TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has implemented the new policy which requires civil servants at the city administration to leave their cars at home on the first Friday of every month. Jokowi himself rode a bicyle from his official residence in Taman Suropati, Menteng to the city hall yesterday.
The regulation, stipulated in the Governor Instruction Number 150 of 2013, is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the capital.
The impact of the governor instruction was evident in the parking area of the National Monument (Monas). The parking area, which is usually full of cars of the Jakarta officials, looked less crowded.
"There are not too many cars parked today," said Irwan Effendi (56), a parking official. In fact, the parking space was full of bicycles owned the by officials.
A similar situation was also found at the office of East Jakarta mayor. There were not many cars parked in the parking space of the building.
Nevertheless, although the security guards were on patrol to ensure that officials did not enter the building using private cars, some escaped the security guards.
"Many officials still drive private cars," said one of the security guards, Soleh.
East Jakarta Mayor Krisdianto admitted that many of his officials still drove their private cars. "It is understandable because this is a new policy. We need to adjust to it," said the mayor, who took a cab for work.
Deputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama went to the city hall using his official car. He reasoned that if he took a public transportation to the city hall, it would take him two hours. "There’s no point in seeing me trapped in the traffic jam for two hours."
Jokowi said to have given a permission to his deputy to come to work using his official car. "Pak Ahok has asked me for permission to use his official car," he said.
ISMI DAMAYANTI | LINDA HAIRANI | ERWAN HERMAWAN | JULI
