The Thamrin and Sudirman roads that cuts the heart of Jakarta’s business district are mostly unbearable on weekdays. The traffic is on a standstill, with a constant stream of motorcyclists squeezing their way into every opening they can find in between parked cars. But this daily hell stops for a few a hours on Sunday. What would otherwise be a river of motor vehicles, Sudirman and Thamrin become a long promenade filled with people doing all sorts of activities.
Such is the Jakarta Car Free Day, the much welcome respite from the metropolitan traffic abuse. The initiative for keep Sudirman and Thamrin free from passing vehicles on one of the Sundays in a given month began in May 2002. But what was only meant for an occasional event, slowly and surely became a regular program Jakarta Car Free Day become a regular event, which was hold once in a month on the fourth of Sunday of the month.
The Jakarta Car Free Day is now very popular among Jakartans. The Jakarta Police estimated up to 100,000 citizens participating in the weekly event. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is perhaps the first politician to capitalize on the moment to interact with residents of Jakarta. The President has been seen walking about and cycling on several Car Free Days.
Only recently, President Jokowi took the mayor of London Boris Johnson and British ambassador for Indonesia Moazzam Malik on a cycling loop at the Jakarta Car Free Day. The Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama was also present at the occasion. Boris Johnson was apparently amused by the Jakarta Car Free Day. He even wrote a vignette illustrating his experience at the Jakarta Car Free Day on The Telegraph.
Below are photos of the Jakarta Car Free Day on Sunday (Dec, 7). If you have never been to this event, you should. Who knows, you may be able to meet with the President himself.
Jakarta Car Free Day along Thamrin and Sudirman road was launched for the very first time in May 2002.
Jakartans take advantage of Jakarta Car Free Days for group sporting activities such as walking, running and also cycling.
Street food at the Jakarta Car Free Day
Indonesian traditional snacks: boiled sweet potatoes, steamed bananas, and steamed peanuts
Garbage picker at Jakarta Car Free Day
Boys with their rollerblades
Sahabat Munir, a human rights group campaigning at Jakarta Car Free Day
Vintage bicycle enthusiasts
Ondel-ondel, massive Betawi puppets
By Elisabeth Oktofani
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