Bandung is trying to reduce traffic congestion through its “Walk to School” program. In its first stage, the program is being implemented at schools on Jl. Merdeka. The response has been positive.
By
TATANG MULYANA SINAGA
·5 minutes read
Kompas/Tatang Mulyana Sinaga
Students walk along the sidewalks of Jl. Merdeka on Wednesday (7/3) in Bandung, West Java. The Bandung municipal administration is promoting a “Walk to School” program to reduce the use of private vehicles and to reduce traffic congestion.
Severe traffic jams lurk in every corner of a big city, including Bandung. High stress is common on the roads as motorists try to reach their destinations on time.
The Bandung municipal administration is attempting to tackle the problem by introducing a walking culture. On Wednesday morning (7/3), the sidewalks on Jl. Merdeka in downtown Bandung were filled with students. This newfound spirit marked the beginning of a new culture of walking to school.
For some students, it was their first time walking to school. Usually, their parents drove them and dropped them off in front of the school’s gates. This practice often triggered severe traffic jams on Jl. Merdeka, as parents stopped their cars on the side of the road to drop off or pick up their children.
Aldo, 10, a student at SDN 113 Banjarsari elementary school, was among these “first-time walkers”. Before, his elder brother used to drive him and drop him off in front of school.
On that day, all students were to be dropped off at several selected locations on Jl. Aceh and Jl. Jawa, and at Bandung City Hall and the History Park. The locations are within 100 meters to 200 meters to several local schools. The policy was implemented to prevent the concentration of vehicles in certain spots, which have been a cause of traffic jams.
Aldo said that he was enthusiastic abotu the program. Walking on the sidewalks with his friends was a new “adventure” for him. The third-grader smiled at everyone as he walked by.
“Walking is good. No traffic jams,” he said enthusiastically, punching the air.
Personnel from the Bandung transportation agency and the Bandung Police, as well as members of a number of community organizations, accompany the students on their way to their schools. This was to keep the students safe and to make sure they did not walk in the road. A number of officers were deployed on crosswalks to help students cross the road.
Saving time
A number of parents also appreciated the policy, as it helped improve traffic on Jl. Merdeka.
“Normally, there was always a traffic jam here. With the student drop-off policy, traffic is more manageable. Walking 100 to 200 meters is also no problem. The kids will be healthier. It’s exercise,” said one parent, Rohmawati, 42.
According to Rohmawati, apart from reducing traffic on Jl. Merdeka, the policy also saved time. She said that, without the student drop-off policy, she usually spent 5-8 minutes stuck in a traffic jam on Jl. Merdeka, as many parents also dropped off their children. If students walked from the predetermined locations, they could arrive at their schools in less than 5 minutes.
Jl. Merdeka, located in the heart of downtown Bandung, is a major source of traffic jam in the city. It is the location of Bandung City Hall and Bandung Police headquarters, along with several shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, schools and colleges. Schools on Jl. Merdeka include the SDN 113 Banjarsari and SDN Merdeka elementary schools, as well as the St. Angela school complex. On nearby Jl. Jawa are St. Yusup elementary school and junior high school.
Agung, 31, who dropped off his child on Jl. Aceh, said that he supported the Walk to School policy. He said that traffic management should be implemented concurrently with raising awareness on using private vehicles only as needed.
“Collective awareness must be nurtured,” he said.
Imbalance
Traffic management is a major issue in Bandung. The city with a 2.5 million population has only 1,236 kilometers of roads. The condition does not match the daily volume of 1.3 million vehicles, both motorcycles and cars. As a result, traffic jams reach every corner of the West Java capital.
Hengki, 28, a resident of Buah Batu in Bandung, said that he spent 1.5 hours one weekend in January to get from Buah Batu to Jl. Merdeka by car, even though the actual distance was less than 10 kilometers.
“It was just outrageous. Normally, it takes less than half an hour. Blaming the city administration or traffic officers is unwise, I think. Perhaps [improvements] can start by limiting the use of private vehicles,” he said.
Bandung transportation agency chief Didi Ruswandi said that the Walk to School program had been implemented for 12 schools. Apart from the four schools on Jl. Merdeka, the program also involved eight schools in Antapani district. The program is part of its #PelajarBeraniMandiri (Students Daring to be Independent) campaign.
Didi said that the program had many benefits. Apart from reducing traffic jams, it could also manage the air quality in Bandung. Last year, Bandung won the Cleanest Air award in the Big City category at the 4th ASEAN Environmentally Cities Award held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
Didi said that nurturing a culture of walking, cycling and relying on mass transportation was long-term work. Currently, around 80 percent of Bandung residents prefer to use private vehicles. The walking movement aimed to reduce traffic. However, oftentimes people only joined such movements without fully understanding the ultimate goal.
“This is a challenge for everyone. Through this walking movement, we wish to urge locals to reduce the use of private vehicles. Let’s walk, ride bicycles or use public transportation,” he said.
As urban areas grow denser, it is hoped walking can emerge as a new culture. The future of cities lay in its citizens’ hands. The only two choices are to change transportation patterns or to continue with the old ways – using private cars and contributing to traffic jams everywhere.
