The Jakarta Provincial Government is set to introduce a Car Free Night (CFN) every Saturday, beginning with a trial phase scheduled after the peak of Jakarta’s 488th-anniversary celebrations in late June 2025.
This initiative is intended to encourage environmentally friendly activities and accommodate residents’ increasing preference for night-time exercise.
Unlike the existing Car Free Day (CFD), which takes place on Sunday mornings, Car Free Night will restrict motor vehicle access in central Jakarta starting from 10:00 PM on Saturday evenings until early Sunday.
The CFN trial will focus on the Sudirman–Thamrin corridor, a main thoroughfare in the capital known for its wide pavements and public activity zones.
Jakarta’s Deputy Governor, Rano Karno, confirmed the plan during a CFD event on Jalan MH Thamrin on Sunday, 8 June 2025.
“What we will try is Car Free Night. We can start at 22:00 WIB, considering that many people also exercise at night. The location remains here (Sudirman-Thamrin),” said Rano, as quoted by Antara.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions in Jakarta and promote the use of public spaces for healthier lifestyles.
“Car Free Night is actually included in one strategy. Jakarta’s potential is big. If we look at the motor vehicle-free days at night, it results in an extraordinary reduction in carbon emissions,” Rano added.
Cultural Programming and City Wide Expansion Planned
As part of the CFN trial launch, the Jakarta Government will also feature Betawi art and cultural performances at three designated points: Dukuh Atas, Gelora Bung Karno Senayan, and Bundaran HI.
These performances aim to highlight the city’s cultural heritage while drawing more residents to enjoy the new vehicle-free zones.
In addition to the central CFN initiative, Rano Karno announced plans to extend Car-Free Day events to other municipalities across Jakarta. Proposed locations include Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta, an industrial area with limited access to public recreational space.
“Yesterday I said there is a discourse that we will make Car-Free Day in several areas, for example in Tanjung Priok. We will create activities there. But it is not easy,” he noted.
These developments align with Jakarta’s commitment to environmentally sustainable urban planning, aiming to balance urban mobility with public health and emissions reduction.
