Dukuh Atas has gone viral with its "Citayam Fashion Week," where youngsters gather and hold an impromptu, informal kind of fashion show, with models doing the catwalk on a marked crosswalk.
The area's fame rose when several teenagers came to visit during the school holidays and weekends to enjoy the view of the skyscrapers.
Dukuh Atas is accessible to anyone by taking the Commuter Rail (KRL) and getting off at Sudirman Station or taking the bus rapid transit, TransJakarta.
People can also take the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and get off at Dukuh Atas Station. A few meters from the station, there is the Kendal Tunnel, with its colorful mural graffiti.
Teenagers from Jakarta's buffer or surrounding regions, such as Citayam, Bojonggede, and Depok, crowded the Sudirman Avenue on Dukuh Atas, so now, the area is known as "SCBD".
Some of the youngsters uploaded their activities on social media platforms, and some media channels also interviewed them.
The suburban teenagers, with their quirky but creative fashion style, funny gestures, and their slang "slebew," a word spoken as an expression while referring to something vulgar, have evoked new interest in society.
The Dukuh Atas area was usually traversed by several office workers or by those who will depart for the Soekarno-Hatta Airport from the BNI City Station.
Several teen figures have risen to fame, as they went viral on social media, such as Jeje, Bonge, Roy, and Kurma.
Fashion competition
The youngsters, who partake in the Citayam Fashion Show, usually present their creative fashion style, walking like models on a crosswalk of Tanjung Karang Road, Dukuh Atas.
They wear eccentric outfits, such as denim jackets and jeans, complete with unique and colorful hats, glasses, and footwear.
It is not yet clear as to why it is called the Citayam Fashion Show, but it is perhaps since most of the teenagers partaking in the occasion came from Citayam, West Java.
The Citayam Fashion Week has now turned into a fashion contest that has attracted some celebrities to join the phenomenon.
Not only artists but some government officials, such as Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, and some EU officials, also attempted to make their presence felt at the zebra crossing.
Pros and cons
Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria supported and lauded the creativity of youngsters partaking in the Citayam Fashion Week, as they express themselves with local products.
However, he admitted that the event had been causal to some problems, such as the sidewalks that were currently not functioning properly. For instance, pedestrians and office workers found it difficult to walk around.
Despite the ongoing implementation of Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in Jakarta and the COVID-19 pandemic being far from over, the crowds in Dukuh Atas are usually high.
During evenings and weekends, the area tends to become crowded with people, and many of them do not wear masks to protect themselves from the transmission of COVID-19.
Hence, joint officers were deployed daily to ensure order, despite their numbers being less than the visitors there.
Governor Baswedan did not prohibit teenagers from doing fashion shows at Dukuh Atas.
He explained that their activities can only be banned when there is a decree letter, so contrasting responses cannot prohibit them.
"As long as there is no letter (decree), there is no ban," Baswedan said at the Jakarta City Hall on July 22.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organization, Jakarta Watch, questioned why the event was still running despite it not being in accordance with the designation of road traffic and facilities.
According to Jakarta Watch, Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation regulates the rights of pedestrians to be provided with crossings, sidewalks, and other facilities.
Meanwhile, Article 132 stipulates that pedestrians are required to use the established spot (zebra crossing) when they cross.
Violation of the law attracts a prison term of one to two years and a fine of Rp24 million to Rp50 million can be applied.
Furthermore, the Citayam Fashion Week has shown that there are a large number of teenagers, who smoke while visiting the area.
Some of the cigarette and plastic waste had been found littered in several points.
In addition, some teenagers were found falling asleep on the pedestrian path. The Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) had taken action to avoid potential violence against children.
Some vehicles were also illegally parked on the sidewalks and bike lanes of Sudirman Avenue.
Traffic congestion also occurred since several visitors were parking their motorbikes while scores of vehicles were heading to Kota Bumi Street and Tanjung Karang Street.
The traffic jam occurred from the direction of the Senayan Roundabout to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout.
Young people, who partake in the Citayam Fashion Week, need an appropriate platform that can accommodate their creativity without disturbing public facilities.
Several places can be alternatives, such as the Jakarta City Hall, Sarinah shopping mall, or Ismail Marzuki Park (TIM).
Deputy Governor Patria pointed out that the south plaza of the National Monument (Monas), Lapangan Banteng Park, and Kota Tua (Jakarta Old Town), can also be options.
The Jakarta Police also suggested the fashion show to be held on Car Free Day, as there are no cars passing during the implementation, on every Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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