As Indonesia's capital and most congested city, Jakarta illustrates how a lot of public spaces are repurposed due to parking shortages. I write this article over my frustration as a pedestrian who is often coerced onto dangerous roads as the sidewalks are built improperly and often transformed into parking spots occupied by cars or motorcycles that park improperly. Meanwhile, vehicle owners engage in a constant battle to secure parking on public sidewalks over a shortage of parking spaces. Furthermore, sidewalks also become a site to fuel informal economies as unauthorized parking attendants or a place for hawkers to sell their commodities, both seize the opportunity to earn a living by managing these contested spaces.
The conflict over sidewalk ownership has become a common thing that is somewhat normalized as a consequence of living in J-town. Sidewalks have now become a site of social class contestation; car owners, who are often middle to upper class, assert their dominance over public space, while pedestrians, including lower-income workers and people with disabilities, are pushed to the margins.
What's wrong with the promise of automobility infrastructure in Indonesia?
These conditions reflect the Government of Indonesia's (the government) failure in urban planning by providing adequate automobility infrastructure. This infrastructure refers to systems that support the movement of automobile-based transportation. It is often perceived as a technical issue, though it is deeply political. Who gets to access and acquire the resources of automobility infrastructure such as roads and parking spaces is influenced by power and class distribution in society. As what occurs in Jakarta, the sidewalk has become a battleground between private car owners, pedestrians, and marginalized groups, all competing for limited urban space.
The government and automotive industries frequently push for policies encouraging motor vehicle ownership, promising it as a gateway for personal freedom, easier mobility, and a symbol of modernity and economic growth. Policy supporting the automotive industry is also justified by their substantial contribution to economic growth. However, these promises tend to overlook a critical issue inherent in automotive-based infrastructure: its dormancy. Automobiles are also immobile burdens with little to no utility for most of the day. The average private vehicle is parked 80% of the time, consuming vast amounts of public and private land that could be used for more dynamic and communal purposes. This inefficiency creates a paradox where investments in mobility infrastructure ultimately contribute to immobility by clogging streets, occupying sidewalks, and displacing more sustainable urban functions.
Who Benefits from the Sidewalk Crisis?
While ordinary citizens struggle with parking woes, certain groups benefit from the existing disorder. Private developers, for instance, profit from the construction of expensive commercial parking buildings, which are often unaffordable for the average driver. Similarly, a recent article from The Jakarta Post revealed that certain individuals within the Jakarta Transportation Agency have engaged in corrupt practices by receiving informal fees from unauthorized parking attendants to allow illegal parking systems. The lack of an enforceable parking policy enables a cycle of exploitation, where those with economic and political power manipulate the system for personal gain.
Moreover, the state's reluctance to impose strict parking regulations can be linked to electoral politics. Many car owners belong to the urban middle class---a crucial voter base. Implementing policies that restrict car usage or impose strict parking fines may be unpopular and risk political backlash. In a recent example, through a poll, Jakartans opposed a policy proposal banning private vehicles older than 10 years to reduce congestion. They are concerned about its impact on their mobility and finances. As a result, the government tends to avoid firm action, further entrenching the parking crisis.
A Call for Policy Reform
If the government continues to push automotive investment as a key economic driver, it must also acknowledge the dormant function of cars and their long-term impact on urban space. Recent government policies on automotive vehicles have put a lot of incentives in place to encourage sales of locally manufactured domestic EV-industry and imported electric vehicles (EVs). This shows how the government is still focusing on car-centric policy rather than reevaluating its sustainability.
First, the government should enforce stricter regulations on illegal parking reallocating sidewalks and public spaces to pedestrians. At the same time, authorities should offer alternative livelihood programs for informal parking attendants, ensuring that policy changes do not disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
