Cycling Bamboo at CFD, President Jokowi Greets Residents and Provides Selfie Photos

President Jokowi took advantage of the car-free day to cycle and greet residents.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo takes a morning bike ride in the Jalan Thamrin Sudirman area, Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024).

The car-free day in the Sudirman and Thamrin areas, Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024), turned festive. Suddenly President Joko Widodo was in the midst of residents who were exercising in the morning.

President Jokowi followed by the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) left the Presidential Palace in Jakarta at around 06.40 WIB. Riding a bamboo bicycle, the President and his security forces mingled with residents jogging in the car free day (CFD) area. The former Governor of DKI Jakarta pedaled his bicycle along Jalan Thamrin, Sudirman, then returned to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout area.

Some residents who noticed the presence of the presidential security detail called out and greeted President Jokowi by name. At the HI roundabout, the President slowed down his bike to greet and take a selfie with the residents.

Aufa, one of Jakarta's residents who had the opportunity to directly meet President Jokowi, shared his story. He did not expect that on Car Free Day (HBKB) today, he would be able to meet the President.

"I was confused, I was sitting and then suddenly it got crowded. I thought they were taking pictures with TJ (Transjakarta), but it turns out the President was there," Aufa said.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo went for a morning bike ride in the Thamrin Sudirman area of Jakarta on Sunday (5/5/2024). Local residents who happened to be jogging also took advantage of the opportunity to take photos with him.

Similarly, Dimas, one of the residents who was enjoying their Sunday morning at Bundaran HI, was also surprised by the presence of the Head of State there. In Dimas' eyes, President Jokowi appeared humble, mingling with the community to exercise together.

"The father is a humble person, very kind, and loves his people. It can be seen from his own participation in activities with his own people who directly participate in CFD this morning," he said.

He also expressed his pleasure at being able to meet President Jokowi. "I feel really happy and very happy," continued Dimas.

Mainstay

The President's favorite bamboo bicycle is used many times. Finally, Thursday (2/5/2024), the President used this bicycle in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. While on a working visit, the President enjoyed a morning in Mataram City with the Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman. After cycling, the two of them had breakfast while chatting.

This bicycle was also used by President Jokowi when receiving a visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in early June 2022. The President and PM Albanese pedaled this bicycle from the Bogor Presidential Palace to the Bogor Botanical Gardens and had a tete-a-tete conversation. The bamboo bicycle was then presented as a gift to PM Albanese.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo and Australian PM Anthony Albanese prepare to cycle together to the Bogor Botanical Gardens. At a cafe in the Botanical Gardens, the two of them will have an informal conversation (tete-a-tete).

This bamboo bike is made by a native of Temanggung, Central Java. The Spedagi brand bicycle, which stands for morning bicycle, was purchased by the President during a work visit to the Turetogo Bamboo Campus in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), on Wednesday (1/6/2022). While witnessing various bamboo laminated products for poles, walls, and floors, the President fell in love and bought Singgih S Kartono's Spedagi work.

Also read: Jokowi's bicycle surprise for Albanese

Singgih developed bamboo bicycles and created a social movement related to bamboo in his village in Kandangan, Temanggung, Central Java. Previously, President Jokowi also purchased Spedagi in 2019.