked and blocked by kaki limas or motorcycles.
Besides adding benches along the sides of a few major roads, we can’t remember the last time the city government did something aimed at helping pedestrians. But now Jakarta’s Roads and Bridges Department says they’re actually going to do something to improve the capital’s crappy sidewalks, at least in a few areas.
Jakarta Roads and Bridges Department Head Yudi Febriyadi said for the initial phase of the sidewalk widening project will be done in Salemba, Central Jakarta (specifically around Rumah Sakit Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo) and Tomang, West Jakarta (precisely around Jalan Caringin and Suryopranoto).
“To make things more convenient for pedestrians, we will widen the sidewalks from 1.5 meters to 3 meters. It is our commitment to considering the interests of pedestrians in the capital,” Yudi said today as quoted by Kompas.
In addition to widening the sidewalks, Yudi said his department would move some of the poles that are placed in the middle of sidewalks in those areas to make them easier for people with disabilities to navigate.
