Paris mayor wants to ban polluting trucks, buses

Yahoo - AFP, 28 Jan 2015

Traffic clogs the rue de Rivoli in Paris on August 5, 2014. The mayor of Paris

 wants to ban polluting buses and trucks in the French capital from July (AFP Photo/

Fred Dufour)

Paris (AFP) - The mayor of Paris said she wants to ban polluting buses and trucks in the French capital from July to fight pollution in one of the world's most visited cities.

Paris has a relatively high population density and tourists are often surprised by the traffic levels in and around its historic sights.

The city also experiences periodic pollution spikes, forcing authorities to impose temporary speed limits on motorists, make public transport free and even ban vehicles from running on certain days.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, seen here at

 the city hall of Paris on November 17, 2014,

 will formally submit her anti-pollution plan

next month (AFP Photo/Stephane de

Sakutin)

"I want to ban the most polluting buses and heavy goods vehicles from July 1, 2015," Anne Hidalgo told Le Monde daily in an interview published Wednesday.

"And on July 1, 2016... this ban will extend to all of the most polluting vehicles," she said, adding that the area where the ban would be enacted was still under negotiation.

"I would like this ban to first apply to the whole of Paris, apart from the peripherique (ring road around the city) and the woods of Paris," she said.

Hidalgo is due next month to formally submit her anti-pollution plan for the city of more than two million people.

She has already announced she wants to ban all diesel vehicles by 2020, limit cars in the city centre, and extend zones where the speed limit is fixed at 30 kilometres (18 miles) an hour.

She also wants to double the amount of cycle lanes as part of a 100-million-euro ($113 million) bike development plan, and roll out a system of electric-powered bikes along the same lines as the city's popular velib temporary bike hire network.

Hidalgo said if her plan to ban polluting trucks and buses came to fruition, she planned to incentivise businesses to buy cleaner vehicles through financial aid and prime rate loans in a bid to avoid affecting deliveries in the city.

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Rotterdam to tackle air pollution, ban old cars from city centre

Rotterdam to tackle air pollution, ban old cars from city centre

DutchNews.nl, November 28, 2014

Rotterdam council plans to improve the city’s air quality and has drawn up a €12m package of measures which locals will be asked to approve, Dutch media report on Friday.

The plans include getting rid of polluting cars and slashing pollution levels. In addition, the council’s own fleet of vehicles will be overhauled to reduce its pollution rate by 25%. 

The council is also considering financially rewarding owners to get rid of polluting cars. In addition it suggests that no more parking permits will be given for diesel vehicles built before 2005 and petrol-driver cars predating 1992.

More charging stations will be built for electric vehicles and there will be better bike facilities. 

The council also wants to ban lorries from the ‘s Gravendijkwal, currently the city’s most polluted road and a major highway that leads to the Maas tunnel. Transport organisations have already criticised the lorry ban proposal, saying it will force freight firms to use longer, more expansive routes, the Financieele Dagblad reported.

Research shows Rotterdammers live three years less than the average Dutch national, which is partly due to road pollution.

Utrecht and Amsterdam have already taken steps to reduce the number of polluting cars in their city centres.

Editorial: Clearer Steps Needed to Clean Up Jakarta's Skies

Jakarta Globe, Editorial, March 28, 2010

Jakarta is infamous for its air pollution. (Photo: SP)

Blue skies are a rarity in Jakarta. On most days, residents of the capital are subjected to pollutants that are considered serious health hazards. During the dry season, pollution can get so bad that a continual haze hangs over the city like a blanket.

Much of this pollution is caused by motor vehicles. Although new emissions standards have been introduced, they are often not enforced, particularly for public transportation vehicles. Buses continue to spew thick black smoke from their badly maintained diesel engines.

Efforts have been made to reduce the level of pollution in the capital. Beginning in 2007, the Jakarta administration introduced a car-free day on the last Sunday of every month along Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin, which has since expanded to other areas. Starting this month, locations such as Old Town in West Jakarta, Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, Boulevard Artha Gading in North Jakarta, Jalan Pemuda in East Jakarta and Jalan Letjen Suprapto in Central Jakarta will hold car-free days at least twice a year.

These efforts have had some results, at least according to the city’s environmental agency, which declared that this year’s car-free days helped to improve air quality in Jakarta more than in previous years.

“The most recent measurement showed that the car-free days had helped to reduce dust particles by up to 40 percent, carbon monoxide was reduced by 63 percent and nitrogen monoxide by 71 percent,” said Rina Suryani, head of natural resources monitoring at the Jakarta Environmental Management Board (BPLHD).

Despite these claims, however, car-free days have minimal impact on air quality in Jakarta. The level of pollution may be reduced on a particular Sunday, but no doubt shoots straight back up as millions of vehicles take to the roads for the start of the work week.

City police data show that last year the number of vehicles in Jakarta rose to 9.9 million, including 133,000 public transportation vehicles, while the number of residents, based on data from the Jakarta Population and Civil Registration Agency, was 8.5 million. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment reported that the city produced 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide daily last year.

Clearly, concrete action needs to be taken if we are to tackle air pollution. For starters, authorities must move swiftly to crack down on public buses that are the biggest polluters. They must be replaced by cleaner hybrid buses. Tougher emissions standards must also be enforced for private vehicles to ensure that only cars that use unleaded gasoline are allowed on the roads.

Clean air is a basic right, just as clean water is. The government has introduced regulations to ensure that all citizens have access to clean air. But as the heavy smog that envelops the city on most days illustrates, enforcement has been weak or nonexistent. How long must Jakartans continue to endure these unacceptable conditions?

Sudirman, Thamrin streets closed for six hours

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 03/28/2010 10:04

The Jakarta government is banning auto vehicles from passing through Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin this morning to celebrate an anti-pollution campaign.

The two main streets closure began from 6 a.m., and will end at 12 p.m.

"Now we have closed these streets from motorists 35 times for an environment purpose," Rina Suryani, city government anti-pollution division head, said as quoted by kompas.com.

The anti-pollution campaign, which called Jakarta Great Clean 2010, was attended by thousands of local people.

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North Jakarta to host Car-Free Day on Sunday

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 03/20/2010 1:38 PM

Residents of Kelapa Gading area in North Jakarta are called to take note of the traffic being shifting around Jl. Boulevard Artha Gading and Jl. Kelapa Nias Raya during Car-Free Day this Sunday.

Like the monthly car-free events held on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, the one in Kelapa Gading is expected to apply from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m and will see motorcycles, cars, taxis and three-wheeled vehicles barred from the roads, in a bid to reduce air pollution in the city.

During car-free days, residents take up exercise, while organizations set up booths to campaign for environmental awareness, and sporting clubs take to the streets to play sports like futsal.

The program, however, often draws complaints from drivers because of the abysmal congestion created along outlying roads.

The city repeatedly claims that the program, held since September 2007, is effective in reducing air pollution in the city.

Car Free Day in the Old City

Thursday, 12 November, 2009 | 16:45 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The West Jakarta government is organizing a Car Free Day in the Old City area this Sunday at 06.00 AM to noon. “This is to control air pollution and provide space for the public,” said Mayor Mas Djoko Ramadhan yesterday at his office.

Different events will be held, such as fun cycling, physical exercises, music show, slow cycling race, drawing competition for children, museum tour, indoor football competition, bazaar, and quiz on the environment. “The first 100 visitors of the historical, puppet, and art museums will get free lunch coupons,” said Ramadhan.

Sofian

Air pollution in Jakarta drops on car-free day

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 10/25/2009 5:42 PM

The car-free day is effective in reducing air pollution in Jakarta, says the city environment agency.

The Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) announced on Sunday that the amount of dust particles had decreased by 34 percent, Carbon Monoxide (CO) by 68 percent, and Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) by 80 percent during the last car-free day.

"That is the result from our analysis seven days before and after the car-free day," Peni Susanti, the head of Jakarta BPLHD, said during the car-free day on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.

The number of people that took part in car-free day increased to 15,000 this Sunday, the highest figure since the start of the initiative.

The Car-free day is held every second and last Sunday of the month from Jl. Sudirman to Jl M.H. Thamrin.

Old Town parking lot put in order

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 01/03/2009 10:33 AM  

JAKARTA: In preparation for the Asian Mayor Forum in December in Old Town, the West Jakarta municipal administration is tidying up the area's chaotic parking system. 

"The first step in developing the Old Town conservation area is to put in place a parking system," Mayor Djoko Ramadhan said, as quoted by Kompas.com on Friday. 

He said effective management was needed to make the 840-hectare heritage site a world tourism destination. 

Head of the municipality's parking agency, Fausal Kahar, said many visitors to the area parked their vehicles right outside the buildings or on the street. 

He said many others parked at a vacant lot in the area. 

"The Old Town should be designated for pedestrians. Vehicle emissions could damage the old buildings," Fausal said, "besides, a walking tour would be more impressive." 

The administration is currently holding a regular Car Free Day every month. 

At least 142 buildings have been named heritage sites in the Old Town, including the Jakarta History Museum, Arts and Ceramic Museum, Wayang Museum, Kota Intan Bridge, Kota Station, Bank Mandiri Museum and Omni Batavia Hotel. -- JP

Car-free push key to rise in clean air days

Tifa Asrianti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/30/2008 11:03 AM  

With the last car free event of the year held on Sunday, Jakarta will have seen 125 days with "good" air quality in 2008, higher than the 73 days recorded last year, an official said Monday. 

Jakarta Environmental Management Board (BPLHD) Chairman Budirama Natakusumah said the car free events helped Jakarta reach the higher number of days with good air quality this year. 

The number of days with good quality air has been consistently increasing; from 28 in 2005 to 45 in 2006. 

"During the car free day events, the areas usually see a 60 to 80 percent drop in carbon monoxide levels and 50 to 60 percent drop in dust pollution," Budirama told The Jakarta Post. 

He said that his agency's target for next year is to hold the event twice a month along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, as well as twice a year in each municipality. 

This year the city administration held car free events in each of its five municipalities. Central Jakarta saw a car free day on Jl. Letjen Suprapto, in East Jakarta it was on Jl. Pramuka, in South Jakarta on Jl. HR Rasuna Said and in North Jakarta Jl. Danau Sunter Selatan was free of motor vehicles. Meanwhile West Jakarta blocked traffic off Jl. Tongkol, Jl. Cengkeh, Jl. Kali Besar Timur, Jl. Pintu Besar Utara and Jl. Pos Kota, all in the Old Town area. 

Alfred Sitorus from the Committee for Phasing Out Leaded Gasoline (KPBB) said that his organization believes the event still has room for improvement, as it still allows private vehicles to use one lane. 

"We regret that there is no coordination between the police, the BPLHD and the transportation agency. With the private cars using the slow lanes, it won't affect the air quality as much as it could. If there is no improvement in January's car free day, we will help the organizer to keep the area sterile from all private vehicles," he said. 

Budirama acknowledged the flaw in the event. He cited that, on last Sunday's car free event, there was a military-clad troop traveling through the area, ignoring the rule. He said the public was angry at the passing of the military truck. 

Besides private cars, top officials such as Vice President Jusuf Kalla have also crashed a car free event. 

Budirama said that his agency could not punish the perpetrators. 

"We always inform government offices and the public of the events. Lack of information is no excuse. I am happy if NGOs want to help us in the event," he said. 

Alfred questioned the accuracy of the data because, while a car free day event decreases pollution by 20-30 percent, pollution levels jump by up to 70 percent on the average work day. 

"Perhaps they count the quality air days from the number of Sundays and the car free days. Perhaps they count the pollution percentage on Jl. Sudirman - Jl. MH Thamrin and claim it as the whole of Jakarta. As far as I know, the city administration only has five monitoring devices," he said. 

Budirama said that his agency planned to buy fixed equipment for Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin this year. The European-made equipment cost Rp 5 billion (US$455,000), he said. 

"But due to the late budget, we have to return the money. We hope we can procure the equipment next year," he said.

GREEN HOPE 2009

The Jakarta Post | Mon, 12/29/2008 10:55 AM 
 

 

GREEN HOPE 2009: Green activists straighten out a huge poster calling people to "act now, earth can't wait" hanging on the Welcome Statue at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout on Sunday.

 The poster is part of the Green Hope 2009 campaign, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment and a number of green organizations to promote environmental protection in 2009. JP/Ricky Yudhistira

DESERTED CITY

The Jakarta Post,    Jakarta   |  Sat, 12/27/2008 10:18 AM  
 

Traffic along Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The 3-in-1 traffic does not apply during the holidays celebrating Christmas, Islamic New Year and the changing of the year because of less traffic throughout the city. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

City announces tough stance on emissions

Mariani Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/23/2008 10:59 AM  

Private vehicles in Jakarta must pass an exhaust emissions test and receive a certification sticker next year, or risk the owners getting fined. 

Budirama Natakusumah, head of the city's Environment Management Board (BPLHD), said Monday the board was making all the necessary preparations to implement a bylaw on air pollution and quality control next year, but added no date had been set for it. 

The bylaw stipulates owners of vehicles without emissions test stickers will be fined a maximum of Rp 2 million (US$180). However, Budirama said the law would initially be limited to private vehicle owners. 

"In the long run, the bylaw will be applicable to owners of all kinds of vehicles. We implement it step by step," he told The Jakarta Post. 

"Currently, we are still coordinating with both the transportation agency and the police to prepare the necessary technical aspects of the bylaw, such as increasing the number of referral emissions test workshops and mechanics." 

There are currently 238 such workshops, with 568 mechanics. 

Vehicle owners welcomed the move, but demanded a fixed deadline and time frame to get their vehicles ready. 

Hartono, a car-rental operator, said his company would need at least a week, to get all its 30 cars checked. 

"Because of the holiday season, most of our cars are out. For the cars being used in the city, it's still possible to get the tests done if we work on schedule. But for the cars that are out of town, it's more difficult," he said, adding he was certain all his cars would pass the test. 

Car owner Anisa Basuki said the government should allow vehicle owners a grace period of at least three months before enforcing the bylaw. 

Meri Dianti, a motorcycle user, said she wanted the government to put more announcements in the media to remind people about the deadline. 

"They should remind people a few more times before starting to fine people. I read a lot of news but I haven't heard anything yet about a deadline," she said. 

The administration was also urged to provide the public with easier access to test workshops. 

Hartono suggested checks in public places such as parking lots and malls, as had been done before, should be increased. 

"It is rather inconvenient to take the cars to a garage for the test. But if it's done in a car park, for instance, people can do the check in between doing other things. That's a better way of reaching out to people," he said. 

Both Hartono and Anisa believed the maximum fine was too harsh and almost impossible to implement. 

"People may choose to settle on the spot with the police officers, as often happens now, because it's too inconvenient to go to court. I'm afraid this (new bylaw) will become just another excuse for extorting money," Hartono said. 

Anisa questioned what would happen to cars that failed the test, despite efforts to fix them. 

"Some cars will never pass the test. What will happen to them?" Anisa said. (hdt)

No cars allowed in Kota on Sunday

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 12/13/2008 11:04 AM  

JAKARTA: The city administration will implement Car Free Day in the busy Kota, West Jakarta, for the second day Sunday. 

Some parts of the roads will be closed to motorized vehicles, except Transjakarta buses, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The roads to be blocked off include Jl. Tongkol, Jl. Cengkeh, Jl. Kali Besar Timur, Jl. Pintu Besar Utara and Jl. Pos Kota. 

A string of activities will be held along the roads, such as bicycle rides, aerobics, futsal competitions, drawing contests, music shows and the distribution of tree seedlings to weekenders. Center stage will be located at Fatahillah Park. 

The event is supported by the Jakarta Environment Management Board, West Jakarta municipality administration, city police, transportation agency and Bike To Work community. 

The car restriction is regulated in the city's 2005 bylaw on air pollution. 

Until last year, the event was only held once a month along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta. Currently, it is regularly held in each of the five municipalities.

PLANTING A GREENER FUTURE

The Jakarta Post     |  Fri, 11/28/2008 7:57 PM  |  Jakarta

 

  

Volunteers plant a tree in a city park area in Srengseng, West Jakarta, on Friday. Three hundred volunteers participated in a Jakarta urban greenification program by planting 1,000 trees in the forested park. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

Jakarta to plant 30,000 trees

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 11/29/2008 11:28 AM  

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo planted a lobi-lobi tree in Srengseng city forest, Kembangan subdistrict, West Jakarta, at the launch of an ambitious planting project on Friday. 

"We need more trees, so we will cultivate them. We will plant 30,000 trees in Jakarta," Fauzi said. 

"It will take consistency and sustainable action to make this city greener." 

The project, powered by 300 volunteers, is sponsored by Jakarta Green Radio, the Medco Foundation, the Monfori Nusantara, the Bisnis Indonesia daily newspaper, and the Jakarta Green Monster organization. 

The volunteers planted a thousand trees in the 15-hectare-forest Srengsen forest. Most of tress planted are fruit trees seldom found in Jakarta, such as the cimpedak and kecapi. 

The launch comes as part of a massive national tree planting project, which will involve the planting and cultivation of more than 100 million trees throughout Indonesia. 

The Srengseng's forest is one of the largest green areas in the city. It is home to 26 species of birds and 68 kinds of trees. Besides this forest, Jakarta's green areas include the Suropati and Senayan parks. 

According to Fauzi, the city needs more green areas to reduce pollution and the impact of global warming. 

"Jakarta, which covers an area of 65,000 hectares, must allocate at least 14 percent of that space as green areas such as parks. Right now parks account for only 9.6 percent of the cities area," he said. 

Fauzi said that he was optimistic he could achieve this goal of expanding the city's green spaces. 

He also reminded Jakartans that they would have to change their way of thinking about how to use vacant lots in Jakarta. 

"Vacant land does not always have to be used for buildings; we must use more land for green areas. We don't need to repeat the mistakes we've made before." 

Authorities in Jakarta have made several efforts to re-green the city. The newest project involves buying five hectares of land along the tollroad to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which will be used for a park.(naf)

Jakarta air getting healthier: Official

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok |  Sat, 11/15/2008 11:00 AM  

While compulsory emissions testing for private cars continues to be delayed, the Jakarta administration claims air quality is getting better across the city thanks to regular car-free days. 

Data from the Jakarta Environment Management Board (BPLHD) shows Jakartans breathed healthy air on 104 days up to October this year, compared to only 73 days last year and 45 days in 2006. 

The city launched "voluntary" emission checks for private cars in 2006. 

BPLHD chairman Budirama Natakusumah said Car-Free Day significantly contributed to a reduction in air pollution in the city. 

"Up until October we had carried out Car-Free Day 18 times this year, including along the city's main street of Jl. Jend. Sudirman," he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the Better Air Quality conference in Bangkok on Thursday. 

Budirama said concentration of particulate matter measuring 10 mm (PM10) decreased by an average of 40 percent each Car-Free Day. 

The amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) declined an average of 63 percent and 67 percent respectively. 

The pollutants expelled by motor vehicles and industries cause various diseases, particularly respiratory disease, hypertension, kidney failure, coronary disease and cancer. 

Budirama said the office used a mobile air monitoring unit to measure air quality during Car-Free Day, which was mostly conducted on weekends when many Jakartans stay at home. 

Jakarta, which organized three car-free days last year, has five air quality monitoring stations, but only three of them are in good condition. 

"We plan on holding Car-Free Day 22 times next year. Hopefully, we can also enforce the law on mandatory emissions tests for private cars and motorcycles," Budirama said. 

In 2005, the administration issued a bylaw requiring all private cars to test their emissions, in an effort to clean the city's air. 

Under the bylaw, vehicle owners are required to have their vehicles tested twice a year. Owners of vehicles that pollute heavily are fined Rp 2 million or face two months in prison. 

Budirama said the delay in enforcing the law was due to technical problems, holding back the supply of certificates and stickers for emission tests. 

Chairman of the Public Health School at the University of Indonesia, Budi Haryanto, doubted the validity of the air quality figures, saying data from Car-Free Day could not represent the real condition of the whole city. 

"We need to verify the data given the fact more and more people are falling ill because of air pollution in Jakarta," he said. 

Budi said results from measuring the air quality on the weekend would be different to tests on working days, when millions of private cars and motorcycles flocked to Jakarta. 

Chairman of the Indonesian Lead Information Center (KPPB), Ahmad Safruddin, who is also involved in the Car-Free Day campaign, said hydrocarbon (HC) in Jakarta remained a big problem. 

"We need to improve fuel quality in Jakarta and retrofit catalytic converters in order to cut pollutants of HC, PM10 and CO," he said.

Bogor youths organize green day

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 03/08/2008 12:10 PM

Around 100 young Christians from various churches in Bogor municipality spent Friday cleaning a number of main roads in the city, in cooperation with the city's Environment Agency.

"This activity aims to encourage young people in Bogor to care for the environment," Andri one of the youths said.

At the end of the activity, the group had collected at least 20 large bags of garbage, mostly comprising leaves from rows of trees along Jl. Padjajaran, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Suryakencana in Bogor.

Many of them found roadside gutters were clogged with leaves and mud.

Separately, the young congregation at Santo Andreas Catholic church in Ciluar district, Bogor, held a video screening and discussion of environmental issues.

The video showed the connection between global warming and the bible, citing verses from Genesis that say when God created the earth, the sky and the contents, they were beautiful. It later showed how global warming has damaged the earth, like the melting of the polar ice cap at the North Pole.

"Afterwards, we held a discussion and decided to do something within reach. We decided to work with local people, to clean up our environment and plant trees," Yuni, one of the youths told The Jakarta Post. .

"We will also distribute garbage bins to public elementary schools here," Yuni added. -Theresia Sufa

Despite altitude, Bandung badly polluted

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Nearby mountains and penetrating forests do not guarantee a city's air quality, at least if West Java's capital, Bandung, which sits 750 meters above sea level, is anything to go by.

Bandung's air pollutants are trapped by a combination of surrounding mountains and the city's concave, bowl-like footprint, preventing their release into the upper atmosphere.

Research conducted by experts at the Bandung Institute of Technology, using a series of air quality index boards, has shown city residents only enjoy about 55 days of clean air per year.

The boards were installed in 2000 at Taman Tegallega, south of the city, Bundaran Cibiru, to the east, Dago, to the north, Setiabudi, in the west and Alun-alun, which is in the center.

Head of the pollution control division at the Bandung office of the Regional Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) Ayu Sukenjah said the dispersion of air pollutants was hindered by the city's geography.

"Air pollutants are trapped and hover over the city, unlike in Jakarta, where pollutants are high but can be easily pushed to the sea by the wind," Ayu told The Jakarta Post in Bandung.

According to an analysis conducted by the Bandung office of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN), the main contributors to air pollution in the city are toxic gases, including carbon monoxide (48,110 tons emitted annually), nitrogen oxide (2,707 tons), sulfur oxide (2,356 tons) and lead (35 tons per year).

Measurements taken in 16 locations by the BPLHD in 2006 showed most parts of the city were heavily polluted, including the Ledeng and Leuwipanjang bus terminals and Alun-alun Square, where lead contents were found to be between 2 and 2.29 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the tolerable limit of 2 micrograms per cubi meter.

Hydrocarbon contents in the three areas ranged between 1.55 and 3.82 parts per million (ppm), far surpassing the standard level of only 0.24 ppm, while dust contents, or suspended particulate matter, ranged between 152 and 163 micrograms per cubic meter. compared to the standard 150 micrograms per cubic meter.

The harmful effects of air pollution, especially dust and lead, have been detected in traffic congested areas in Buah Batu, Balaikota, Wastukancana and the hilly area of Punclut, west of Bukit Dago, where air quality has been annually measured since 2006.

A number of environmental experts have raised concern over the risks the air pollution "trap" could pose to residents. Puji Lestari, air pollution expert at the Bandung Institute of Technology, conducted a study in 2004 on lead content in blood samples of elementary school pupils, finding astonishing results.

Blood samples taken from 400 students contained between 2.5 and 60 mg per deciliter of lead, far exceeding the tolerable level of 10 mg per deciliter of blood.

A comparison study conducted by the BPLHD to measure lead content in 30 high school students' hair was more startling.

"We found the hair samples to contain high levels of lead, some reaching 60 ppm, far exceeding the standard of 1.5 ppm, despite the students frequently washing their hair," said Ayu.

Air pollution in Bandung has produced acid rain since 1998, of average acidity level 5.6 pH. Rain acidity is measured by analyzing rainfall samples taken from LAPAN facilities on Jl. Djundjunan and Jl. Pasteur.

However, most Bandung residents remain unaware of their decreasing air quality because few read about it in the newspapers, while three of the five monitors installed around the city to show information on air quality are out of order.

Ayu said the screens' data could help advise people, especially those most susceptible to air pollution, including elderly people and children, when to carry out their outdoor activities.

"If the index exceeds the standards, then you shouldn't engage in outdoor activities," said Ayu.

She said results of the analysis would also act as a reminder to the government to take necessary measures in minimizing pollution in the city.

Pedestrians enjoy car-free streets

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With his feet dangling in a water fountain on Jl. MH Thamrin, four-year-old Riski could not wipe the smile off his face.

He had been there since 6 a.m. on Sunday with his mother, brother and friends after walking for about an hour from his home in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

"I want to see delman," he said, referring to horse-drawn carriages.

With Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman closed to motorists for several hours on Sunday, small groups of people, cyclists and joggers took advantage of the situation.

The city's environment management board, transportation agency and police organized Sunday's Car Free Day in line with efforts to control air pollution. It ran from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is held on the forth Sunday of every month, with only public transportation vehicles permitted to pass through the specified zones.

Budirama Natakusuma, chairman of the Jakarta Environment Management Board, said the program was aimed at encouraging people to take public transportation, leaving their cars or motorcycles at home.

He said Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin were chosen as car-free zones because police would easily be able to redirect traffic down streets such as Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and Jl. Muh. Yamin.

"And we will allocate a car-free zone in each municipality," he said, adding that plans to expand the program were still being discussed.

Cyclist Sunarno said he supported Car Free Day as it allowed him and other cyclists to use Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin without the fear of being hit by motorists.

"I hope more streets will be closed each Sunday," the 56-year-old said. (ewd)

Bogor administration installs device to monitor air quality

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

In an effort to minimize air pollution, the Bogor administration installed an air quality monitoring device in its office complex Wednesday.

"It will help us monitor and control air pollution and people will be able to find out how bad or good air quality is each day," the head of the Environment and Sanitation Agency, Yus Herdius, said.

The device, which cost Rp 400 million (approximately US$42,500), was purchased by the West Java administration as part of the province's environmental program.

The automatic device works in real time.

Yus said the system reads data according to the Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU), which indicates air quality levels at a particular time and location.

"We know that as the population increases and economic development continues, air pollution will worsen.

"Although we have tried to prevent air pollution in many ways, including planting trees and using environmentally friendly fuels, the monitoring device will help us decide on the most effective policies to control air pollution," he said.

He said the administration planned to procure more of the devices, which would be used in areas prone to air pollution and traffic jams.

Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto said the monitoring device could be used to warn residents when air quality was bad in the city.

He said the administration had issued many regulations to reduce air pollution, such as a ban on smoking in certain places and mandatory emissions tests for official cars.

However, he said some of his subordinates had not complied with the regulations.

"As city officials we should set a good example to residents. I will take back official cars if they don't pass emissions testing," he said.