New Bike-Sharing Service Set to Help Jakarta Combat Air Pollution, Bad Traffic
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Surya Teknologi Perkasa, a subsidiary of digital self-service kiosk operator M Cash Integrasi, has introduced an online-based bicycle-sharing service dubbed Gowes, aimed at providing an emission-free transportation alternative to help Jakarta combat air pollution and traffic congestion.
Bicycle sharing is still relatively new business in the capital, where motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Go-Jek Indonesia and Grab have been dominating over the past few years.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, who attended the inauguration event at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Friday (27/07), said there will be a three-month trial of the bicycle-sharing service, during which time people will be allowed to ride for free in the Monas area. This will be done to test demand for the new service.
The trial will take place in collaboration with the Jakarta provincial government and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.
“We are pleased with the trial. We expect support from the government and all parties to make bicycles Jakarta residents’ preferred option for short-term transportation as it reduces air and noise pollution, while also being affordable and safe for all ages,” Surya Teknologi Perkasa president director Iwan Suryaputra said in a statement.
He said the company will continue to support the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate traffic congestion in the capital through the bike-sharing system.
“The trial will take place in collaboration with the Jakarta provincial government and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.”
Jakarta is consistently among the top-10 most polluted cities in the world, according to data provided by air quality monitoring app AirVisual.
A study by US-based research company Inrix has shown that Jakarta is the 17th most congested city in the world after Bangkok and Russia’s Kansk, noting that its residents spend on average 63 hours in congestion per year.
Gowes, which means “to paddle,” in Indonesian, is already available in Bintaro, Banten and several locations in Bali. Equipped with tracking devices, users do not need to return the bicycles to their original location after use. Instead, they can park it anywhere with Gowes’s operational area.
The Gowes smartphone application also offers other digital products and services, such as internet data packages, phone credit and more, similar to those offered by Go-Jek. The services are also in line with the parent company M Cash’s core business.
M Cash was the second digital startup to list on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). It raised Rp 300 billion ($21 million) in October last year from the sale of 25 percent of its enlarged capital. Since then, the company has acquired mobile wallet service provider Matchmove Indonesia and cloud-based digital advertising firm Digital Marketing Indonesia.
M Cash reported net income of Rp 45 billion in the first half of this year, compared with Rp 3.8 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary objective of the Gowes bike-sharing service in Jakarta?
What is the primary objective of the Gowes bike-sharing service in Jakarta?
Gowes aims to provide an emission-free transport option. Its purpose is to help Jakarta tackle severe air pollution and reduce traffic congestion in the city. The service is part of wider efforts to support the government's environmental goals.
Q.Where will the initial trial of the Gowes service take place and for how long?
Where will the initial trial of the Gowes service take place and for how long?
The trial will be held in the Monas area of Central Jakarta and is scheduled to last for three months. During this period, users will be able to ride the bicycles for free, allowing demand for the new service to be tested.
Q.How do Gowes users pick up and return the bicycles within the operational area?
How do Gowes users pick up and return the bicycles within the operational area?
Users do not need to return the bicycles to their original pick-up location. Each bike is equipped with tracking devices, allowing users to park them anywhere within Gowes's designated operational area after use, providing flexibility.
Q.Does the Gowes smartphone application offer any other services besides bike sharing?
Does the Gowes smartphone application offer any other services besides bike sharing?
Yes, the Gowes smartphone application provides additional digital products and services. These include internet data packages and phone credit, which are similar to offerings from other digital platforms and align with the parent company's core business.