Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Government has budgeted Rp7.5 billion (US$478 thousand) in the 2023 Regional Budget Draft to evaluate and optimize bicycle lanes following intensive discussions with Commission B of Jakarta's Regional House of Representatives.

"A comprehensive evaluation of the existing bicycle lanes, and we are modifying and improving it, so that in future, bicycle lanes in Jakarta will be more effective," Head of the Jakarta Transportation Office Syafrin Liputo stated at the Jakarta City Hall on Friday.

As much as Rp2 billion (US$127 thousand) is used for comprehensive evaluation, Rp500 million (US$31 thousand) for outreach, and the rest for repairs.

Evaluation on the effectiveness of existing bicycle lanes adjusts to the conditions in practice, so that the safety and security of road users is ensured.

"The main are security and safety aspects for all road users. The second is, of course, related to optimizing bicycle lanes, on minimizing violations on bicycle lanes on the roads," he noted.

During the outreach, he urged cyclists to use the bicycle lanes that had been built.

According to Liputo, there would be no stops related to bicycle lanes this year. However, his administration would only evaluate bicycle lanes in 2023.

The target to build 300 kilometers (km) of bicycle lanes will still be pursued this year.

"An additional 196 kilometers have been built. Previously, there were 103 kilometers. That means there are around 301 kilometers that will be built until the end of 2022," he noted.

Currently, the work on constructing bicycle paths is around 70-percent complete, and it is targeted to be 100-percent complete by December 2022.

Member of Commission B at the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives Muhammad Taufik Zoelkifli stated that in the final decision on the commission-scope budget evaluation meeting, the allocation for the bicycle lane program was revised to Rp7.5 billion.

He said that the development of bicycle lanes was no longer a priority program for the provincial government following that budget revision.

Related news: Governor Baswedan invites ambassadors to ride bicycle in Jakarta
Related news: Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road to have special bicycle lane: Minister
Related news: Jokowi invites Albanese to plant tree, ride bamboo bicycle


Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022