Disabled People Complain of 'Traps' in Jakarta's Guiding Block

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - There are still problems on the guiding block which is facilitated for disabled people on Jakarta’s sidewalks. This is revealed during a campaign held by 50 disabled people today, April 2.

Tempo joining the campaign in Central Jakarta found the yellow tiles on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman sidewalks were cut off in every building entrance or street turns wherein visually impaired campaigner walked out of the lines. One of them named Muslih (50) turned over to the guiding block as he met the end.

Muslih said that loose guiding blocks could cause disabled people losing direction considering the yellow tile is the aid for impaired people to walking.

Muslih then suggested the city administration install guiding blocks made by wires or other materials because the existing paving tactile on sidewalks would be damaged when run over by vehicles.

“If there are no [guiding blocks] at all, there must be many of us bump [into something] because we are looking for direction,” Muslih underlined.

Other disabled person named Bagus Supriyanto opined that sidewalk separator at the end of the guiding blocks might harm disabled people as they might accidentally kick it.

In addition, Bagus found some tiles were installed improperly. For example, the tiles are unsteady and have holes in its sides. “We are sometimes feeling fear when stepping on it. This is a quite dangerous means,” Bagus said.

On Tuesday, April 2, dozens of disabled people held a campaign by trying guiding blocks on sidewalks in Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Central Jakarta. They hoped the bright yellow tiles are used as its initial function as aids for visually impaired people to walking and also rejected street vendors open sales and motorcycles pass on the sidewalks, even obstruct the way.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA