Exploring and Documenting Street Culture in Jakarta

Unframed.it invited young people to explore Jakarta's street culture through a city walking tour and discussion event, Scene & Sound Vol.1, held in the Menteng district. The event, themed 'Cultural Exploration: Maintaining Our Shared Living Space on the Streets,' encouraged participants to observe how the public uses urban areas.

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Jakarta is indeed bustling, with activities that are very different from when I was in my hometown.

Participants walked through Menteng, a historic area designed as a garden city during the Dutch colonial era. They were asked to identify violations and misuse of public spaces, such as vendors occupying sidewalks, illegal parking, and inconsiderate traffic behavior. These observations highlighted challenges in maintaining accessible and functional public areas.

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Because walking is an activity with many benefits, it's healthy, and it's free, and that eventually made many people start to join. Finally, after the pandemic, walking tours exploded.

During a subsequent discussion, attendees were encouraged to view the city not just as a transit zone but as a repository of experiences and meanings. Rindy Atmoko, head of the Jakarta Artists community, shared her initial culture shock in Jakarta due to its bustling nature. Indra Diwangkara, CEO of Step Into Jakarta, discussed the growing popularity of walking tours post-pandemic, aligning with Jakarta's focus on urban tourism. He emphasized the health and cost benefits of walking and the importance of shared rights on the road, a sentiment echoed by Brigadier Susan of the National Traffic Management Center, who urged all road users to exercise caution and respect each other's space.

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Everyone on the road has the same rights. Whether you are a pedestrian, using a bicycle, or using a car, everyone has the same rights. So don't take each other's lanes.