Getting a flat tire on your way to the office can be a pain. You may think it’s just bad luck, but 38-year-old Siswanto and his friends know all too well that criminal gangs are out there peppering Jakarta’s streets with nails so they can make a killing by fixing flats.
Siswanto established Saber to help clean up the streets. Unlike most volunteer groups whose members help only on weekends, this community patrols the streets almost every day, braving the traffic in an effort to keep your tires safe.
How many times did you fall victim to these ‘nail traps’ before you decided to do something about it?
Over and over again in the same area. I got sick and tired of being taken advantage of and couldn’t stop thinking about how much money I was spending a month just to fix my flat tires. So I talked to some friends about what was going on, and when we figured out that most people who used the same road had the same problem, we decided to do something about it.
Where do you usually look for nails and sharp objects?
The hot spots are around Grogol, in front of Roxy near the overpass, Harmoni, Cideng, Gadjah Mada, around the Presidential Palace and Senen. Anyone who drives through those areas should be careful because the roads are full of nails and traps.
How many other people have joined forces with you to help sweep the roads clear for drivers?
Saber is now around 18 people strong, all folks from various backgrounds with most of them from lower parts of society, like ojek [motorcycle taxi] drivers, office boys, personal drivers and so on. I myself am a construction worker when I’m not doing this. I’m proud that so many people have joined our group as volunteers, considering that this is tiring and dangerous unpaid physical work.
When was this community officially formed?
We have been doing this since August 5, 2011, but some of our members have been picking up nails and sharp objects from streets for more than a year. And besides sweeping up nails and other sharp, objects, we also provide free services, including fixing flat tires, whenever our organization has an event.
We all know that the tambal ban, the roadside tire repair stalls, benefit from having nails on the road and the ensuing flats. But exactly how much do they benefit from this?
Most of them will charge around Rp 40,000 to Rp 60,000 [$4 to $6] to patch up a flat tire for you. Crazy, isn’t it?
Do you have any tips to help motorist avoid these traps?
There is this trick that if you are going less than 30 kilometers per hour then the nails and other sharp objects won’t puncture the tire.
When can we see you in action, in case the millions of motorists out there want to thank you personally?
I start early in the morning, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., before I go to work. I then continue at night after work, sometimes until 9 p.m. and sometimes even until dawn. It has become a regular part of my day. I always bring my magnet wherever I go so that I can pick up nails whenever I see them.
What’s your record for picking up nails in a day?
The most I’ve ever collected in a single day was 10 kilos. This was before I set up the volunteer group.
Siswanto established Saber to help clean up the streets. Unlike most volunteer groups whose members help only on weekends, this community patrols the streets almost every day, braving the traffic in an effort to keep your tires safe.
How many times did you fall victim to these ‘nail traps’ before you decided to do something about it?
Over and over again in the same area. I got sick and tired of being taken advantage of and couldn’t stop thinking about how much money I was spending a month just to fix my flat tires. So I talked to some friends about what was going on, and when we figured out that most people who used the same road had the same problem, we decided to do something about it.
Where do you usually look for nails and sharp objects?
The hot spots are around Grogol, in front of Roxy near the overpass, Harmoni, Cideng, Gadjah Mada, around the Presidential Palace and Senen. Anyone who drives through those areas should be careful because the roads are full of nails and traps.
How many other people have joined forces with you to help sweep the roads clear for drivers?
Saber is now around 18 people strong, all folks from various backgrounds with most of them from lower parts of society, like ojek [motorcycle taxi] drivers, office boys, personal drivers and so on. I myself am a construction worker when I’m not doing this. I’m proud that so many people have joined our group as volunteers, considering that this is tiring and dangerous unpaid physical work.
When was this community officially formed?
We have been doing this since August 5, 2011, but some of our members have been picking up nails and sharp objects from streets for more than a year. And besides sweeping up nails and other sharp, objects, we also provide free services, including fixing flat tires, whenever our organization has an event.
We all know that the tambal ban, the roadside tire repair stalls, benefit from having nails on the road and the ensuing flats. But exactly how much do they benefit from this?
Most of them will charge around Rp 40,000 to Rp 60,000 [$4 to $6] to patch up a flat tire for you. Crazy, isn’t it?
Do you have any tips to help motorist avoid these traps?
There is this trick that if you are going less than 30 kilometers per hour then the nails and other sharp objects won’t puncture the tire.
When can we see you in action, in case the millions of motorists out there want to thank you personally?
I start early in the morning, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., before I go to work. I then continue at night after work, sometimes until 9 p.m. and sometimes even until dawn. It has become a regular part of my day. I always bring my magnet wherever I go so that I can pick up nails whenever I see them.
What’s your record for picking up nails in a day?
The most I’ve ever collected in a single day was 10 kilos. This was before I set up the volunteer group.
What do you do with all the bits of sharp metal you collect?
Out of the 300 kilos we’ve collected in the last five months, we have sold close to 100 kilos to people who want to buy it. It’s worth around Rp 7,000 per kilo for reusable nails, Rp 4,000 for bent nails.
How can we help?
It’s easy, you can contact me at 021 930 50356. But anyone who wants to volunteer needs to remember that we only want people who are going to throw themselves into the work wholeheartedly. Plus, people have to understand the risks. This is not easy because we work on the streets with all the cars and motorcycles speeding past.
That’s why we usually bring a flashlight and megaphone along so we can warn road users when we’re risking our lives to save your tires.
Siswanto was talking to Maya Martini.
Out of the 300 kilos we’ve collected in the last five months, we have sold close to 100 kilos to people who want to buy it. It’s worth around Rp 7,000 per kilo for reusable nails, Rp 4,000 for bent nails.
How can we help?
It’s easy, you can contact me at 021 930 50356. But anyone who wants to volunteer needs to remember that we only want people who are going to throw themselves into the work wholeheartedly. Plus, people have to understand the risks. This is not easy because we work on the streets with all the cars and motorcycles speeding past.
That’s why we usually bring a flashlight and megaphone along so we can warn road users when we’re risking our lives to save your tires.
Siswanto was talking to Maya Martini.
Comment:
The number of gangs which peppering nails in jakarta streets increasing. This thing make the people who usually use the path loss, just imagine if you pass that way in a month and had flat tire for five time a month you must be loss,right? It is certainly very annoying because you have to spend more money to fix a flat tire. In condition like that Siswanto come up as volunteer nail collector. Siswanto volunteered to pick up the nails with a magnetic stick that he created his own. Siswanto usually collect nails before and after office hours. In my opinion the existence of siswanto and his community very helpful. People should be grateful that there are people who still care about the safety of road users.
