Yogyakarta is set to implement a car-free policy along its iconic street, Jl. Malioboro, after the Idul Fitri holiday season. Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi said it was planned to make Malioboro a strictly pedestrian zone that could only be accessed by non-motorized vehicles such as becak (pedicabs), andong (horse-drawn carriage) and bicycles.
The only motorized vehicles allowed on the street will be Trans Jogja buses. “We will conduct the trial starting June after Idul Fitri,” Heroe said as quoted by tempo.co on Monday.
However, the exact date of the trial is still tentative as the administration is still discussing the reroute scenario as well as obtaining the necessary permit.
Heroe said the change might cause confusion among citizens as they adapt to the new route, as Malioboro has been an important street to access many main streets. “We will also anticipate the effect on the economy,” Heroe said.
The Yogyakarta administration has been working hard to reduce the worsening traffic congestion, however, the geography of the city does not allow for the construction of more streets or widening of existing streets, Heroe said. Hence the car-free policy is considered to be the most viable option.
The head of the Yogyakarta Transportation Agency, Sigit Sapto Rahardjo, said that in order to anticipate the car-free policy on Jl. Malioboro, the agency would add more parking spaces using empty lots along the area.
Source&image: TheJakartaPost
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