KBRN, Surakarta: Two hundred electric pedicabs intended for drivers aged over 55 have begun arriving at the Transportation Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Solo City Transportation Agency in Jebres Subdistrict on Monday, December 15, 2025.

The vehicles are part of a government assistance program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto and manufactured by state-owned defense and industrial company PT Pindad.

To ensure recipients understand how to operate the new vehicles, the Solo Transportation Agency organized training sessions divided into four groups over two days, with 50 drivers per session.

Pedicab drivers who received the electric pedicabs are starting to learn how to operate them. (Photo: RRI/Joko)

Mardiono Joko, Secretary of the Solo Transportation Agency, explained that the training was provided before the official handover by the mayor. “We hope that before the recipients receive the pedicabs from Pindad, we give them technical knowledge about how to use them. These are not manual pedicabs, so the standard operating procedures must be followed correctly,” he said.

He added that the beneficiaries had already been registered through local driver associations, with the requirement that they hold Solo residency identity cards. “It is specifically for Solo residents with ID cards, and they must be part of an association. Without an association, the data could be scattered. With associations, the data is locked and organized,” he explained.

One of the recipients, 67-year-old driver Sugeng Hadi Winato, expressed his gratitude for the assistance. “I am very happy. This really helps us. I feel cared for by the government, especially our President, Mr. Prabowo. Thank you,” he said.

The electric rickshaw engine that will be used in Solo City. (Photo: RRI/Joko)

After trying the electric pedicab, Sugeng said he did not encounter major difficulties operating it, though he noted that turning required more caution than with manual pedicabs.

“There are no problems because we’ve been given guidance. I paid close attention to the instructions, and after practicing, it felt normal. However, when turning, you must be careful. You can’t turn sharply. You need to balance it so it doesn’t tip over. With experience, we can manage it,” he explained.

According to PT Pindad, the electric pedicabs can travel up to 40 kilometers on a full six-hour charge, with a maximum speed of 15 kilometers per hour. (Annaila Azzahra/Lasti Martina)