The Indonesia Transportation Society (MTI) is urging Jakarta transportation authorities to ban electric bicycles from public roads due to a surge in related accidents.
“Electric bicycles pose a significant accident risk on roads due to their silent operation and low speed,” stated Djoko Setijowarno, MTI’s Deputy Chairman of Empowerment and Regional Development, on Sunday.
He highlighted the alarming figure of 647 electric bicycle accidents recorded in the first half of the year, emphasizing the urgent need for public education on the vehicle’s safe use.
“Electric bicycle purchasers must understand that these vehicles are not designed for public roads,” he stressed, calling on dealers to inform customers accordingly.
Parents, schools, and communities should also intensify supervision of children riding electric bicycles, Setijowarno added.
To prevent further accidents, the MTI recommends widespread safety campaigns, including the integration of electric bicycle safety into school curricula.
“We must protect children from becoming victims or perpetrators of accidents that can harm other road users,” he emphasized.
The use of electric bicycles is regulated under Ministerial Regulation Number 45 of 2020, which limits the vehicle’s speed to 25 km/hour and restricts its use to residential areas, excluding public roads.