We will continue to nurture the colorful nature of Jakarta. We believe the way to care for it is not by monopolizing solutions, but once again by opening access for as many parties as possible to collaborate!
Jakarta is a collection of millions of stories. There are various stories in every corner. This is the story of a resident in one corner of the Capital. He is a city transport driver. Now, his days are not filled with anger; his face radiates a friendly aura. He is no longer burdened by daily deposits or receiving scoldings from passengers for lingering or stopping for a long time at the side of the road. Practices that make the streets uncomfortable certainly cannot be allowed.
Lingering at stops is clearly a violation. However, it is a type of violation born of necessity, not greed. He needs to pay his deposit. So, the solution is not just providing a sense of fear during enforcement, but rather resolving his needs: the need to obtain a decent livelihood. Plus, we often forget one thing: humanizing the citizens.
We continue to push the spirit of humanization as a fundamental value in every policy. Previously, city transport income was based on the number of passengers; now, it is based on the number of kilometers. The driver’s income is provided through a monthly salary. The public transportation ecosystem is made healthy and humane.
This friendly city transport driver is one of thousands who have joined JakLingko, the integrated transportation system in Jakarta. Through JakLingko, passengers gain convenience and drivers are humanized.
The JakLingko integrated transportation system has contributed to increasing the number of public transport users. Since Transjakarta began operations in 2004, it took 13 years to reach 119 million passengers in 2017. It then nearly doubled to 230 million in 2018. Additionally, Jakarta received an award as one of the three best cities in the world for improvements in transport systems and urban mobility at the Sustainable Transport Award in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Awards are not the goal, but rather the impact of the positive results we achieve together. This is not a moment for celebration, but for noting various lessons learned. The primary lesson is collaboration.
Collaboration is key
Jakarta is filled by millions of citizens with very diverse thoughts and perspectives. This means that no single party, not even the city government, has the right to feel they know best. Solutions are not a government monopoly; solutions can come from anywhere.
The relationship between the government and citizens is not paternalistic like a parent with their child. The government cannot simply monopolize solutions and direct its citizens without being willing to listen. Solutions will not emerge if the approach is a one-man show. What we continue to push is an approach that involves citizens. Therefore, the perspective of interaction with citizens is important to change.
This means that no single party, not even the city government, has the right to feel they know best. Because, solutions are not a government monopoly; solutions can come from anywhere.
We continue to encourage an ecosystem of collaboration within the collaborative city paradigm. The pattern of interaction built between the government and citizens is collaboration or mutual cooperation. The government becomes a collaborator and citizens become co-creators.
This paradigm is different from the consultative city paradigm that makes the government a facilitator, while citizens are participants. It is even further from the service city concept where the government becomes a service provider and citizens are reduced to mere customers.
With the concept of collaboration, the government does not just provide space, but proactively invites citizens, communities, and civil elements to be involved as co-creators in various joint initiatives. Urban solutions become something inclusive, no longer exclusive.
Let us take an example of collaboration in the field of transportation. Transportation should not only be viewed as a mode or tool, but as the entire experience of urban mobility. If viewed only as a mode or tool, the streets will become a space for competition, regarding who is the fastest and most powerful on the road.
We continue to foster a collaborative ecosystem within the collaborative city paradigm.
Meanwhile, if viewed as an experience, the streets transform into a space for interaction, creating various opportunities for collaboration. As an experience of enjoying the city, our principle is to prioritize pedestrians and public transportation. The approach is always inclusive, involving the perspectives of women, the disabled community, children, and marginalized groups.
Collaboration is the key to making it happen. There are many collaborative initiatives realized in transportation.
This starts with collaborating with city transport providers to integrate minibuses into the JakLingko system. Intermodal integration is vital to encourage citizens to switch to public transport; currently, we continue to push for the 23 to 25 percent of the population using public transport to keep increasing.
It involves the cycling community and invites citizens to be actively engaged in creating dedicated bike lanes. Through this collaboration, we strive to ensure that bicycles are not just sports equipment, but a means of transportation. Bike lanes aim to encourage cycling to become a “lifestyle” for all circles, rather than a “stylish life” status for a select few.
Listening to the aspirations of citizens in the revitalization of pedestrian paths, such as in the Kemang and Cikini areas. Nearby residents are not just beneficiaries; their voices become meaningful input in the pedestrian path revitalization process.
Inviting the civil community Jakarta Transportation Discussion Forum to be involved in providing signage and wayfinding at Transjakarta stops. Not to be missed is the involvement of female artists to fill the spaces along Jalan Sudirman as a canvas for creativity.
Intermodal integration is very important to encourage citizens to switch to public transport. Currently, we continue to push for the 23 to 25 percent of the population using public transport to continue to increase.
This spirit of collaboration can also be felt in the revitalization of 16 urban villages, including Kampung Akuarium. This includes the active involvement of residents in drafting community action plans, architects serving as co-creators in realizing the urban village, and civil communities assisting throughout every process.
Furthermore, more than 100 urban villages have had their mobility aspects reorganized through active collaboration between residents, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, and the regional ranks of the Jakarta Provincial Government. The initiatives and actions can manifest in various fields, but the spirit remains the same: encouraging collaboration to build positive interaction between the government and citizens to find inclusive solutions for every problem.
Equal in third place
Inclusive collaboration is only possible if we can create equal opportunities for all citizens. Citizens are facilitated to connect with their communities, transcending social and economic class boundaries. This concept of connectivity is continuously presented through the third place.
Urban interaction experiences can be simply divided into three major parts. The first place is home, the second place refers to the place of routine activity, such as the workplace, and the third place is the space between home and the place of activity. The third place, if well-designed, will become a place for very intense interaction between citizens from various backgrounds.
The third place is important for building a social ecosystem, not just an economic one. A person’s economic or social status is not an issue in the third place because what is encouraged is a sense of equality among the interacting citizens.
Take Dukuh Atas Cultural Spot as an example. This is an equal third place for every citizen, thus enabling citizens to interact. Its creation was also the result of collaboration with various communities. Thus, various facilities were realized that accommodate diverse citizen activities, ranging from tropical forest parks, art spots for cultural expression spaces, a skatepark, educational spots, and observation decks for taking selfies.
The third place is important for building a social ecosystem, not just an economic one.
Dukuh Atas Cultural Spot is just one of the various third places we continue to realize. This is one of the efforts to make the urban interaction experience more colorful. We will continue to nurture the colors of Jakarta. We believe the way to nurture it is not by monopolizing solutions, but once again by opening access for as many parties as possible to collaborate!