Dari Dokar menjadi Bendi: Pergeseran Fungsi Alat Transportasi Tradisional menjadi Sarana Wisata di Kecamatan Mranggen, 1983-2004

Abstract

This article examines the shifting functions of means of transport in Mranggen Sub-district, focusing on one of the traditional means of transport, the dokar. Using the historical method, this study traces the existence of the dokar as a means of public transport that was very popular with the community in its time. Mranggen is a sub-district in Demak Regency characterised by an agrarian society. In addition to farming as the main livelihood, the economic sector in Mranggen is also driven by other fields, such as trade, transport, and so on. Dokar is the main and most common means of transport for the community, especially for transporting commodities. Over time, especially during the New Order era, machine-powered modes of transport arrived in the community. The presence of machine-powered modes of transport such as trucks, pick-ups, motorbikes, and others, public interest in dokars began to decline. This also had an impact on the existence of dokars. The results of this study found evidence that in 2004 dokar transport underwent a transition process from public transport to transportation of tourist facilities which was also accompanied by structural changes as an adaptation. This was done in addition to maintaining the culture as well as a form of resistance to the massive motorised vehicles. In its development, the dokar has functioned as a tourist facility and also transformed into a bendi.

Keywords: Dokar; Bendi; Means of Transport; Shifting Functions; Tourism Facilities.