Becak Lawu 1970-2015: transportasi tradisional masyarakat lereng tenggara Gunung Lawu
Authors: Arby Muhammad Fidyan 
Published: June 2023

Becak Lawu is a traditional transportation that serves to transport commodity goods such as vegetables, this transportation is only available in the southeastern slopes of Mount Lawu. This study tries to explain the existence of Becak Lawu and its influence on the surrounding community on the southeast slope of Mount Lawu in the 1970s to 2015. This research uses a historical research method that has five stages, namely topic selection, heuristics, verification, interpretation and historiography. Based on the findings of historical sources, this research shows that in the 1970s Becak Lawu transportation appeared which was useful for helping community activities in the southeastern slopes of Mount Lawu, especially in Plaosan District, Magetan Regency. This transportation was motivated by steep and steep geographical conditions, as well as the economic conditions of the underprivileged people at that time, so that creativity emerged from the surrounding community to create Becak Lawu transportation made of wood and rubber old tires. The existence of Becak Lawu has a positive impact that helps transport commodity products, such as vegetables and fruits from the plantations of underprivileged residents, so that the community is helped by this transportation. In the early 2000s, the economic condition of the people of Plaosan District had improved and began to be able to afford motorized vehicles. This made Becak Lawu displaced and forgotten. In 2015, there was a Becak Lawu racing festival which is useful for remembering the existence of Becak Lawu which was once successful and useful to the community around Plaosan district in the 1970s. Research studies on Becak Lawu are expected to provide benefits to the community and can be developed so that they are useful in the present.Becak Lawu merupakan transportasi tradisional yang berfungsi untuk mengangkut barang komoditas hasil bumi seperti sayur-sayuran, transportasi ini hanya ada di daerah lereng tenggara Gunung Lawu. Penelitian ini mencoba menjelaskan eksistensi Becak Lawu dan pengaruhnya terhadap masyarakat sekitar di daerah lereng tenggara Gunung Lawu pada tahun 1970 hingga 2015-an. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian sejarah yang memiliki lima tahapan yakni pemilihan topik, heuristik, verifikasi, interpretasi dan historiografi. Berdasarkan hasil temuan sumber-sumber sejarah, penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pada tahun 1970-an muncul transportasi Becak Lawu yang berguna untuk membantu aktivitas masyarakat di daerah lereng tenggara Gunung Lawu, khususnya di Kecamatan Plaosan, Kabupaten Magetan. Transportasi ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kondisi geografis yang curam dan terjal, serta kondisi ekonomi masyarakat yang kurang mampu pada saat itu, sehingga muncul kreatifitas dari masyarakat sekitar untuk menciptakan transportasi Becak Lawu yang terbuat dari kayu dan karet ban bekas. Keberadaan Becak Lawu ini memberikan dampak positif yang membantu mengangkut hasil komoditas, seperti sayur dan buah dari perkebunan warga yang kurang mampu, sehingga masyarakat terbantu dengan adanya transportasi ini. Pada awal 2000-an, kondisi ekonomi masyarakat Kecamatan Plaosan sudah meningkat dan mulai mampu membeli kendaraan bermotor. Hal tersebut membuat Becak Lawu tergeser dan menjadi terlupakan. Pada tahun 2015, terdapat festival balap Becak Lawu yang berguna untuk mengingat eksistensi Becak Lawu yang pernah berjaya dan bermanfaat terhadap masyarakat sekitar kecamatan Plaosan pada tahun 1970-an. Kajian penelitian mengenai Becak Lawu diharapkan dapat memberikan manfaat bagi masyarakat dan dapat dikembangkan agar berguna di masa kini.