Sidewalks and Pedestrians

In the cities I now live in, there are not many special facilities for pedestrians or sidewalks. Roads with houses or shophouses are only limited by a few inches of the road shoulder with sanitation or culverts. Meanwhile, the average resident here is active outside the home using private vehicles in the form of motorbikes, some use existing vehicles such as bicycles and cars for those who have a fairly good economy.

Do these phenomena seem synchronous? On the one hand, the lack of sidewalk facilities, and on the other hand, the residents seem comfortable with their vehicles. People walk only for certain purposes, such as walking for short distances between car parks and restaurants, for example.

There may be passersby, like outsiders here, but it's certainly accompanied by a sigh. Motor vehicle fumes pollute the nose, threats from motorized road users who do not obey the rules, lack something interesting to enjoy while walking, such as rows of snacks, ancient buildings, or beautiful city parks. So far, people feel comfortable walking only in certain places, for example near a traditional market, in a shopping area near the port, in a government office area, and even then with rows of parking vehicles that arbitrarily park on the shoulder of the road.

Previously, while in the capital before setting foot in this city, I could still meet sidewalks and city transportation vehicles and pedestrians. What's different?

Every morning, afternoon, and evening, I can still travel time on foot, crossing city streets in the area I am going to or stopping at. Through government buildings, shops, cafes, and restaurants, by utilizing sidewalk facilities that are suitable for use.

It's also delicious because we feel the positive energy from people who are also walking and passing by the side of the road, not seeing old or young people. And those people, some of whom are road-goers or tourists who come from all over the world. In addition, on the side of the road, there are rows of people's snacks, both in the form of seafood and sellers of souvenirs in the form of clothes and souvenirs. It may be tiring but it gives a feeling of security and happiness when walking. Because it seems to get a view and an atmosphere that can be felt as a pedestrian usually in a city.

For the people of the capital city itself, it is also possible that many still choose to travel by public transportation, so that in the afternoon, after work, most of the young people and workers also pass by on the roadside. They don't go straight home, maybe with friends or friends, girlfriends stop by to enjoy roadside snacks, go first to restaurants or cafes, especially last Sunday, nights we are served with all the offers that are served. Young people certainly enjoy the music at the cafe.

On the roads, motorbikes and cars also pass, along with the available transportation. This transportation adds to the atmosphere of ease of readiness for the public who do not have private vehicles. Together with city buses, mingle with taxis that also compete with online transportation such as Uber. On the upper side, there is a modern train that floats. The streets of the capital are a meeting place between the modern and the traditional. The old ones are cared for and inherited, the new ones come and don't bother.

Residents of the capital city can also relieve stress from work in the office by taking advantage of their evenings on the streets while enjoying coffee, Thai tea, and seafood. This will have an impact on the work productivity of the citizens of the capital. Of course, residents of the capital who peddle food on the roadside can feel how to get sustenance from pedestrians.

If we talk about chaos, pollution, traffic jams, etc., such as those caused by motorized vehicles, of course, it cannot be avoided in the capital city, it can even be said to be worse than in the area where I currently live. But for some reason, the existence of public transportation and sidewalks is not widely found. If there is a sidewalk, it can only be said to be in the port and office area, if it is presented it is only 10% of the existing area. Public transportation, only motorcycle taxis are available, rickshaws have been eroded by the times.

There are many things that, if taken from a data perspective, are actually different, the existence of the capital and the city that I currently live in, my opinion and existence may not require public transportation. Not because the citizens are all capable, but because their existence is inadequate. But is it inappropriate for the word sidewalk to be held or provided? For this one, it is still a big question mark why there are no sidewalks on the causeway or the main road that large vehicles pass every time.

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Resource: Hive in Bahasa Indonesia