Police Reveal Why Cyclists Permitted to Use Casablanca Overpass

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Police Traffic Director Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said Friday cyclists were permitted to use the Casablanca non-toll overpass instead of motorcycles due to safety reasons and to prevent mixed-traffic.

The safety reason he referred to was related to the cross winds that often occur over the 3.4-kilometer-long overpass that stands roughly 18-meter-tall over the highway beneath it.

“If there are winds and motorcycles are there along with cars, it would narrow the road,” said Sambodo on Friday, June 4. 

He stated similar concerns over other overpasses in Jakarta such as the Pesing overpass and reiterated the safety issues related to cross winds on overpasses in the capital city.

“But if it’s only bicycles, it wouldn’t be mixed traffic as it is only dedicated to bicycles,” he said. “Yes there are cross winds but mixed traffic is what we are avoiding.”

The city administration has announced that the Casablanca overpass will see special schedules implemented where only cyclists are permitted to pass. This has been scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday from 05:00-08:00 a.m.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said talks about a dedicated bike lane on overpasses was discussed in a meeting with Governor Anies Baswedan.

Read: Jakarta Police to Discipline Cyclists Disregarding Traffic Laws

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH