Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta provincial government has said that it is focusing on maintaining and improving the quality of bicycle lanes to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of cyclists using the lanes.

"So, related to the plan of a lawsuit by the Bike to Work (B2W) cycling community, the Jakarta provincial government is striving to improve the quality of bicycle lanes," head of the Jakarta Transportation Office, Syafrin Liputo, said here on Wednesday.

He stressed that the Jakarta provincial government has not lowered the standards for bicycle lane infrastructure. The target for the construction of bicycle lanes in Jakarta has remained unchanged at 535.68 kilometers (km). The target is based on the 2023–2026 Regional Development Plan (RDP).

It was planning to build 298km of bicycle lanes in 2024. However, at least 314km of the lanes were laid in 2023. Thus, the RDP target has been exceeded.

Meanwhile, stick cones, which served as bicycle lane barriers, have been removed to ensure the safety of cyclists because many of the cones were damaged, Liputo said.

The Jakarta Transportation Office has replaced the stick cones with "cat's eyes" or road studs.

Liputo informed that damaged stick cones removed from bicycle lanes in 13 road sections have been replaced with road studs.

"So, the public will be safer and no one will be disturbed by the damaged stick cones, especially when cyclists are on the path," he said.

He issued the statement in response to B2W's plan to file a lawsuit on alleged malpractice in May 2023.

Earlier, it was reported that the bicycle lanes were not restored during the re-paving of 18 roads to welcome the ASEAN Summit delegates last year.

"Our focus is to improve the quality of bike lanes," Liputo said, adding that the provincial government is continuing to discuss ways to optimize bike lanes with the B2W community.


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Translator: Siti N, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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