TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Budi Susanto has been riding a bicycle to go to work in central Jakarta for the past few months. Before that, he had driven either a motorcycle or a car to commute, just like most of the residents in the Indonesian capital.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country last year, the 46-year-old man started to cycle around the capital regularly in order to stay active and healthy, release stress, and protect himself from getting infected.
"This COVID-19 pandemic situation has made me understand more about the importance of staying in good health and good mood," said Susanto, who works as an accountant for a private company, as quoted by Xinhua.
Susanto is one of those living in Jakarta, with a population of over 10 million, who are transitioning from motor vehicles to bicycles during the pandemic.
The father of two boys said some of his colleagues and friends have been influenced by his cycling lifestyle. Sometimes they cycle together around the city on weekends.
The Jakarta administration is planning to add more special bike lanes across the city after having designated over 60 km amid the pandemic cycling trend. The plan is to make city streets safe and accessible for everyone.
Recently, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that he planned to create 500 km of bike lanes which he thought are an ideal length of bike tracks in the city.
The governor has also initiated the construction of a bicycle monument that costs 800 million Indonesian rupiahs (56,385 U.S. dollars) in the city's main thoroughfare.
Recommended
-
Top 10 Best Selling Car Brands in the World
2 days ago
Thousands Join Jakarta May Day Rally; Access to Palace Blocked
2 hari lalu
To commemorate International Labor Day, also known as May Day, thousands of workers from various unions took to Jakarta streets.
Jakarta Police Arrest 11 Online Gambling Suspects in Tangerang
3 hari lalu
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police arrested 11 online gambling suspects at a house in Teluknaga Cluster, Tangerang at 00:46 on April 26.
BMKG Forecasts a Cloudy Day in Jakarta
3 hari lalu
BMKG forecasts that Jakarta will be cloudy today, Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
DKJ Law Is The Best for Jakarta, Says Acting Gov Heru Budi
4 hari lalu
Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono reacted to the ratification of the Jakarta Special Region or DKJ Law passed by President Jokowi on Apr. 25.
Jokowi Approves Jakarta Special Region Bill
4 hari lalu
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo signed the ratification of Law No. 2 of 2024 on the Jakarta Special Region, also known as the DKJ Law.
Today's Top 3 News: 5 Coldest Cities in the World, 2 in Canada; Jakarta-Surabaya High-Speed Rail to Be More Lucrative Than Before
5 hari lalu
Tempo English compiled the top 3 news on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
BMKG Weather Forecast: Rain to Shower Part of Jakarta All Saturday
6 hari lalu
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasted rain for most areas in Jakarta on Saturday, April 27.
BMKG Forecast Rain in All Jakarta Areas This Afternoon
7 hari lalu
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) released a weather forecast for Jakarta today, April 26.
KAI Records Over 11 Million Train Passengers in Q1 of 2024
8 hari lalu
KAI recorded over 11,379,196 people in the first quarter of 2024, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year.
Pelita Air Officially Launches New Jakarta-Kendari Flight Routes
8 hari lalu
Pelita Air airline has officially launched a new flight route from Haluoleo Kendari Airport to Soekarno-Hatta Airport.