VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): The Denpasar City Government, Bali, will ban electric bicycles in the Sanur Beach pedestrian area starting April 1, 2023, and move the allowed area to Danau Tamblingan Street.

"Sanur Beach is a special recreation attraction for  community, both local and foreign tourists," Head of the Denpasar City Tourism Office Dezire Mulyani said in a socialization session regarding the ban regulation on Saturday.

She said the ban is to maintain the safety and comfort of Sanur as the iconic tourism area in Denpasar City.

The Mayoral Regulation No. 51/2022 is a guideline for the community, visitors, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and all stakeholders in the Sanur Beach Area, she said.

In the information session, representatives of the Denpasar city administration and customary villages conveyed the ban to e-bike and e-motorcycle rental service providers.

The information session was attended by the Intaran and Sanur customary villages, pecalang (traditional security officers), the city's public order security agency (Satpol PP), and the tourism office.

"Starting April 1, electric motorcycles will no longer be allowed to be operated in the Sanur Beach pedestrian area. Pedestrians will be devoted to pedestrians and conventional bicycles," Mulyani said.

The use of electric bikes will be directed to Danau Tamblingan Street and its surrounding, which are part of the Sanur tourism zone.

Chief of Intaran Village AA Alit Kencana said the ban is needed to keep the Sanur area safe, comfortable, and tourist-friendly.

Kencana said e-motorcycles in the Sanur Beach area had disturbed many tourists, especially those who stayed in the nearby accommodations.

In addition, some pedestrians also complained about riders who sped their e-bikes.

"This is a tourist area, where guests want to relax and enjoy the Sanur area, but instead, they are honked at by e-bike users. Some complained about the speed," he said, adding that there were some occurrences of e-bike accidents.

"Let's deal with this together wisely. Don't let this change the impression of Sanur," he said. (antaranews)