Jakarta Builds JXB Bike Lounge to Support Bicycles as Eco-Friendly Transportation

The Jakarta Government keeps encouraging people to use eco-friendly transportation modes such as bicycles to support their mobility.

By cycling, we are helping to create a movement using environmentally friendly transportation

In supporting the effort, the Government builds various cyclist-friendly facilities. Therefore, on World Bicycle Day which falls on Friday (6/3), the Government and Jakarta Experience Board/PT. Jakarta Tourisindo (JXB) held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the JXB Bike Lounge at the West Flood Canal (KBB).

The ceremony was attended by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, JXB President Director Novita Dewi, the ranks of the Jakarta Government, ambassadors of various countries, and representatives of bicycle communities. The JXB Bike Lounge was scheduled to start operating in September 2022.

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Governor explained that the Government is seeking a cultural transformation in transportation, especially in building public transportation thus Jakartans can comfortably move using public transportation, not private vehicles.

"Now, it has reached 82 percent. While in 2016, it was 42 percent. It explains why daily ridership has also increased from 350,000 to 1 million per day. This is because the coverage area is wide and that's how we encourage people to use public transportation, especially bicycles," he conveyed, as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release, Friday (6/3).

He also explained that the transformation is by the JXB Bike Lounge program, which is to continue the use of eco-friendly transportation modes through cycling.

"By cycling, we're helping to create a movement using eco-friendly transportation. Besides, other public transportation is also in the process of transforming from fuel to electric vehicles. In the process, there are currently 30 (Transjakarta electric buses) available. God willing, there will be 100 buses by the end of the year, and hopefully, in 2030, all public transportation in Jakarta can be converted into electric vehicles," he explained.

In today's Groundbreaking, JXB President Director Novita Dewi stated that JXB Bike Lounge was not only built to facilitate cyclists, but also to optimize public spaces, enhance the beauty of the city, and promote the cycling movement among Jakarta residents.

JXB Bike Lounge has two main roles. First, because Jakarta has a tropical climate, making it easier for cyclists to sweat, the JXB Lounge can be used for cyclists to shower and change clothes.

"Second, the JXB Bike Lounge can be used as a gathering point for cyclists and increase the choice of public space for Jakarta residents. JXB Bike Lounge will also beautify the city with a space decorated with murals. Through the JXB Bike Lounge, JXB wants to unite with various communities, such as creating community and bicycle community," she mentioned.

At the JXB Bike Lounge groundbreaking event, JXB collaborated with Diton King for Live Mural activity in JXB Bike Lounge. Diton King is a special graffiti spray paint product from Diton, which is an Indonesian company that has been established 25 years. Diton King is also active in supporting the development of graffiti art in Indonesia and Asia.

There were three well-known muralists participated in this event, namely  Finedimension, Cakes PWS, and Boner. Finedimension is a graffiti artist who produces Diton King graffiti spray paint and has been active in Indonesian graffiti since early 2000.

Cakes PWS is a young Indonesian graffiti artist who is well-known for his speed and expertise in processing graffiti styles. Lastly, is Boner, an Indonesian graffiti artist who is also active in festivals at home and abroad. He is also one of the young graffiti artists who inspires the generations below him.

The JXB Bike Lounge in Jakarta also added the number of public spaces needed by Jakarta residents. It was the research of an urban sociologist from the United States, Ray Oldenburg , who described the concept of Third Place. According to him, humans need a third place in their life.

The first place is home, the second is the office or school, and the third is the public space where people spend their time exchanging ideas, relaxing, building relationships, and enjoying the day.

The role of the third-place becomes important in today's era considering the need to socialize is getting higher. Therefore, the JXB Bike Lounge is relevant for Jakarta residents because it increases the choice of places for residents to socialize.

"In the process of building JXB Bike Lounge, JXB always involves the relevant OPDs in the Jakarta Government and the bicycle community through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) thus the facility can be used optimally. The first JXB Bike Lounge will be built at the West Flood Canal. In the future, it will be built in other strategic locations," she informed.