Tactile paving installed on sidewalks is intended to function as a navigation aid for people with visual impairments. These textured paths are designed to help visually impaired pedestrians detect direction, avoid obstacles, and move safely through public spaces. However, conditions in Indonesia show that this function does not always work as intended. In many cases, tactile paving has been found in conditions that may actually endanger its users.

Such conditions can be observed across several areas in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), including Ciater Raya Street in South Tangerang, as well as Moch. Kahfi II Street and Lenteng Agung Raya Street in South Jakarta. At these locations, tactile paving appears in various problematic forms, such as damaged tiles or tiles covered with cement that erase the raised texture, pathways that abruptly end, the incorrect use of tactile patterns, and guiding paths blocked by trees, walls, or electricity poles.

For people who rely on tactile paving, these failures have direct consequences. Soimah (41) and Mohammad Ridwan Hakim (44), both of whom are visually impaired, depend on tactile paving to move independently through the city. Although these paths are meant to support their daily mobility, both say they can quickly become dangerous when poorly maintained or improperly designed.

“Sometimes when the sidewalk is damaged, the tactile paving is broken or disconnected. That makes it difficult for people with visual impairments to know where to go. The path may stop, then continue again several meters later,” Soimah said during an interview on Sunday (16/11/2025).

“Sometimes the sidewalk meets office buildings, and the sidewalk level suddenly drops. Instead of creating a gradual slope, it is left as a sudden step down. You can be walking comfortably, and suddenly the sidewalk just ends. We sometimes fall because of that. That’s not pedestrian-friendly for people with visual impairments,” Ridwan recalled during the same interview, describing his experience navigating the sidewalk.

Both also criticized the common practice of either not diverting tactile paving at all or diverting it only at the last moment, directly in front of obstacles such as poles or trees.

“When there is a pole, the path is supposed to turn, right? But sometimes it doesn’t follow the proper route. As a result, you don’t even get the chance to detect the pole. You end up hitting it first,” Soimah pointed out.

“The tactile paving waits until it is right in front of an obstacle before turning. For visually impaired people who move very quickly, they end up hitting the object before they even reach the turn. It’s true that tactile paving is meant to help us avoid obstacles, but the concept is flawed. The turn should be smooth and start gradually from a distance. It should be diverted before  reaching the obstacle, then guided back to the correct track and continue straight, not wait until it is directly in front of the object before turning,” Ridwan explained.

Their experiences illustrate that simply installing tactile paving does not guarantee safety. Without careful planning and regular maintenance, these guiding paths can become hazardous and pose risks of collision or falls for people with visual impairments.

Tracing the Root of the Problem

According to Ridwan, many problems with tactile paving in Indonesia stem from a design approach that prioritizes what planners see over what visually impaired users actually experience.

“In reality, the people who design tactile paving base it on what they see, not on what they feel. I’m certain that if they were asked to close their eyes and try using tactile paving themselves, they would end up hitting obstacles too. We are the ones who understand the terrain and how to move from one point to another, not the planners. They rely on assumptions based on what they see, while we rely on what we actually experience,” Ridwan explained.

Giska Raisa, Head of the Architecture Program at Calvin Institute of Technology, echoed this view. She emphasized that the problem is not a lack of standards or regulations. Indonesia already has clear technical guidelines, including a national standard (SNI 8160:2015) that regulates tactile paving for pedestrian pathways. The issue, she explained, lies in construction practices and insufficient supervision.

“The policies themselves are already well designed. However, proper oversight is still necessary; not only during construction, but throughout daily operations. We need to continuously monitor whether these facilities are used correctly, whether the tactile surface remains raised, and whether their condition has deteriorated. That supervisory function must be carried out consistently.It may be that these oversight and management functions are not being implemented properly by the government,” Giska said during an interview on Friday (14/11/2025).

Even when tactile paving is damaged, repairs are often delayed. Giska identified limited budgets and insufficient ongoing oversight as contributing factors.

How Tactile Paving Is Installed on Indonesian Sidewalks

Edo, a site supervisor involved in sidewalk construction projects in BSD City, South Tangerang, explained that tactile paving installation follows technical drawings and consultant instructions, while being adapted to site conditions. He previously worked on similar projects on Ciater Raya Street.

“We don’t just install it randomly. We follow guidance from the consultants. The drawings show a certain layout, and we adjust it to the actual conditions on the ground rather than forcing it. If the design doesn’t work on site, then it doesn’t work. When there are obstacles like poles, we have to follow the instructions. Those poles were already there before construction began. If an obstacle can be moved, then it’s relocated. But things like electricity poles obviously can’t be moved. In those cases, the tactile paving is diverted,” Edo said during an interview at the sidewalk construction site on Thursday (6/11/2025).

Edo added that installed work typically goes through inspection and, if necessary, revisions. However, how effectively this supervision is carried out remains unclear.

To seek clarification, the reporting team contacted the South Tangerang municipal agency responsible for roads and public infrastructure (locally known as Dinas Sumber Daya Air, Bina Marga, dan Bina Konstruksi Kota Tangerang Selatan). Official interview requests were submitted to discuss planning, installation, supervision, and maintenance of tactile paving. However, as of publication, no official response had been provided. This lack of transparency reflects broader issues with public accountability for infrastructure that directly affects the safety of people with disabilities.

Low Public Awareness of Tactile Paving and Accessibility Infrastructure

Insufficient oversight affects not only construction quality but also how tactile paving is treated in everyday public spaces. In practice, tactile paths are frequently blocked by parked motorcycles or used for street vending, making them unusable for people with visual impairments.

“When traffic is congested, motorcyclists ride onto the sidewalk. Why should we be the ones forced to move aside? They should be the ones aware that this is a pedestrian space, especially since people with disabilities already have a designated path. When street vendors take over the sidewalk, we can’t walk at all. That’s what puts us in danger. In the end, we’re forced to step down onto the roadway and walk alongside moving traffic,” Ridwan said.

Interviews with local residents reflect uneven public understanding. Sarjono (66), a motorcycle taxi driver, mistook the yellow tiles for general pedestrian markings rather than a facility specifically designed for people with visual impairments.

“That yellow line is for people to walk on. It’s for everyone, whether they are visually impaired or not. So if someone parks a motorcycle there or leaves things blocking the path, they should be told not to,” Sarjono said during an interview on Moch. Kahfi II Street, South Jakarta, on Monday (8/12/2025).

Meanwhile, Hendrik (54), a parking attendant, admitted he was not aware of the function of tactile paving at all.

“Honestly, I don’t really know what it’s for. I don’t know what the purpose of this yellow line is. Vendors get chased away by municipal officers whether they cross the yellow line or not, so I never understood what it was supposed to be used for,” Hendrik said during an interview on Ciater Raya Street, South Tangerang, on Monday (8/12/2025).

Taken together, these accounts highlight a lack of public education about tactile paving as a safety feature designed specifically for people with visual impairments.

Disability Rights and State Responsibility

The issue of tactile paving cannot be separated from Indonesia’s legal framework on disability rights. Accessibility in public spaces, including sidewalks and tactile paving, is a fundamental right that the state must uphold.

Hosiana Daniel Adrian Gultom, Head of the Legal Consultation and Aid Institute at Pelita Harapan University, emphasized that accessibility is not optional.

“The rights of people with disabilities must be fulfilled. People with disabilities have the right to receive special facilities that support their daily lives and activities,” Hosiana said during an interview on Monday (24/11/2025).

These obligations are rooted in human rights principles, including the right to safety and freedom of movement as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the rights to life, security, and freedom of movement. In Indonesia, these principles are further reinforced by the Constitution, particularly Article 28H paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which guarantees special facilities and treatment to ensure equal opportunities and justice. Additional legal protection is provided under Law No. 8/2016 on Persons with Disabilities, which explicitly guarantees accessibility and independent use of public facilities for people with disabilities.

When tactile paving is damaged, blocked, or misused, Gultom argued, the issue extends beyond technical flaws to broader issues of weak law enforcement.

“If the problem is caused by natural factors, such as branches or trees blocking the path, it can be fixed. But when it’s caused by human behavior, the rules must be enforced. For example, people should be told that vending is not allowed there, and that motorcycles must not be parked in those areas, which is an even more serious issue,” Hosiana said.

He noted that people with disabilities also have avenues for legal advocacy, including filing complaints to the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia or pursuing collective legal action.

Toward Functional and Inclusive Tactile Paving

Tactile paving must function as intended, not merely exist. Giska stressed that incorrect installation cannot be tolerated.

“If it is not done properly, then it has to be dismantled and fixed. This is about people’s lives, human lives,” Giska emphasized.

Soimah echoed this sentiment, calling for broader coverage of tactile paving and consistent maintenance.

“I hope the coverage can be expanded. If possible, the sidewalks should also be wider, not so narrow. The tactile paving needs to be repaired. Sometimes the texture becomes hard to feel, but repairs are not done quickly. In some places, the paving has started to wear thin. I really hope facilities for people with visual impairments can be improved,” Soimah said.

Ridwan emphasized that solutions must begin at the planning stage by involving people with visual impairments directly.

“This is where our understanding needs to be aligned. We truly appreciate the government’s efforts to develop tactile paving for people with disabilities, but people with disabilities should be included in the planning and design process. We need to sit down together,” Ridwan said.

He also highlighted inequality in infrastructure provision, noting that tactile paving is often concentrated in major roads or prominent areas, while residential neighborhoods remain inaccessible.

Beyond government action, Ridwan stressed the importance of public awareness.

“Please respect the accessibility features that have been built for people with disabilities. Tactile paving is expensive to install, yet it is casually used by others for street vending or motorcycle parking. Imagine if you were in our position, and your rights were taken away and used by others for purposes they were never intended for,” he added.

Gultom added that disability rights advocacy must involve society as a whole, not only people with disabilities themselves.

Tactile paving is not merely a decorative element of sidewalks. It is a safety pathway for pedestrians with visual impairments. How a city designs, maintains, and protects this infrastructure reflects how seriously it values inclusion and equal access for all its residents.