You Take the High Road and I'll Take the Low Road

(5/24/2010)

The government of Bali's capital of Denpasar has tasked its transportation department to review traffic flows and patterns to see if traffic congestion in South Bali can be lessened by introducing additional one-way streets and parking rule changes in some areas.

Any proposed changes remain under review and are subject to a consultative process with related government agencies.

Among the changes under consideration:

• Prohibiting parking on both sides of the street on crowded, narrow roads. One possible road listed for new parking restrictions is Jalan Sidakarya.

• Altering the traffic flow direction to one-way streets. Jalan Gunung Agung, a road which has long been under consideration for one-way status, but delayed due to a lack of alternative roadways, is once again being scrutinized for one-way status.

• Changes in public transportation routes to make service more responsive to changing housing and work-place patterns in Bali.

One-Way Streets Problematic in Bali

One of the contributing factors to the difficulty of resolving traffic congestion in Bali is thge refusal blatant refusal of locals to obey one-way street postings. Local motorcyclists traveling the wrong directions on one-way roads is a common occurrence on the island.