Fachrul Sidiq, Jakarta – Following widespread criticism on social media, workers from state-owned electricity company PLN have begun removing several utility poles that had been installed in the middle of bicycle lanes near the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
"The poles do not belong to us, but to telecommunications firms and are no longer in use. We are just helping to remove them," PLN spokesperson Aries Dwianto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Workers were seen removing the poles on Monday, when the Bike To Work community posted a picture of the poles on its Intagram account and questioned their placement.
"Is this a dedicated bicycle lane or just a bicycle painting? Our suggestion is to erase the bicycle illustration or remove the poles," it said in the caption.
Earlier, the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) had demanded the poles' removal so the area could be paved for bicycle lanes. The bicycle lanes were designed by the Public Works and Housing Ministry.