What Do the Students Want?

Abstract

Many public spaces in Indonesian cities are inaccessible to vulnerable groups such as children, elderlies, and persons with disabilities (PwDs), partly due to a lack of infrastructure and limited understanding by citizens and government agencies. The design and planning of these spaces are typically conducted in a top-down approach, with little participation of citizens. Regulation by the Indonesian Transportation Ministry1 stipulates that school areas with heavy traffic and high risk of accidents should have a Safe School Zone (Zona Selamat Sekolah, in Indonesian). The regulation details a technical guideline for the Safe School Zone, i.e., traffic signs, crossroads, speed bumps, but its implementation does not yet consider inclusive principles and universal design. To build a more inclusive and accessible city for all in accordance with the UN-HABITAT New Urban Agenda, a participatory design process with multiple stakeholders—teachers, local government, and most importantly, students—plays a vital role in ensuring inclusive planning in cities. This abstract reflects on the experience of Kota Kita and the Banjarmasin City Transportation Agency implementing a participatory Safe and Inclusive School Zone pilot project in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, to promote inclusive city planning and build the community’s capacity to improve their living spaces.
 
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