Pedestrianization in Yogyakarta: Transforming the Malioboro One Step at a Time

This article profiles the successes and difficulties the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) have faced in trying to pedestrianize Malioboro Road in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Motorcycles make up the majority of the city's vehicle fleet. The ITDP decided to address the project in three areas: analysis of the traffic impact of the road closing and preparing a traffic mitigation plan; modernization of the becak, a non-motorized, three-wheeled rickshaw which seats passengers in front of the driver; and outreach to various interest groups to move the pedestrian zone forward politically. The main obstacle to the project implementation has been dealing with the parking interest groups. This article also includes an insert with an update of becak modernization in Yogyakarta by John Ernst.