Pedaling for Success on West Java’s Southern Route

The southern route of West Java will again be enlivened this year by hundreds of cyclists from various places. In the Cycling de Jabar 2023, they will take part in developing a better future along the southern route.

MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

A number of participants prepare to cycle in the De Jabar Coffee Ride Cycling series at the Yumaju Coffee cafe, Bandung City, West Java, Sunday (9/4/2023).

Cycling de Jabar is a long-distance cycling event spanning 319 kilometers from Ciletuh in Sukabumi regency to Panglapang Beach in Pangandaran regency. The inaugural event was held in 2022 by the West Java provincial administration, Bank BJB, and Kompas daily.

The theme at the time was “Nyebarkeun Sumanget” (spreading zeal). A total of 69 cyclists from home and abroad not only competed in the event, but also promoted tourism, economic potential, and regional cultures.

This year, themed “Nyambungkeun Sumanget” (connecting zeal), Cycling de Jabar 2023 will embody the spirit of collaboration betweem various groups. One among the series of events, Coffee Ride Cycling de Jabar, was held in the city of Bandung on Sunday (9/4/2023). A week earlier, a similar event was held in Jakarta.

In Bandung, more than 80 cyclists gathered at Yumaju Coffee Cafe. They cycled a route of around 15 km, passing by Gedung Sate and Bandung Zoo to reach Jl. Ir. H. Juanda, or Dago.

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The road captain of Coffee Ride Cycling de Jabar, Fika M. Farisi, said the cyclists rode for around 45 minutes in a relaxed manner and as a group. The path they passed was flat. However, the route started climbing as it crossed Dago until it reached the U-turn heading back to the starting point.

The Bandung route was nothing compared to the route of the Cycling de Jabar. “This is to show that the Cycling de Jabar 2023 event will be held soon. As for the route, Cycling de Jabar is clearly more challenging than here. However, in the south there are more beautiful views,” he said.

Southern West Java also has various potentials. In Ciletuh, for example, various tourism potentials exist and are waiting to be developed. These include turtle conservation tourism, water sports, historical and prehistoric areas, as well as tourism villages.

In the south there are more beautiful views,

Another example is maritime development across Sukabumi, Tasikmalaya, and Pangandaran. Marine eels, for example, have the greatest potential due to their high demand. Sukabumi has even become a global model for eels.

Lobster farming is also awaiting development, because so far it has been entangled in international smuggling. Likewise, shrimp farming in Tasikmalaya and Pangandaran has exceeded conventional agriculture.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The Cycling de Jabar 2022 bicycle racer raced his bicycle to complete the second stage of 169 kilometers from Rancabuaya, Garut to Paamprokan Square, Pangandaran, Sunday (28/8/2022).

Unfortunately, no regions in southern West Java are included in the top 10 of the largest regional minimum wages (UMR). Karawang regency has the highest UMR at Rp 5.1 million. This is higher than in Sukabumi regency, the southern region with the highest minimum wage at Rp 3.3 million.

The roads in Sukabumi, Cianjur, and Pangandaran are not as wide as the roads between Karawang and Cirebon. As a result, it takes hours to travel between these districts in a single regency. Health and education services are constrained, especially in remote areas.

In fact, spanning 10,059 square kilometers, southern West Java is inhabited by more than 11.3 million people. This is equivalent to 23.4 percent of the total population of West Java in 2021, which was 48 million people.

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Erwin Hutapea, the head of Bank Indonesia’s West Java representative office, said connectivity must continue to be improved in the northern and southern regions to encourage growth and maintain economic stability.

“This strategy encourages investment by picking up the ball. We’ll be doing some forums. West Java already has a West Java Investment Summit, and we will continue with relevant themes. We are seeing more in transportation and warehousing, automotive, and electronics,” said Erwin.

West Java Governor Ridwan “Emil” Kamil has welcomed these plans. Emil said 71 road sections in 69 projects would be repaired immediately in 2023.

Totaling 353.822 km together, they are divided into the three categories of periodic maintenance, reconstruction and road improvement. Some sections are south of West Java. Apart from the road sections, three bridges have been repaired in Bogor, Garut and Pangandaran regencies.

Fortune must be seized, not waited for.

Traditional markets have also been revitalized. From a target of revitalizing 25 markets by 2023, a total of 21 markets have been revitalized, including in Sukabumi, Cianjur, Garut and Tasikmalaya.

In the last five years, total investment in West Java has reached Rp 685 trillion. In 2022, West Java was the region in Indonesia with the highest investment at Rp 175 trillion.

“Fortune must be seized, not waited for,” said Emil.

Cycling de Jabar is one of many things that can make a living, and Kompas daily wants to get involved. “This is part of Kompas’ steps to show the potential of the region. We hope that this program will continue,” said Kompas Deputy Chief Editor Tri Agung Kristanto.

Kompas Managing Editor Adi Prinantyo expressed his hope that this event would grow seeds of cyclists from West Java of a national, even international, caliber.

This article was translated by Kurnia Siswo.