Yogyakarta, or Jogja as locals call it, is a beautiful city in Indonesia known for its culture, temples, and street food. But behind the charm, there is a big problem: illegal parking. This happens when people park cars or bikes on the streets without permission, often run by unofficial attendants who charge money. While it seems like a small issue, illegal parking has a dark side that hurts the city, its people, and visitors. In this blog post, we will look at the hidden problems and why it needs to stop.
How Illegal Parking Causes Traffic Chaos
One of the biggest issues with illegal parking is how it blocks roads and causes traffic jams. In busy areas like Pasar Kembang road near Tugu Station, cars and bikes parked on the side make the road narrower. This slows down traffic and can even lead to accidents. For example, with over 575,000 vehicles in Jogja, including almost 490,000 motorbikes, the streets are already crowded. Illegal parking makes it worse by reducing space for moving vehicles.(researchgate.net) In places like Malioboro, a popular shopping street, this chaos disrupts daily life and makes driving stressful.
Studies show that this problem is common in growing cities like Jogja. It not only slows traffic but also violates laws, like Indonesia's Law Number 22 of 2009, which says parking should not block roads.(pdfs.semanticscholar.org) Without proper control, these spots turn into no-go zones for smooth travel.
The Extortion by Unofficial Attendants
Another dark part is the money side. Illegal parking attendants, called "jukir liar" in Indonesian, charge high fees without any rules. They often ask for more money from tourists or people who look like outsiders. For instance, in Malioboro, two attendants were caught charging Rp50,000 (about $3 USD) for short parking, using fake tickets made from torn paper.(harianjogja.com) This happened in front of the Governor's Office, and it went viral on social media. The police arrested the two men, named TI and S, and they faced a quick trial.
These attendants don't pay taxes or give money to the city. Instead, they keep all the cash, which could be a lot. In Jogja, this means the government loses out on income that could fix roads or build better parking lots.(kompas.id) Some people complain on social media about paying Rp10,000 just for a quick stop to eat, calling it unfair and frustrating. This extortion can scare away visitors and make locals angry.
Damage to Jogja's Image as a Tourist Spot
Jogja relies on tourism for its economy. Places like Malioboro attract millions of visitors each year. But illegal parking hurts this. When tourists get overcharged or stuck in traffic, they leave with bad memories. One case of attendants charging Rp50,000 to a tourist damaged the city's reputation, as it spread online and made people think Jogja is not safe or fair.(rejogja.republika.co.id) If this keeps happening, especially on weekends or holidays, it could reduce the number of tourists.
Weak law enforcement makes it worse. Fines are low, like Rp250,000, which doesn't stop people from doing it again.(researchgate.net) Social media posts show police and transport officials catching attendants, but the problem keeps coming back.
The good news is that leaders are trying solutions. The mayor of Yogyakarta, Hasto Wardoyo, suggested a valet parking system. This means official helpers park your car in safe spots, making things organized and reducing illegal spots.(rejogja.republika.co.id) Other ideas include more patrols, CCTV cameras, and working with hotels to create better parking areas.(researchgate.net) In areas like Bantul near Jogja, officials plan to stop illegal parking at events.
Everyone can help by using official parking and reporting bad attendants to the police.
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