South Jakarta's First Bike Lane to Be Ready Next Month

Jakarta Globe, Dofa Fasila | April 26, 2011

Related articles

• Velocipedes Blaze a Trail in Java
• Cycling Enthusiasts Gear Up for Inaugural Meeting
• Buenos Aires Pedaling Bicycles as a Cure for Illness, Pollution and Traffic Jams
• Saving the World, One Commute at a Time
• Jakarta’s Cyclists Hope for Smoother Ride by Opening Bike to Work Center

South Jakarta will have its first ever bicycle lane by the end of May — though it runs a mere 1.5 kilometers.

South Jakarta Mayor Syahrul Effendi said on Tuesday that a gubernatorial decree would be issued to provide the legal umbrella for the lane, which will run from the Ayodya Park to the Melawai commercial area.

"The physical work for the lane is not yet completed," he said, adding that about 40 percent of the work had already been done.

"It's been a bit slow because we have to work in the evenings so as not to hinder traffic during the day. What is important is that this lane would be inaugurated in May and can be used for cycling."

The mayor said the construction of the Rp 500 million, 1.6-meter wide bike lane was being financed by funds raised by the Indonesian Bicycling Committee.

Syahrul added that they would work to develop more bicycle lanes and try to have them interconnected.

Bike lanes, he said, were part of the city's regional zoning plan for 2010-2030.

The head of the South Jakarta zoning office, Gamal Sinurat, said they were looking at putting bicycle lanes under elevated highways, including under the Antasari-Blok M elevated highway and along the parts of the Eastern Flood Canal that runs through the municipality.

Biking enthusiasts and advocates have long campaigned for the creation of dedicated bicycle lanes in Jakarta. Toto Sugito, chairm an of Jakarta’s Bike to Work (B2W) cycling community, says the administration lacked the political will to make the city friendlier for those not using motor vehicles.

Indonesia’s Best Cyclists Head to Netherlands for Pre-Asiad Training Camp

Jakarta Globe, September 16, 2010

Related articles

• Take a Spin Back Through Time - Jan 7, 2010
• Cycling Around the World and Across Indonesia, for Charity - Feb 15, 2010
• BMX a Sport Trying to Get on Fast Track - Apr 8, 2010
• Indonesia’s Only Rider Looks to Place Well in Tour de Timor - Aug 27, 2009
• Spin and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance: a Simpler Gearbox Can Cut Down on the Grind - Aug 19, 2010

Indonesia’s top riders are leaving no stone unturned in their Asian Games preparations, as they travel to the Netherlands to train for the Guangzhou, China, tournament.

Tonton Susanto and Santia Tri Kusuma, the country’s No. 1 cyclists in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively, will lead a five-strong Indonesia team for a training camp in Alkmaar expected to last six weeks or longer.

Completing the team are Ryan Ariehaan Hilmant, Yanthi Fuchiyanti and Wilhelmina Tutuarima. The team is taking a flight to the Netherlands today.

Tonton and Ryan will compete in the men’s road race in the Asian Games, while Santia and Yanthi will take part in the women’s track events.

Wilhelmina, a top junior prospect, joined the Alkmaar-bound team as part of the Indonesian Cycling Union’s (ISSI) youth development program.

Cycling team manager Denny Gumulya said the Netherlands offered the best training setup for the Indonesian national team because it offered good facilities and many opportunities for competition.

“So our cyclists will have a lot of chances to work on their skills, their endurance, everything that’s necessary to get better,” Denny said. “They mustn’t waste this opportunity, that’s all we ask.”

However, the bar will be set higher for Santia, a bronze medalist in the 2002 Asian Games in Korea.

She has shown improvement in the 500-meter time trial event, posting her best time of 36.847 seconds during the Asian Cycling Confederation Track Asia Cup 2010 in Japan, in June.

Santia finished fourth in the competition, as Hong Kong’s Lee Wai Sze clinched the gold with a time of 35.36 seconds.

Santia’s previous best time was 37.907 seconds, which she registered during last year’s Asian Cycling Championship in Tenggarong, East Kalimantan.

Denny said it was important for Santia to continue lowering her time if she hoped for a podium finish at the Asian Games in November.

“ We’re hoping she can get even faster, because we know she’s our biggest hope for a medal in Guangzhou. We believe training in the Netherlands will help her a lot in this regard,” Denny said.

Santia agreed. “I was in the Netherlands to prepare for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and it played a big factor as I won the gold medal [in the time trial],” she said.

“I participated in a number of competitions there and got the opportunity to practice with some really good cyclists. That helped me to improve, and hopefully it will pay dividends for me again.” 

Ami Afriatni

Keep rolling

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 07/01/2010 5:28 PM

Keep rolling: Old bicycle enthusiasts line up with their bicycles wearing matching costumes before joining a parade held to celebrate Medan City's 420th anniversary in downtown Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday.