Of course, we often hear Jakarta dubbed as a megacity. This nickname is synonymous with urban bustle characterized by traffic jams, and other things that drain finances, energy, and even have an impact on the realm of our social life. This city does make its residents busy and tired. So, if this is the case, what can be done? How can Jakarta be free from its nickname and all its burdens? The answer is to transform into a compact city.
What is a compact city?
Compact city is a city that does not deny its density. However, it still provides comfort for its citizens to live in. Compact cities still provide enough space to be able to socialize, play, and go to work with a short distance even comfortably on foot.
Compact city is essentially the principle of organizing the city in such a way that its citizens can carry out all activities and reach their daily needs within a few steps. Well, here are 5 benefits that can be obtained from compact cities.
Reducing Vehicle Use and Air Pollution
Being a citizen of a big city makes us breathe smoke more often than oxygen, and we all know this is deadly.
WHO data states that at least 7 million babies are born prematurely every year due to air pollution. The World Bank even calculates the health costs drained by citizens due to pollution globally could reach US$ 225 billion or equivalent to Rp 3,127 trillion at the current exchange rate! Referring to data from the DKI Jakarta Transportation and Environment Agency, every day at least 15 million motorbikes and 5.2 million cars pass through Jakarta and contribute 75% of the capital's air pollution. The compact city concept is here to respond to this issue and encourage citizens to travel on foot and use public transportation. Of course, supported by easy access and comfortable infrastructure facilities for its users.
When all these are met, citizens will switch from private vehicles and there will be less pollution in the city skies.
Encouraging a Healthy and Active Lifestyle
Uncomfortable road conditions often create a dependence on motorized vehicles. This is harmful not only to the air but also to the body, as we become increasingly lazy to move.
The Stanford University study said that even the average person chooses to use a car or motorcycle to go to a place that is less than 200 meters away. Sadly, Indonesia is ranked last out of 46 countries regarding the average number of steps taken by residents every day.
The cost of this sedentary culture is high, resulting in health problems such as hypertension and obesity. Hypertension can lead to stroke, which is the highest cause of death in Indonesia. Behind an obese body, there are certainly a pile of health risks that are ready to hit. Simply by walking more, all these risks can be reduced.
Higher Social Interaction and Collaboration
Which is more convenient, commuting to work through traffic with honking horns or taking a morning walk with a casual chat to the office?
Rather than the confines of a car, or the speed of a motorcycle, walking allows us to meet old or even new acquaintances when heading to the same destination. Communities that encourage their residents to walk, will create citizens who easily mingle with various backgrounds.
Don't believe it? A study by a researcher, Donald Appleyard, proved that people who travel light can make an average of 3 friends compared to those stuck in traffic with an average of only 0.9 friends. Another example is Ireland, where studies have shown that people who live in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are up to 80% more sociable than people who live in car-dependent areas.
This is because, to quote Robert Putnam, humans are naturally social creatures. However, he said urban life has eroded humans from interacting with each other. With compact cities, this nature can grow again because there are no more high-fenced landed houses and dependence on vehicles that can make humans poor in interaction.
Attractive sidewalks and cheap bonus tours!
One of the important elements of a compact city is to present sidewalks or walking areas that are not only comfortable but attractive, the goal is of course to get more people to walk.
New York, Copenhagen and Paris are no exception. Their sidewalks are not just a place to pass by but also a place for tourists to stop by. In fact, iconic sidewalks such as the Champ Elysees have become major destinations. The wide sidewalks allow the city to decorate them with parks, beautifully decorated kiosks, and of course, enough space for citizens to interact with each other.
The area has become a gathering point for residents to chat, have a nice coffee, or even work. Rather than staying in their homes or vehicles, residents prefer to get out and about to fill their social activities.
It is not impossible, if Jakarta is transformed into a more pedestrian-friendly city with comfortable infrastructure and complementary accessories, it can bring tourists to this city. So far, Jakarta has only acted as a transit city before tourists move on to other vacation destinations such as Bali, East Java, and West Java which are the three most popular tourist locations in Indonesia (based on BPS in 2018). It could be that with the presence of modern and attractive sidewalks, tourists will stop longer in the capital city to enjoy the atmosphere. It doesn't seem like a waste to invest and start implementing it, huh?
Opening Up Wider Opportunities with Social Mobility
Compact cities are believed to provide mobility that can empower people both economically and socially.
Urban planning that does not consider mobility will create wider economic inequality. The impact can go further, such as access to education that will only be enjoyed by certain groups.
According to a study by RAND, an American nonprofit research institute, Indonesia's rich families, who make up only 20% of the population, have a 49% chance of sending their children to university. Meanwhile, those born into poor families have only a 7% chance of accessing higher education.
For this reason, investment in creating compact urban environments such as compact cities is substantial. Research from the American Psychological Association (2008) shows that good public transportation access and adequate pedestrian facilities can have a real and sustainable impact on poverty alleviation.
A prime example is that with access to public transportation and user-friendly roads, the underprivileged will have easier access to the workplace. This is because they can get to the city easily and faster. They do not have to incur additional costs, such as renting a place or repeatedly riding in traffic jams that make them tired, stressed, and not optimal at work.
Moreover, according to The Socioecological Psychology of Upward Social Mobility , the provision of friendly and comfortable streets can build a great sense of belonging to the city in its citizens and make them more motivated to move forward.
So...
The dream of owning a landed house is already difficult to realize in land-poor Jakarta. But that doesn't mean the dream of a comfortable and quality life is out of reach.
The evidence is there, the experience has been tested that compact cities are the answer to a more livable and humane city. Continue to speak out and strive so that we can create a cohesive Jakarta and become a compact city. Please visit our Instagram @jakartapropertyinstitute for more information on livable city development and email info@jpi.or.id for ideas.
Jakarta residents actually cannot be fully blamed if they are reluctant to walk because the existing facilities are not comfortable. Therefore, facilities must still be improved and upgraded because a walking culture is not only born from the desire of citizens but must also be supported by the government. City planning and regulations must be able to encourage a better and healthier life for its citizens.
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