JAKARTA: It was a regular workday and Danny Siwu, head of store for bicycle shop Build A Bike in South Jakarta, Indonesia, was busy tending to customers.
Dozens of people have packed into the store and all the sales assistants were handling more than one customer at once.
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The shop was closed from early April until early June due to the partial lockdown imposed by Jakarta to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing it to only sell its products online.
The curbs were subsequently lifted in stages beginning Jun 5, allowing stores to reopen and the cycling store saw a surge in sales like never before.
“We have already delivered three times the sales target,” Siwu said.
Bicycle shops in Jakarta have seen an increase in sales since the city eased its partial lockdown in early June in 2020. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
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The demand for bikes was so high that the store's new bikes were sold out immediately even before they were displayed, he added.
The brisk business came unexpectedly to Siwu, as sales had dropped during the partial lockdown and made staff anxious.
He believed business was doing well because the city has imposed physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and by cycling, people can commute individually without being in close proximity with someone else.
His customers told him that since life has gradually resumed in Jakarta, its notorious traffic is back and they want to avoid the jam by cycling while keeping themselves fit.
READ: Jakarta mulls e-scooter ban from sidewalks after fatal accident
Business was also doing well for Rodalink, a bicycle store in South Jakarta which has presence throughout Indonesia as well as Malaysia and Singapore.
Its marketing communication personnel Rina Mutia said the company has seen an increase in sales in all of its stores in Indonesia since the restrictions were lifted.
“The interest in cycling has increased, especially in this new normal era, because people are aware of the need to stay healthy. They are looking for sports activities which are fun.
“Cycling can be an option because it can be done alone or within small groups while paying attention to the safe distance between the cyclists,” Mutia said.
Sales of bicycles rise in Jakarta amid growing consciousness on social distancing and keeping fit. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
The bike craze has also led to a surge in sales of secondhand bikes and increase in demand for bike repairs.
Muchsin, who owns a secondhand bike and repair shop, told CNA that his income has jumped three-fold for the last two weeks.
JUMPING ON THE CYCLING BANDWAGON
Arbi Waskito was among the shoppers at Build A Bike last week.
The 38-year-old bought a folding bike for 4.5 million rupiah (US$318) to relieve stress and to exercise, he told CNA.
Arbi Waskito buys a folding bike to relieve stress and to exercise. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
“All this time (during the restrictions) we couldnt go out and travel far so I bought a bike to reduce stress,” he said, adding that it is meant for recreational purposes and not for commuting to work.
Farid Febrian, 30, bought a folding bike in early June as an alternative mode of transport during the pandemic and also for fun.
Before the pandemic, he used to drive to work or take a taxi. Since the curbs were lifted a few weeks ago, he has been cycling a few times to work.
Although there are only a few bicycle lanes in the entire city, Mr Febrian managed to cycle about 10km from his house in South Jakarta to his office in Central Jakarta.
“It is really good to cycle if I ride on well-established lanes.
“So far vehicles pay attention to us cyclists so its not that scary.”
Farid Febrian rides his bike on a quiet road in Jakarta. (Photo courtesy of Farid Febrian)
However, Febrian hoped fellow cyclists should equip themselves with helmets and other protective gear.
"There should also be rules during this pandemic so cyclists won't gather together and cause a new (COVID-19) cluster," he opined.
Jakarta's car-free day, for instance, was extended to 32 cycling areas last week to avoid overcrowding in the two major streets originally assigned to host the weekly event.
READ: Jakarta residents venture out with caution as recreational spots reopen at reduced capacity
SAFE BIKE NETWORK NEEDED: URBAN PLANNERS
Safety remained an issue amid the cycling hype, with at least two incidents involving cyclists reported in Jakarta recently.
Last week, a cyclist had to be hospitalised when a traffic separator got blown away and hit him.
Another cyclist was stabbed in his stomach by two criminals who robbed him of his mobile phone while he was cycling in the middle of the night.
FILE PHOTO: A cyclist rides his bike by an empty street during the imposition of large-scale social restrictions by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 11, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
Jakarta-based urban planner Sibarani Sofian from urban design company Urban+ saiRead More – Source
JAKARTA: It was a regular workday and Danny Siwu, head of store for bicycle shop Build A Bike in South Jakarta, Indonesia, was busy tending to customers.
Dozens of people have packed into the store and all the sales assistants were handling more than one customer at once.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The shop was closed from early April until early June due to the partial lockdown imposed by Jakarta to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing it to only sell its products online.
The curbs were subsequently lifted in stages beginning Jun 5, allowing stores to reopen and the cycling store saw a surge in sales like never before.
“We have already delivered three times the sales target,” Siwu said.
Bicycle shops in Jakarta have seen an increase in sales since the city eased its partial lockdown in early June in 2020. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
Advertisement
Advertisement
The demand for bikes was so high that the store's new bikes were sold out immediately even before they were displayed, he added.
The brisk business came unexpectedly to Siwu, as sales had dropped during the partial lockdown and made staff anxious.
He believed business was doing well because the city has imposed physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and by cycling, people can commute individually without being in close proximity with someone else.
His customers told him that since life has gradually resumed in Jakarta, its notorious traffic is back and they want to avoid the jam by cycling while keeping themselves fit.
READ: Jakarta mulls e-scooter ban from sidewalks after fatal accident
Business was also doing well for Rodalink, a bicycle store in South Jakarta which has presence throughout Indonesia as well as Malaysia and Singapore.
Its marketing communication personnel Rina Mutia said the company has seen an increase in sales in all of its stores in Indonesia since the restrictions were lifted.
“The interest in cycling has increased, especially in this new normal era, because people are aware of the need to stay healthy. They are looking for sports activities which are fun.
“Cycling can be an option because it can be done alone or within small groups while paying attention to the safe distance between the cyclists,” Mutia said.
Sales of bicycles rise in Jakarta amid growing consciousness on social distancing and keeping fit. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
The bike craze has also led to a surge in sales of secondhand bikes and increase in demand for bike repairs.
Muchsin, who owns a secondhand bike and repair shop, told CNA that his income has jumped three-fold for the last two weeks.
JUMPING ON THE CYCLING BANDWAGON
Arbi Waskito was among the shoppers at Build A Bike last week.
The 38-year-old bought a folding bike for 4.5 million rupiah (US$318) to relieve stress and to exercise, he told CNA.
Arbi Waskito buys a folding bike to relieve stress and to exercise. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
“All this time (during the restrictions) we couldnt go out and travel far so I bought a bike to reduce stress,” he said, adding that it is meant for recreational purposes and not for commuting to work.
Farid Febrian, 30, bought a folding bike in early June as an alternative mode of transport during the pandemic and also for fun.
Before the pandemic, he used to drive to work or take a taxi. Since the curbs were lifted a few weeks ago, he has been cycling a few times to work.
Although there are only a few bicycle lanes in the entire city, Mr Febrian managed to cycle about 10km from his house in South Jakarta to his office in Central Jakarta.
“It is really good to cycle if I ride on well-established lanes.
“So far vehicles pay attention to us cyclists so its not that scary.”
Farid Febrian rides his bike on a quiet road in Jakarta. (Photo courtesy of Farid Febrian)
However, Febrian hoped fellow cyclists should equip themselves with helmets and other protective gear.
"There should also be rules during this pandemic so cyclists won't gather together and cause a new (COVID-19) cluster," he opined.
Jakarta's car-free day, for instance, was extended to 32 cycling areas last week to avoid overcrowding in the two major streets originally assigned to host the weekly event.
READ: Jakarta residents venture out with caution as recreational spots reopen at reduced capacity
SAFE BIKE NETWORK NEEDED: URBAN PLANNERS
Safety remained an issue amid the cycling hype, with at least two incidents involving cyclists reported in Jakarta recently.
Last week, a cyclist had to be hospitalised when a traffic separator got blown away and hit him.
Another cyclist was stabbed in his stomach by two criminals who robbed him of his mobile phone while he was cycling in the middle of the night.
FILE PHOTO: A cyclist rides his bike by an empty street during the imposition of large-scale social restrictions by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 11, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
Jakarta-based urban planner Sibarani Sofian from urban design company Urban+ saiRead More – Source
