Jakarta Police Condemn Inline Skaters Impeding Traffic On Sunday

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Metro Jaya Police announced that it will issue an official warning against a community of inline skaters that clogged active multi-lane streets in the capital city of Jakarta. 

The video that showed a group of inline skaters - with some adult skaters visibly weaving between lanes and motorized vehicles -  impeding traffic on a busy street went viral on Sunday and sparked public outrage on social platforms. 

“We will reprimand and enforce public order if the incident reoccurs, for the sake of traffic safety for each and every road user,” said Metro Jaya Police spokesperson grand commissioner Endra Zulpan. 

Zulpan firmly warned the group that there will be firm sanctions handed the group if a similar incident happens again in the future. Police, he said, will currently put forth persuasive action to solve the problem. 

“[Roller skating] in the middle of a road is certainly not permitted as the streets are not roller skate tracks,” he asserted. 

Meanwhile, Jakarta deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria also commented on the actions of the inline skaters who seemingly acted in disregard for public safety.

In his Instagram post, Patria said that the Jakarta administration already accommodates people with similar hobbies with public facilities and even a dedicated track for inline skaters such as the Jakarta International Roller Track Arena (JIRTA). He also called for mutual respect to be at the forefront of any type of hobby. 

Tempo attempted to reach the inline skating community that is suspected to be in the viral video but has not received any response up to the time of this publication. Many internet users suspect members of the Monastana Skating Team were the subjects in the viral video as this group uploaded a series of video contents on its Instagram story feature showing inline skaters operating over Jakarta streets on the same day. 

Read: Jakarta Deputy Respond to a Viral Skateboard Incident

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA