The Jakarta Provincial Government is set on conducting a trial expansion of the motorcycle ban on the city’s main CBD thoroughfare on September 12, despite opposition from many motorcyclist communities who have decried the policy as discriminatory.
The current motorcycle ban, which was designed to limit traffic congestion on Jakarta’s busiest streets, is enforced on the stretch of road comprising Jalan M.H. Thamrin and Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat. The trial expansion would extend the ban all the way down to Bunderan Senayan (Senayan Roundabout), the southernmost end of Jalan Sudirman.
“The government will commence with the trial. Even if people oppose, we will make it a challenge for us to provide the best service to citizens,” said Jakarta Transport Agency Deputy Head Sigit Wijatmoko, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
“We will socialize (the ban), run a trial, evaluate it, and if the result is positive then we will make it into an official policy.”
A similar trial was introduced before the enforcement of the first motorcycle ban on Jalan M.H. Thamrin and Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in 2014. Back then, there was a one month socializing period of the new regulation, during which time those caught violating the rules were only given warnings. Once the ban officially came into effect, motorcyclists caught violating the ban became subject to a Rp 500,000 fine.
Numerous motorcyclist communities are planning a protest at National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on September 9 to show their opposition to the ban expansion. Around 5,000 motorcyclists are expected to take part in the protest.
The Jakarta Transport Agency said that they would increase the number of TransJakarta buses on Corridor I (which runs along the roads affected by the ban) to facilitate motorcyclists.
However, a major part of the reason why motorcyclists are opposing the motorcycle ban is because they feel public transportation in the area is not yet up to scratch, particularly because the TransJakarta buses on Corridor I are already too crowded and often late.
