[sustran] Jakarta - Other areas try out car-free idea

[Eric Britton]

Other areas try out car-free idea 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration is considering organizing a weekly car-free day in
several areas of the capital on a rotating basis in an effort to reduce air
pollution.

Currently, the city holds one car-free day every month. 

Governor Fauzi Bowo said Thursday the plan might set aside the section of
Jl. Sudirman from the Senayan traffic circle in South Jakarta to the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle as well as some areas in Kota in Central Jakarta. 

"The streets will be closed to motorists from about 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We,
however, are still discussing the program with the Jakarta's environmental
management board (BPLHD)," said Fauzi. 

"By making car-free day routine, we hope to raise people's awareness about
the importance of reducing the heavy air pollution in the city. Hopefully,
the idea can go into effect next year," he said. 

The next car-free day will take place on Jl. Pramuka in East Jakarta on
Sunday. 

BPLHD head Budirama Natakusumah said the thoroughfare would be closed to
motorists from the Ahmad Yani intersection to the Matraman overpass from 6
a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Similar to the car-free days held on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin each
month, the car-free day on Jl. Pramuka will only allow access to public
transportation, such as Transjakarta buses and Metromini minivans. 

He said the administration would rotate the car-free day program among the
five municipalities in the Jakarta jurisdiction. 

"It would be great to organize this program in all five areas at once, but
we can't do that due to the lack of mobile laboratories for testing air
quality," said Budirama as reported by kompas.com. 

"There is only one mobile lab which we borrowed from the State Minister for
the Environment," he said. 

Jakarta's first car-free day was held on Sept. 22, 2002, on Jl. Sudirman,
limiting vehicles from the Senayan traffic circle in South Jakarta to the
Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. 

It was organized once in 2003, twice in 2004, once again in 2005 and three
times in 2007. In 2008, it has been held every month. 

There was no car-free day in 2006 because the city administration was
reviewing a municipal bylaw on the program. 

In July 2008, car-free day was held on Jl. Letjen. Suprapto for the first
time. 

The Central Jakarta administration chose that location because it fit the
seven requirements for a car-free day site. 

The requirements include low air quality during peak traffic hours, a length
of more than two kilometers, existing public transportation routes and the
presence of offices, trade centers and residential areas. 

Car-free days often draw complaints from drivers because they cause
congestion along other roads