To commemorate International Day of People with Disabilities, ITDP Indonesia hosted a public discussion titled “The Next Steps Towards Inclusive Public Transportation in Jakarta” on December 10, 2024, at ITDP Indonesia’s office, Central Jakarta. Moderated by Devina Heriyanto from Project Multatuli and live-streamed on ITDP Indonesia’s YouTube channel, the discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities for improving accessibility and inclusivity in public transportation for people with disabilities. Speakers included Aulia Rahmatunnisa, Acting Head of the Customer Relations Department at Transjakarta; Bagus Supriyanto, Member of GAUN (National Public Accessibility Movement) and PERTUNI (Indonesian Blind Association); Nunik Nurjanah, Program Analyst at UN Women Indonesia; and Deliani Siregar, Urban Planning & Inclusivity Manager at ITDP Indonesia. 

Nunik Nurjanah opened the discussion by addressing the high rate of violence against women, with 289,111 reported cases, while many more remain unreported. She also shared data from the National Commission on Violence Against Women, which recorded 110 cases of violence against women with disabilities in 2023, and results from the 2022 Safe Public Space Coalition survey showing over 3,500 cases of harassment against women in public spaces, 23% of which occurred on public transportation. Nunik highlighted the importance of providing inclusive information on sexual violence prevention services on public transport and the need for the involvement of vulnerable groups, such as women, people with disabilities, and the elderly, in monitoring these services. 

Bagus Supriyanto, a member of GAUN and PERTUNI, followed with a discussion on the collaborative efforts between ITDP Indonesia, GAUN, PERTUNI, and the Transport for Metropolitan Jakarta (Forum Diskusi Transportasi Jakarta, “FDTJ”) in developing guidelines and recommendations for inclusive transportation. He shared the development of inclusive features such as card placement markers at tapping gates and Braille maps at 13 inclusive bus stops in Jakarta in 2023, with broader implementation at 144 Transjakarta bus stops in 2024. However, Bagus pointed out issues such as Braille buttons on lifts not being properly placed and the mispositioning of the “L” shaped elbows at tapping gates, which confuse visually impaired passengers. 

Bagus also stressed the need for broader socialization to help visually impaired persons better utilize these facilities. He hopes these features will be expanded and communicated more broadly, allowing people with disabilities to navigate public transportation independently. “The goal is that accessible transportation for all will make it easier for people with disabilities to participate in activities and travel. Many still require assistance from their families, but we shouldn’t limit their abilities and skills, allowing them to stay active and employed,” he said. 

In response, Aulia Rahmatunnisa, Acting Head of the Customer Relations Department at Transjakarta, acknowledged that there is still much to be done, especially in increasing socialization and understanding of inclusive features. She added that Transjakarta is continuously working to make its services more inclusive through the Perista pin (priority pin) and the Transjakarta Care service, which provides transportation specifically for people with disabilities. Aulia also shared that 2.30% of Transjakarta employees are people with disabilities, stating that disabilities do not limit individuals but instead bring valuable skills that contribute to improving services. 

Closing the discussion, Deliani Siregar, Urban Planning & Inclusivity Manager at ITDP Indonesia, reminded the importance of involving people with disabilities as experts in the development and replication of inclusive facilities in public transportation. In 2024, ITDP Indonesia surveyed the development of inclusive bus stop facilities, which have now been adopted at 144 Transjakarta bus stops. While replication has been fast, the implementation requires adjustments at some stops, and involving people with disabilities is essential. 

Deliani hopes that efforts to create inclusive public transportation will continue, as many challenges remain. She emphasized that collaboration is key to creating an environment that supports persons with disabilities, providing access to basic services, and empowering them. “Disability is not a result of incapacity, but of an unsupportive environment. When the environment supports, it opens access to basic services like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, empowering people with disabilities,” she said. 

In addition to the public discussion, ITDP Indonesia held a mini gathering involving representatives from public transportation operators, the government, civil society organizations focusing on strengthening disability-friendly transportation policies and practices, and persons with disability from associations such as GAUN, PERTUNI, Gerkatin, and YAPESDI. The mini gathering took place at ITDP Indonesia’s office, where attendees could also watch the public discussion live.  

During this event, ITDP Indonesia showcased a photo exhibition highlighting the development of inclusive Transjakarta bus stops since 2022. The photos were equipped with Braille and audio information to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. 

Catch “The Next Steps Towards an Inclusive Public Transportation in Jakarta” rerun on ITDP Indonesia’s YouTube channel.