Sidewalks for Pedestrians, Not Recreational Skateboarding: Satpol PP
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11 March 2021 00:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Arifin, on Wednesday asserted that sidewalks are only for pedestrians. He noted that people skateboarding as a means of transportation are permitted but not those who practice tricks over sidewalks.
“This means that skateboards are allowed on sidewalks but not for recreational purposes,” said Satpol PP Head on March 10.
Arifin said that the ban is aimed to protect the pedestrians and prevent a recurrence of a group of skateboarders crowding a sidewalk in Bundaran Hotel Indonesia on March 3.
Just last week, the skateboard community clashed with Satpol PP personnel in the aforementioned location. The authorities acted upon the young group of teens occupying the sidewalk and creating a large crowd people amidst the Covid-19 health restriction.
“They occupied the sidewalks to practice their moves which disturbed pedestrians who were passing by,” said Arifin who also noted that a number of skateboarders played at the location without their shirts on. “Which shows a bad impression.”
Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria previously called for people to use the proper skateboard facilities in the city, saying that sidewalks are not the place for it.
Read: Skateboarding Community Speaks Following Thamrin Incident
LANI DIANA WIJAYA
