TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Pedestrian Coalition (Koalisi Pejalan Kaki) Alfred Sitorus hoped that the government would shunt the implementation of its new regulation overseeing electric bikes only until the city’s infrastructure is able to completely accommodate pedestrians.

“If this gets forced it would only add new conflicts and misery for pedestrians,” said Alfred Sitorus in an online discussion on Thursday, Ju.y 23.

The regulation Sitorus referred to is the Transportation Minister’s Regulation No. PM 45/2020 on certain transportations that are powered by electric motors. According to the regulation’s second Article, vehicles under this category include electric scooters, electric bicycles, and single-wheeled transports.

Meanwhile, the regulation’s fifth Article allows the aforementioned vehicles to operate over special lanes and certain areas that provide the lanes.

However, the Pedestrian Coalition chair criticized the Article that allows electric vehicles to operate over sidewalks in areas that do not provide special lanes. This Article requires electric vehicle users to highly prioritize the safety of pedestrians while using the sidewalks.

Alfred Sitorus argues that the Article within the new regulation on electric bikes clashes, and violates, another regulation with a higher standing in Law No.22/2009 which he said snatches the initial function of sidewalks.

Read: Pedestrian Coalition: Hard to Follow Physical Distancing Rules

LANI DIANA WIJAYA